News - 2008 HEB Summer Tennis Classic

RGVTennis.com had the opportunity to interview Thomas Stillman in our office after his win of the 2008 H.E.B. Summer Tennis Classic.Thomas would greet his well wishers and congratulators, take a quick shower, change his shirt then settle down in the big comfortable office chair while I prepared for the interview. I had seen all but one of his matches in the tournament and wanted to ask about each one, but Iknew he was tired and wanted to get to his friends that were eagerly waiting just outside (some pressing their ears to the door to hear what we were saying). RGVTennis.com isproud to bring you the post-match interview with Thomas Stillman - the 2008 H.E.B.Summer TennisClassic Men's Open Champion.

RGVT: Thomas, congratulations on winning the men's 2008 H.E.B. Summer Tennis Classic! Thanks forgranting us this interview, I know you must be feeling pretty tired.
TS: Uh....yeah. I'm kinda tired and thanks. Yesterday was pretty tiring. I had to play about five or six matches.
RGVT: Wow! In one day?!?
TS: Yeah.
RGVT: Ok, let's talk about some of your matches. I know you're tired, so I won't ask about all of them, and we'll make this quick. Who was your first match?
TS: Uh....Warren Prescott, for sure!
RGVT: Oh yeah! I saw that match!
TS: After that I had a kid from Porter High School, and then I had junior last night.
RGVT: Ramon Borjas Jr.?
TS: Yeah. And then I had Edward (Martinez) this morning so....
RGVT:How was the Borjas match? Was that the Semi-finals?
TS: Semin-finals. Yeah. 6 - 3, 6 - 1.
RGVT: 6 - 3, 6 - 1?
TS: He gave me a run early, then he sorta went down a little bit.
RGVT: And, what was your score here in the finals?
TS: 6 - 4, 6 - 2
RGVT: Did you have a certain game play going up against this guy? Had you seen him play before?
TS: Yeah, actually, I'd been out here throughout Edward's high school career; so I sorta knew what his game was like. I've practiced with him, so.... It wasn't much of a game plan. Just hit it to his weaker stroke...
RGVT: Was it his backhand? Or what...
TS: The backhand yeah. Other than that, try to get first serves in play. Um...just keep balls in play. Use the wind with plenty of topspin with the wind, keep the ball deep...nothing special.
RGVT: Just basic tennis?
TS: Just what anybody would (do). Keep it away from the stronger stroke.
RGVT: His stronger stroke was, what, his forehand?
TS: His forehand. Yeah. I'm not saying his backhand's bad, but it's just not as good as his forehand.
RGVT: Right. Right. What's your strongest stroke?
TS: (pauses and thinks deeply) Uh.....most people would say my forehand 'cause I can do more with it, but I feel more comfortable with my backhand....just 'cause....I don't know why but I think it has something to do with...uh... when I was little I was left-handed (Thomas plays right-handed) but when I went through school, they didn't know that so I started writing right-handed so I switched to the right hand now. So, I think being left-handed sort of helps with my backhand (Thomas has a two-handed backhand).
RGVT: So, on your backhand, you actually push it with your left hand and control it with your right?
TS: Yea. Sorta. My backhand return is better than my forehand return.
RGVT: Yeah, I saw that. You returned really well on your backhand side. Even when he would kick the ball up high, you were able to control it.
TS: Yeah, I just feel a little more comfortable with my backhand.
RGVT: Now Edward...he's improved a little bit since he left here. Did it bother you at all? Were you nervous about that?
TS: Uh....I just knew that if I could break him that I thought I could finish the match out...and hopefully....that's what I did. Early on in the first and second set what helped me out was to get to a 2 - 0 lead in the first and a 3 - 0 lead in the second which really helped me throughout the match.
RGVT: Your footwork was really excellent. Was that something that you were concentrating on?
TS: Yeah. Lately....well....my weakest point, I would say, was my footwork; but I've sort of been working on it lately so it's toughened out a lot more.
RGVT: So, the skipping rope helps then?
TS: (smiles) Eh....yeah (laughs) probably. Any little thing helps.
RGVT: Well, alright, man. I put part of the coverage up on the website and we put some pictures of you on there already.
TS: Yeah, I was on it yesterday and saw them. Thanks.
RGVT: Again, congratulations! Is there anything you wanna say to everybody reading your interview?
TS: Not much except that the more tennis you play, the better you get.
RGVT: Alright, thank you, Thomas.
TS: Thank you.

We ended our interview and left the office. Everyone wanting a piece of the champion. A lot of pats on the back and smiles from parents, his friends and people that had come to see the finals. He gets a big hand on his shoulder and a smile from Don VanRamshorst. "Now you have to play the doubles final in 20 minutes", he tells him. But, that is another story.

Contact Information:
Harlingen Tennis Center: (956) 428 - 2092
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