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08/27/2024 10:48 AMWhen it comes to the tennis court, Antoinette Lowy loves the feeling of independence while not having to experience the pinch of a time crunch. The liberating journey has led to her becoming one of the more hard-working competitors who looks to balance out her repertoire with a racquet.
The incoming Hand senior has played tennis since she was 4 and later entered into clinics at the Madison Swim and Racquet Club. While she additionally took on soccer and softball in her youth, she dropped those prior to high school. Following two consecutive campaigns as the No. 3 singles competitor for the Tigers, a run that included a 2023 state crown, she will continue her work as we approach the fall to be the best she can be for a send-off season.
“I like the fact that it is a game where you can take it one point at a time; there is no timer on the game,” says Antoinette, who went 15-3 last season. “You can always turn the match in your favor, and your ability to come back is dependent upon your determination. I think what has helped me is playing the sport from a young age. Since age 7, I have played it pretty much every day of the summer. I also had easy access to the sport by playing it with family and friends. I also learned so much from all my coaches. One thing I have also learned is that you have to really focus and get off to a good start from the beginning.”
Antoinette loves the individuality that comes with the single life and the chance to express herself on the court. She notes that the absence of a partner functioning as a positive reinforcement can hurt mentally, though she picks herself up on her own by trusting her acumen and abilities.
“In singles, I love the control you have throughout the court,” Antoinette says. “The mental game is the toughest part of it because you do not have that reassurance in the form of a partner. You have to take a step back and trust what you have been practicing. When I am in a hole, I tell myself to play it one point at a time. You cannot get too ahead of yourself. Once you start winning points, you can string them along to win games, sets, and matches.”
In terms of her strategic approach to the court, Antoinette admits she prevailed in a lot of matches by a basic war of attrition. Moving forward, though, she is looking to shave minutes and strokes off her battles by diversifying her arsenal.
“I was a big slicer last year, and it was a consistent and safe shot,” says Antoinette. “I found success with it, and it would lead to long matches. I would honestly win via time. It was not an aggressive strategy. I have been practicing my forehand more because that and my serve allow me to get points quicker. Working on those things has also increased my confidence.”
The Tigers may not have defended their state crown in 2024, but they kept a proficient pedigree while procuring deep connections with each other. It did not matter if someone was a senior, a freshman, or even a coach, everyone felt right at home as a family at Hand.
“We had an amazing team last year, and we made some deep friendships,” Antoinette says. “We had so many matches, practices, and bus rides that helped us bond. We were very tight-knit all around between the coaches and players. The coaches were very strategic in making decisions for the team.”
Hand Head Coach John Gage details that Antoinette has the traits tailor made for her spot in the starting lineup. He also adds that no matter how many marathon matches she partakes in, she does it with a smile.
“After playing on the JV roster her freshman year, Antoinette has been the team's rock at No. 3 singles for two seasons,” says Gage. “The No. 3 and 4 singles positions require consistency, patience, and mental fortitude, and Antoinette has all three of those qualities in spades. She is an incredibly smart and calculated player who wears down her opponents with her relentless slices and ability to happily keep a point going for as long as it takes. At 15-3 on the season, she regularly mowed down tough SCC opponents, often in less than an hour, with her effective strategy.”
Antoinette looks to ramp up her intensity in the offseason when it comes to cultivating her persona as a player for her senior season. As she looks to also clean up her overall game, she is quite optimistic with her early outlook into the Tigers’ fortunes in 2025 with a deep returning squad.
“I would like to become a more consistent player and also a more aggressive player by hitting balls away into the corner,” says Antoinette. “I am also looking to become a more polished player. We are graduating a lot of seniors from this past year’s team, but we have so much talent on the team to fill those holes.”