.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
A Unique Fall for Ole Miss Men’s Tennis Internationals
12/26/2020 | Men's Tennis
How Five Athletes Prepared for the 2021 Season Thousands of Miles From Oxford
OXFORD, Miss. – Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, five Ole Miss men's tennis players were forced to relocate to their hometowns. Making the ordeal even more challenging, greater than 50% of the fall 2020 roster located outside of the United States. With restrictions in place and newly implemented remote learning, how did the individual athletes prepare for the upcoming season?
Lukas Engelhardt, Simon Junk, Nikola Slavic, John Hallquist Lithén and Finn Reynolds spent the fall 2020 semester in their native hometowns. After more than nine long months away from Ole Miss, these five international Rebels are making their highly anticipated trip back to Oxford. With the winter tennis season imminently approaching, each returning Rebel brings with them a unique attitude towards the upcoming season. Furthermore, each of the student-athletes have had their own particular experiences while at home during this peculiar year in 2020.
Lukas Engelhardt
Life changed drastically for sophomore Lukas Engelhardt this past fall. Engelhardt spent the fall semester in his hometown of Augsburg, Germany. At the beginning of the semester, precautionary measures related to COVID-19 were limited, but since November, his hometown has been under strict precautions. Unfortunately, as he prepared for final exams, COVID-19 directly impacted the Engelhardt household. Lukas' father, grandmother, and himself contracted the virus. Sadly, Lukas' father and grandmother did not survive.
"It was tough. It was right before finals week," said Engelhardt. "My father passed away a week before my last final exam. I made a good end to the semester and I did all of the exams on time, that's what my dad would have wanted me to do. First, there was not much time to think about it. With the finals week, the banks, the insurance, the funerals going on. I started to realize that these people will never come back. It will take time to really realize what happened. It is pretty tough, but I have to be positive and thankful for having such a great father for twenty years. I have had so far such an amazing life with really great people."
Through tragedy Engelhardt is tapping-into a newfound perspective on life. He is prioritizing his health and well-being and expresses great gratitude for his support system. Engelhardt looks forward to playing tennis with his Ole Miss teammates again and returning to a state of normalcy.
"I am planning to come back to the U.S. and be with the boys again," he said. "I am very thankful for all the love and nice messages the team sent to me. It was awesome that they sent me flowers. My mom and I were speechless, it was so unexpected. (Ole Miss Athletic Director) Keith Carter reached out to me and sent me a message too."
As a freshman, Engelhardt was 7-3 in singles for the 2020 dual season and is a pillar of the Rebels' lineup.
Simon Junk
For junior Simon Junk, the COVID-19 situation was much subdued in Marpingen, Germany, a small town in the southwest corner of the country.
"I felt like we had a little more freedom there in our town than maybe people had in a city," Junk said. "When there was a lockdown and nothing was really open, I think there was an advantage to me being home. You can go running and biking and do a lot of outdoor sports. I had two months at home to stay in shape and really focus on tennis."
Training from home was a much different experience for Junk than in Oxford. He had to organize all of his practices by reaching out to former coaches and finding high-level junior players to train with. Junk made it a priority to give 100% in every practice.
"I woke up at 7 a.m. and started school at 7:30," said Junk. "I did school work, practiced at around 10 a.m. for two hours, drove home, ate lunch, did school work, an hour of lifting, an hour of fitness and studied again in the evening."
We may even see more attacking wrinkles to Junk's game in the spring.
"Overall, I got more aggressive on the court," said Junk. "I'm closer to the baseline, trying to be more offensive. That takes time, but I really tried to get the most out of the situation. I really tried to not let (this situation) affect me. I made a plan at home, last season was pretty successful, but there's always things you feel like you can get better at."
Junk, the 2020 SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year made it a priority to do well in his studies too. He made sure to stay ahead in his classes, even though the semester was shortened and more work was given in a smaller period of time. Junk credits both his classroom and on-court success to his ability to create structure in any situation.
"It is always important to have a schedule, have a plan and have good organization," said Junk.
Junk returned to Oxford for the Southern Intercollegiate Championship, the Rebels' final tournament of the fall season last November.
Nikola Slavic
Reigning ITA Southern Rookie of the Year Nikola Slavic prepared for the 2021 season by practicing with the best in his hometown of Stockholm, Sweden. Slavic trained with ATP professionals Mikael and Elias Ymer. Mikael is currently the No. 94 rated tennis player in the world, while his older brother, Elias, currently ranks No. 205 (peaked at No. 105 in 2018). Playing against the Ymer brothers has allowed Slavic to play with more conviction.
