By Brett Jager
The University of Louisville Men’s Tennis team is off to one of its best starts in recent school history. One of the major reasons is because of the sophomore duo of Austen Childs and Simon Childs. Austen and Simon are also roommates, not to mention the number six ranked doubles team in the country. One thing the Childs duo is not: brothers.
In fact, Austen and Simon hail from completely different parts of the globe. Austen is from Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, and Simon is from Hillington, England.
“Some people think we’re brothers, but we just tell them no,” Austen said.
“If people look at our faces up close and they can tell we’re not brothers because we look nothing alike,” Simon said.
Austen and Simon have been major keys to success for the Cards, the number 16 ranked team in the nation. They play number one doubles for the team, while Austen plays number one singles, and Simon number three singles. The team has posted a 10-3 record at the number one doubles spot this season. Austen has a 10-3 record at the number one singles spot and is ranked number 45 nationally. Simon has posted a 10-5 record playing number two and three singles.
“Austen arrived at Louisville extremely shy and quiet,” U of L head coach Rex Ecarma said. Now he is opening up and verbalizing more to his teammates and coaches. He is a very bright student of the game and I want him to share his tennis IQ to his teammates because they respect him a lot. He has been selected as co-captain of the team this year because he is respected and well-liked.”
Simon and Austen both agree the team is much better overall this season. They have been able to gel together more easily and one of the main reasons is because of the new freshmen class.
“Simon really made the freshmen class feel welcome when they arrived here at Louisville,” Ecarma said. “He is well-liked by his teammates and is very involved on campus. Sometimes international players live in a bubble of sports and school only but Simon has branched out. He is a very popular guy around campus and handles an extremely full schedule. I am proud of his growth as a person as much as his growth as a player.”
“Their [the freshmen] work ethic is really good and they’re pushing us all the time and it makes us better,” Simon said. “We always have fun and we’re able to relax more. We’re closer and we spend time together on and off the court. It just feels like more of a team atmosphere.”
“Team Children,” as they are known by some of their supporters, admitted living together does not really affect their play on the court, but it has helped them to get to know each other better, and learn each other’s tendencies.
“We’ve become more similar on the way we think and act,” Austen said. “We are always thinking along the same lines.”
“I feel like I know what he’s thinking and he knows what I’m thinking half of the time,” Simon said.
Austen and Simon’s biggest challenge thus far this season came last Saturday at home against Wake Forest University. The number one doubles spot featured a clash of the titans as the Childs’ took on the number one team in the nation of Corey Parr and Steve Forman of Wake Forest. Austen and Simon lost the match 8-4, but they showed they were able to compete with the best in the country.
“I want to win the NCAA doubles this year and I think we can,” Simon said. “I think win or lose, these matches against tough teams will help us out in the end. Also in my college career I would like to be ranked number one at some point.”
They recovered two days later against the number 13 ranked team in the nation; Texas A&M. Austen and Simon defeated the number eight doubles team in the nation, Conor Pollack and Austin Krajicek 8-6. In singles, Austen was able to upset the number 14 Pollack, 6-4, 6-2, and Simon upset the number 69 Krajicek, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, leading the team to a 6-1 upset victory.
“I just want us to be as good as we can be and never let up,” Austen said.
