some new digs

servin up

new tennis complex

in the works
Story by NIKKI DABNEY
Design by MARISSA SANDOVAL

SMU is nationally renowned for its tennis

program and plans to elevate its elite status with the
opening of a new tennis complex.
The new tennis complex is part of the universitys
Second Century Campaign and will be located at
the southwest corner of US 75 and Mockingbird
Lane.
The previous tennis complex was levelled in
2012 to make room for five new residence halls and
a parking garage opening in August 2014, so the
tennis team and club players have been forced to
practice off-campus, which makes practicing more
difficult.
Even though we had facilities readily at our
disposal it was difficult to coordinate the players
schedules, but it has been exceptionally challenging
to include travel time to off-campus practices,
mens tennis coach Carl Neufeld said.
The new complex will include six indoor and
six outdoor courts, allowing more space and
opportunity for students to play.
Now, if the sorority courts are booked, students
dont know where to go and they get discouraged
and quit playing, club tennis captain Alex Menzel
said. With greater access, more students who enjoy
tennis will be able to play and have that outlet.
Not only will more students be able to play tennis,
but also they will be able to play more often. The
indoor courts and training center will enable the
tennis team to have its 6:30 a.m. practice even during
the cool winter and spring mornings. The team will
get extra practice, become more competitive and be
able to recruit top players.
The new tennis complex will be beneficial for
not only the tennis team, but also the university,
and the community at large. SMU has always been
recognized for its top tennis program, while Dallas
has long been a hotbed for the sport. In fact, the
professional league started in Dallas with the first
World Champion Tennis (WCT) tournament in
1968.
Its a great opportunity to bring regional,
national, and international tournaments to SMU
and it will be exciting for the university and the
community to watch, Neufeld said.
Neufeld has coached tennis for 30 years and
before coming to the Hilltop coached at the
University of California, winning Grand Slam titles
at Wimbledon, the French Open, the U.S. Open
and the Australian Open.
I know what it takes to build a national winning
team and facilities are a part of that, Neufeld said.

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Sports

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1. A construction team works on building the infrastructure for the tennis
complex at the southwest corner of US 75 and Mockingbird Lane.
PHOTO BY SAYON THILL

2. A view of the tennis complex infrastructure for the indoor component of the
new complex.
PHOTO BY SAYON THILL

3. A crane moves building material closer to the site.

PHOTO BY SAYON THILL

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Tennis Complex