"I've learned a lot by practicing with them," said Slavic, "especially when I feel I'm not that far behind them. Their shots aren't that much better than mine. I can even win against them in practice. That gives me a lot of confidence."
Slavic has been able to practice without much concern of contracting COVID-19 in Stockholm. In Sweden, there have been many days where there are zero cases in the entire country. Furthermore, there is social distancing procedures in place without mask mandates.
Slavic has taken the semester to focus on his tennis skillset and can't wait to return to play for the Rebels. He has been keeping in contact with the team daily and is looking forward to being back in Oxford with his teammates.
"I really like the team aspect of college tennis," Slavic said. "That was something that was new to me when I came to the U.S. I am looking forward to playing with the new freshmen. One of them, John Hallquist Lithén, I know really well. I think he will be a great asset for us and make an immediate impact for the team."
John Hallquist Lithén
It would be interesting to ponder if freshman John Hallquist Lithén had ever imagined spending his first semester of American college life in his hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden. Gothenburg, the second largest city in the country, has had a few COVID-19 regulations in place in order to minimize the spread of the virus. Currently, there is a restriction in place where no more than eight people are allowed to gather at a single time. Otherwise, life has been relatively normal for Hallquist Lithén, who has dedicated this past semester to practicing tennis.
"I had the whole summer and fall to focus on my tennis," said Hallquist Lithén. "I've been playing in the morning, eating lunch, then training in the afternoon as well. When there's no tournaments, I'm training about 3-4 hours of tennis and then fitness on top that."
Hallquist Lithén is looking forwards to coming to Ole Miss and being a part of a team alongside his fellow Rebels.
"We have some league matches here in Sweden and I like the team atmosphere," said Hallquist Lithén. He will be stepping foot in the U.S. for his second time ever in January.
Finn Reynolds
Despite being in a precarious situation, living on an island where the COVID-19 virus could spread easily, the virus has been nearly expelled in Finn Reynolds' hometown of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
"We're just doing a good job," explained the Ole Miss senior. "We had an original lockdown for a month. But now, we don't have any cases."
Being at home has allowed Reynolds to become refreshed and rejuvenated for the upcoming season. Reynolds, a 2020 ITA All-American, has dedicate the semester to physical fitness. He has been able to spend ample time on the court, as well as participate in other activities that his hometown has to offer. From swimming at the beach to hiking the mountainside.
"I would usually do an hour and a half of fitness a day, and another 30 minutes or so of general exercises, two hours of tennis at least, and another hour or so in the afternoon," said Reynolds.
A big change is in store for the Ole Miss senior, as an unexpected physical alteration has taken place for the Rebels' wildcard.
"Expect a haircut. That will be a big change for people who haven't seen me," said Reynolds.
Honing-in on the season, Reynolds already has his sights set on the Rebels' upcoming match against Tennessee in the ITA Indoor Team Championships. The last match the Rebels played prior to the COVID-19 shutdown of the 2020 season was against the Volunteers last March.
"My last match of the season was against Tennessee and I didn't play very well. But this time, we can win," said Reynolds.
Lastly, Reynolds can't wait to see his teammates, and in particular, his doubles partner and fellow ITA All-American, Tim Sandkaulen.
"I'm excited to come have fun with the boys... and beat Tim in table tennis," Reynolds joked.
Looking Ahead
The Rebels will be at full-force for the upcoming semester after nearly 10 months separated. Ole Miss men's tennis concluded the 2020 season ranked No. 15 nationally in the ITA rankings after peaking at No. 11 in March. Seeking to make a statement during the winter season, the Rebels look to cement themselves a spot within the coveted ITA top 10. The five returning athletes join Brady Draheim, Jan Soren Hain, Tim Sandkaulen and Cotter Wilson, all of whom competed in the fall. Additionally, first-semester freshman Jakob Cadonau is set to join the Rebels this January too. Stay tuned for what is to be an exciting and unique season.
For more information on Ole Miss men's tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMTennis, on Facebook at OleMissMTennis and on Instagram at OleMissMTennis, follow Coach Hansson on Twitter at @TennisToby.
Lukas Engelhardt, Simon Junk, Nikola Slavic, John Hallquist Lithén and Finn Reynolds spent the fall 2020 semester in their native hometowns. After more than nine long months away from Ole Miss, these five international Rebels are making their highly anticipated trip back to Oxford. With the winter tennis season imminently approaching, each returning Rebel brings with them a unique attitude towards the upcoming season. Furthermore, each of the student-athletes have had their own particular experiences while at home during this peculiar year in 2020.
