Tennis: A borderless sport
Alex T. Burroughs, Staff Writer
Being the new kid on the block can be challenging, but being the new kid on the block and being from another country, well that is a whole new challenge.
Alex Kostka is a senior tennis player at North Greenville University. Originally from Cannes France, Kostka moved to the states at 18 to become a collegiate athlete.
He grew up playing tennis in France and had many friends who would come to the United States to play tennis.
Having a mutual friend from NGU, Kostka was able to get in contact with the coaching staff there and bring his talents to The Ville.
For Kostka, discovering a new culture was not the terrifying experience most people think it is. “It’s very different but nice,” said Kostka.
The main difference Kostka noted is that there is more camaraderie playing here in the U.S. “Having teammates that support you and having a bond with them, you forget about the individuality of tennis. It’s a little less pressure,” said Kostka.
Kostka remembers playing in France and having to do everything by himself when it came to practice, travel and matches.
The other difference is in the competition. Kostka had also played tennis at the Division 1 level and feels that in both divisions, most players were even-keeled.
Being so far from home, one can expect to be homesick. At the beginning of Kostka’s college career, he would spend his summer and Christmas breaks back in France. But now, on the tail end of his career, Kostka spends those breaks in the states.
Kostka plans to return home to France after graduating to be closer with family and loved ones. Regarding the future and going pro, Kostka said he would retire tennis after college, so he can pursue new opportunities.
