University of Minnesota Athletics
Froment and Hamburg Look to Dominate During Final Season
10/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) - Minnesota Gopher men's tennis players Mathieu Froment and Jack Hamburg may have been raised halfway across the world from each other, but that difference vanishes once they step out on the court.
The dynamic duo, now both seniors, began playing as a doubles team at the end of their sophomore seasons. Going 24-5 together last season, they reached as high as No. 16 in the nation and were named an alternate pairing for the 2014 NCAA Doubles Tournament. Froment and Hamburg's success gave them a No. 11 ranking going into the 2014-15 season. Together, they are currently 35-15.
During their sophomore seasons, the seniors were both playing doubles with different players. Head coach Geoff Young decided to put them together, and the pairing worked. Froment and Hamburg agree that their respective styles complement each other.
"We're both really aggressive players at the net and we feel like our aggressiveness sets us apart from a lot of other teams," Hamburg said. "A lot of teams try to get to the net but we try to dominate, take over and let them feel our pressure."
Although they have similar styles, the two players experienced different training regiments during their upbringing. Froment was homeschooled in Longwy, France and was able to practice tennis a few hours a day. On the other hand, Hamburg was raised in Rapid City, S.D., and typically wasn't playing as much tennis during his days.
These training differences haven't molded different attitudes on the court, however. When they play together, nothing is ever taken too seriously.
"I know something good is going to happen at one point in the match even if we're down," Froment said. "I just feel like we're good; we're going to make it."
Hamburg shares the same level of relaxed confidence.
"We just have fun and don't get worked up," Hamburg said. "We know that we're going to come up with big shots and big points. Half the time if we miss the ball, we just laugh and go to the next one."
During their final season in maroon and gold, the seniors are confident in their skills, but are taking it match by match. The Big Ten Indoor Championships at home are looming, but Froment knows that doubles results are rarely predictable.
"We know we can win," Froment said. "We have the skills to win but a lot can happen, especially in doubles. Doubles are really strange and you can get some weird results, so it's really about doing what you do well."
With that said, Froment and Hamburg still have their eyes on the end prize. They would love to make their presence known at the NCAA tournament in mid-May.
"Ultimately, it's our senior year," Hamburg said. "We'd like to make it to the big show."
Story by Lexi Diederich
Players Mentioned
