In a singles tennis match, a player relies solely on his own skills to best an opponent in three sets of play. There’s no teamwork needed; only a confidence and trust in one’s self. Doubles tennis, however, requires additional elements. It’s analogous to a chemical compound, requiring a perfect combination of the power of two elements.

For Illinois men’s tennis sophomores Ross Guignon and Tim Kopinski, it has never been difficult to work as a pair. While they opened their season together with a loss, the tandem climbed the ranks to the No. 13 spot. They put up a 12-3 record and downed five of six ranked opponents, among which were then-No. 2 Jamere Jenkins and Mac Styslinger for Virginia and then-No. 16 Peter Kobelt and Connor Smith of Ohio State.

“There are no real weaknesses to us,” Kopinski said. “He’s a lefty, I’m a righty. He’s more of a crafty player, reads the courts really well, and I more just play through everybody. It’s tough to beat because there’s a little bit of everything.” 

Succeeding as a tandem requires more than just the surface complement of skills, though. It takes an understanding of the person covering the backcourt while you crash the net and insists upon trust between two players that goes deeper than in-game performances.

“The way they approach tennis is so different, T.K. (Kopinski) is all business and not enough feel, and Ross is too much feel and not enough business, and what they’ve done is really bring those things out in each other,” head coach Brad Dancer said. “We can take other similar personalities and put them together, and they won’t bond as well as T.K. and Geezy (Guignon) do.”

The chemistry exists off the court as well. The two players are finishing their second year as roommates. Guignon said they’ll continue to live together next year and most likely for their senior year.

“You can have best friends, but I really feel like when you live with somebody, you really get to know and trust them,” Guignon said.

That trust puts Kopinski at the line against Ohio State, ready to serve. Without looking, he knows Guignon is in a crouched, ready position, swaying his hips with anticipation of the upcoming battle they would later call one of their “best matches ever played.” 

Across from them stands Kobelt and Smith, a ranked threat undefeated in the conference. Kopinski’s arm raises and his hand releases, the ball goes up, and in a single, fluid motion, it begins.

The Illini pair’s energy riles crowds of Ohio State and Illinois fans alike at the Atkins Tennis Center. Each stays vocal and loud, which isn’t typical of most duos. Where as most doubles teams enter a match with a set, silent plan in mind, Guignon and Kopinski take a different approach to finding success.

“We’re not afraid to talk about anything on the court,” Guignon said. “Some people get freaked out with having to change something in the middle of the match, and we’re just about as comfortable with making a change in the middle as any team in the country. Then, if we lose, we lose … but we stick to our game.”

After grabbing an early lead, Guignon and Kopinski felt themselves slipping — one of their biggest problems. The duo has problems with consistency. Soon, the pair finds themselves tied up at 8-8 and entering a tiebreaker. Guignon adjusts his orange Illinois hat while Kopinski wipes sweat from his forehead. Both are ready to finish strong because both have standards to live up to in tennis.

“As long as we hold the standards we talk about inside the match and not worry about all the hoopla on who we’re playing, the setting and everything else, we can just keep playing doubles the way Tim and I play,” Guignon said. “Then, the rest should take care of itself.”

Guignon yells a go-to “C’mon!” to amp the crowd, but quiets down instantly as Kopinski steps back to serve once again. It’s their play style, as Kopinski tends to lead the charge with big hits while Guignon plays careful, but both seem to move as one, knowing exactly where and when the other needs backup.

“It’s kind of funny,” laughs Guignon, looking over at Kopinski. “Personally, I’m a little more loud, and he’s a little more quiet and to himself … but you look at our tennis and I’m the quiet, scared one, and he’s the big banger.”

But when the last shot glides to the back right of the court, just out of Kobelt or Smith’s reach, it’s all over, clinching the doubles point for the Illini at 9-8. And Guignon and Kopinski meet in the middle of their court for a triumphant, leaping back-bump.

“It feels good for me whenever I see Timbo (Kopinski) go for it, because then I know it’s over,” Guignon said. “I don’t know how he feels, but when I see Timbo, flying across, just ready to hammer one, I’m usually saying ‘C’mon,’ before it even makes contact.”

Though the doubles point only represents one of seven possible in a match, Kopinski said it’s all about momentum and how winning or losing can tip the match in either direction. Still, singles always follows, and the pair is forced to split up; although, with such a high level of chemistry, each knows better than to worry.

“I watch him in singles, but I think maybe even not as much (as other players), just because I’m not really worried about Tim,” Guignon said. “We don’t really have to worry about each other, and maybe we can go help other guys out on the team. It’s one of those things where we work together and are there for each other, but we don’t have to be there on each other’s courts because both of us want this team to be successful so badly.”

With only the NCAA tournament left in the season, the Illinois team will surely be looking to its top pair for doubles. Dancer still has his worries going in. He still needs to find his top six singles players. He still hopes to get consistency on all three doubles courts. He still wants to make sure the coaching staff can prepare the team properly for the big dance. But fortunately for him, two of his team’s powers have already found a natural match.

That’s chemistry for you.

J.J. can be reached at [email protected] and @Wilsonable07.