Sophomore Rachael James-Baker, a native of Plantation, Fla., has compiled a singles record of 6-3 and a doubles record of 4-2 so far this season for the N.C. State women’s tennis team (6-3 overall, 1-2 ACC), which is coming off of an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013. In the 2012-13 season, James-Baker posted 17 singles victories, good for third-best on the team.
Technician: What made you come to N.C. State over other schools that may have recruited you?
Rachael James-Baker: I would have to say the facilities and the coaching staff. A lot of coaches have a history of kicking their players off the team if they’re injured, especially some of the schools I was looking at. That’s not the case here. Coach Olsen is a great coach, he’s always looking to develop his players, whereas other schools if the person’s injured they might take their scholarship away. My education is way more important than that.
Q: What have Coach Olsen and his staff done to help you develop as a player in college?
A: They’ve helped me develop mentally, physically and emotionally. I’m more mentally stable out on the court, I used to be very immature. They push us hard, so athletically I’m probably as fit as I’ve ever been, so I have a lot of confidence in myself.”
Q: What’s your favorite part about being a student-athlete at N.C. State?
A: I would have to say the clothes and gear that they give us. Honestly, as a college student, anything I can get for free is amazing. I love the clothes that we get. I don’t have much money anyway, and this way I don’t have to be a burden on my parents anymore.
Q: What’s your favorite memory of your tennis career, either before or during college?
A: Last year we played Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament. I was the only State player to win her match, and I was working so hard to do well and it showed. I beat my opponent pretty easily, I don’t really remember the score, but it felt good to get a win even if we didn’t win the match.
Q: Do you find it tough to go on the road and have opposing fans and your opponent’s teammates trying to get under your skin?
A: Personally, it doesn’t faze me one bit. I’m from Florida, which is one of the top states for tennis, so everyone is really competitive. Growing up I would have parents behind the curtain say things to me that weren’t exactly ethical and that definitely prepared me for college. Now in college it doesn’t affect me at all, but other players may think differently.
Q: When you’re playing, do you have a go-to shot or sequence of shots that you use to turn the match in your favor or escape a pressure situation?
A: I actually have a playbook, and it all depends on my opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. If her forehand is weaker, I have a few plays that I always go back to, and the same thing if their backhand is weak. If they have weak movement around the court, I try to play to that as well.
James-Baker and the rest of the Wolfpack will take the court Thursday as they host Winthrop at the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Center. The match will begin at 2:30 p.m. State’s next ACC match in Sunday at 11 a.m.