STARKVILLE, Miss. – For Patrick Kaukovalta and his Alabama men's tennis teammates, this weekend's Bulldog Challenge in Starkville, Miss., will mark their second of three tournaments this fall, but the first since opening the season three weeks ago at the Tiger Fall Invitational in Auburn, Ala.
Both the number of tournaments and the fact that the entire team is taking part in all three tourneys are creating a different look for Kaukovalta's fourth fall in Tuscaloosa.
Normally there would be more events and each event would see a handful of players at each, including the occasional weekend when the Tide would be scattered at two or three events across the country.
"I really like the format we're playing this fall," Kaukovalta said. "Usually in the fall we have individual tournaments and we're not all together, but now, with the three weekends it is great because we're all playing at the same time and it's really fun."
That camaraderie on the court is one of the things that Kaukovalta enjoys most about the college game.
"I really like the team aspect," he said. "Every individual match counts, so you have to make sure you do well first, but obviously the bigger picture is how your team does as a group. I really like it, competing at the same time as my teammates … it makes it so much more fun."
Going from several events to just three also means Alabama had three weeks between its first tournament and its second, giving the Tide a chance to work on all parts of its game.
"I'm looking forward to get out there to compete and play again," Kaukovalta said. "I feel like we all came back from Auburn with things to work on. I think there's good and bad in having a three-week break between tournaments. Obviously, it's fun to get to play, but we were also able to work on different things before this weekend."
Like everyone else, Kaukovalta had the 2019-20 season cut short, and while he knew that he had another year of eligibility waiting for him no matter what the NCAA decided about the spring sports, he is glad to have another season with the Tide's veterans.
"It's really good to be back," Kaukovalta said. "I would have been here anyway, but it's a really great opportunity for the other guys who would've had finished up last season, so I'm really happy for them and happy that we get to be around them for another year."
He comes into this season on a hot streak. He closed out the 2018-19 season with a historic run at the NCAA Championships, where he and Mazen Osama became the first UA duo to advance to the national doubles final. And last spring, he was playing some of his best tennis before COVID-19 shut down the Tide's season in March.
One of the best doubles players in UA history, Kaukovalta combines a big serve and great court awareness with an aggressive style at the net.
"I think the style I play - serving a little faster and bigger, the way I see the game at the net and my understanding of doubles, really help me," he said.
The Tide gets things going at the Bulldog Challenge Friday at 9 a.m. and will play at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the host, Mississippi State, the Tide will see players from LSU and Tennessee over the three-day event, playing both singles and doubles.
Get all the latest information on Alabama men's tennis by following AlabamaMTN on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
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October 23, 2020 at 04:07AM
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Patrick Kaukovalta and Alabama Men's Tennis are Back on the Road this Weekend - rolltide.com
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