January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Sacrificing for the love of the game
He understands that a balanced diet that mostly avoids junk foods well help him stay at the top of the game.
The ambitious young tennis player is at the University of Kent, but he has set goals of representing Bermuda in Davis Cup play as well as in the CAC Games later this year.
Don Burgess asked Wade, 18, how life is going for him in England and what sacrifices he has had to make for his sport.How are things going for you in England?
Everything is doing great in England. It is definitely different to what I'm use to, coming from a small island but I've settled in quite well and have made strong friendships.
Why did you choose Kent?
I chose the University of Kent because it is has a good business/law course as well as being one of the top Universities in the U.K. It also has a rich and diverse campus with people from all around the world. As a result allowing me to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds.
How does the training there compare to what you did in Bermuda?
The training is similar to what I did in Bermuda however there is more structure. They put more emphasis on fitness and footwork. Not only do we train on the court but off the court as well.
What are your goals for this year?
My goals for this year is to get ready for the CAC games and Davis Cup which is coming up this summer.
How old were you when you first started playing tennis and why did you start playing?
Tennis has always been a big thing in my family so I was encouraged to play around eight-years-old by my grandpa. Immediately I fell in love with game and have been playing ever since.
What's been your biggest achievement in tennis and how did it feel to accomplish it?
The biggest achievement for any athlete is to represent their country overseas. For me it would be representing Bermuda in the Jr. Davis Cup in 2006 and 2007. After the team was chosen and I saw my name on the list there was a sense of relief but also a sense of accomplishment. I was proud of myself because my hard work paid off.
What sacrifices are you having to make for your sport?
Some sacrifices that I have to make for tennis include my diet and free time. Since tennis is such a demanding sport physically it's important to eat healthy so the body can recover from lengthy matches or a tough training session. Therefore I try to stay away from fast foods and eat balanced meals. In addition my free time is also sacrificed. Although we have training three days a week it is very physical therefore my body is tired so I have less energy to do other things outside of schoolwork.
Which local and international players do you admire and why?
An international player that I admire would be Roger Federer. He is an amazing tennis player but what I admire most about him is how he acts like a champion in every aspect of his life, he is a family man who clearly is devoted to that as well as his sport. He always puts in 100 per cent on the tennis court such as 2008 Wimbledon final when he was 2-0 down in sets but still fought back and nearly won.
He always gives his all and acts humbly and graciously which is the main reason I admire him so much.
A local player that I've always admired is Jenson Bascome. I've known him for most of my time playing tennis. There are a few reasons why I admire him. Firstly because he offers assistance to younger players and is always willing to help make you better. Whether that is telling you to adjust your swing or staying later on the court to hit with you.
Secondly because he is always composed on the court.
You can really tell someone's character when things are not going well. This is what I like about Jenson. Watching him play you couldn't tell what the score was because he's body language was the same winning or losing. Thirdly if he was to lose, he is never a bad sport, always offering praise to his winning opponent. He doesn't offer excuses, yet he'll tell it like it is.
What's the best piece of advice you ever received about how to be a better player?
It would have to be:
"Proper preparation prevents poor performance" -Basically compete the same way I practice.
I also follow "Have Fun!" as it allows me to enjoy the game.
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