Lukas Engelhardt
Life changed drastically for sophomore Lukas Engelhardt this past fall. Engelhardt spent the fall semester in his hometown of Augsburg, Germany. At the beginning of the semester, precautionary measures related to COVID-19 were limited, but since November, his hometown has been under strict precautions. Unfortunately, as he prepared for final exams, COVID-19 directly impacted the Engelhardt household. Lukas' father, grandmother, and himself contracted the virus. Sadly, Lukas' father and grandmother did not survive.
"It was tough. It was right before finals week," said Engelhardt. "My father passed away a week before my last final exam. I made a good end to the semester and I did all of the exams on time, that's what my dad would have wanted me to do. First, there was not much time to think about it. With the finals week, the banks, the insurance, the funerals going on. I started to realize that these people will never come back. It will take time to really realize what happened. It is pretty tough, but I have to be positive and thankful for having such a great father for twenty years. I have had so far such an amazing life with really great people."
Through tragedy Engelhardt is tapping-into a newfound perspective on life. He is prioritizing his health and well-being and expresses great gratitude for his support system. Engelhardt looks forward to playing tennis with his Ole Miss teammates again and returning to a state of normalcy.
"I am planning to come back to the U.S. and be with the boys again," he said. "I am very thankful for all the love and nice messages the team sent to me. It was awesome that they sent me flowers. My mom and I were speechless, it was so unexpected. (Ole Miss Athletic Director) Keith Carter reached out to me and sent me a message too."
As a freshman, Engelhardt was 7-3 in singles for the 2020 dual season and is a pillar of the Rebels' lineup.
Simon Junk
For junior Simon Junk, the COVID-19 situation was much subdued in Marpingen, Germany, a small town in the southwest corner of the country.
"I felt like we had a little more freedom there in our town than maybe people had in a city," Junk said. "When there was a lockdown and nothing was really open, I think there was an advantage to me being home. You can go running and biking and do a lot of outdoor sports. I had two months at home to stay in shape and really focus on tennis."
Training from home was a much different experience for Junk than in Oxford. He had to organize all of his practices by reaching out to former coaches and finding high-level junior players to train with. Junk made it a priority to give 100% in every practice.
"I woke up at 7 a.m. and started school at 7:30," said Junk. "I did school work, practiced at around 10 a.m. for two hours, drove home, ate lunch, did school work, an hour of lifting, an hour of fitness and studied again in the evening."
We may even see more attacking wrinkles to Junk's game in the spring.
"Overall, I got more aggressive on the court," said Junk. "I'm closer to the baseline, trying to be more offensive. That takes time, but I really tried to get the most out of the situation. I really tried to not let (this situation) affect me. I made a plan at home, last season was pretty successful, but there's always things you feel like you can get better at."
Junk, the 2020 SEC Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year made it a priority to do well in his studies too. He made sure to stay ahead in his classes, even though the semester was shortened and more work was given in a smaller period of time. Junk credits both his classroom and on-court success to his ability to create structure in any situation.
"It is always important to have a schedule, have a plan and have good organization," said Junk.
Junk returned to Oxford for the Southern Intercollegiate Championship, the Rebels' final tournament of the fall season last November.
Nikola Slavic
Reigning ITA Southern Rookie of the Year Nikola Slavic prepared for the 2021 season by practicing with the best in his hometown of Stockholm, Sweden. Slavic trained with ATP professionals Mikael and Elias Ymer. Mikael is currently the No. 94 rated tennis player in the world, while his older brother, Elias, currently ranks No. 205 (peaked at No. 105 in 2018). Playing against the Ymer brothers has allowed Slavic to play with more conviction.
"I've learned a lot by practicing with them," said Slavic, "especially when I feel I'm not that far behind them. Their shots aren't that much better than mine. I can even win against them in practice. That gives me a lot of confidence."
Slavic has been able to practice without much concern of contracting COVID-19 in Stockholm. In Sweden, there have been many days where there are zero cases in the entire country. Furthermore, there is social distancing procedures in place without mask mandates.
Slavic has taken the semester to focus on his tennis skillset and can't wait to return to play for the Rebels. He has been keeping in contact with the team daily and is looking forward to being back in Oxford with his teammates.
"I really like the team aspect of college tennis," Slavic said. "That was something that was new to me when I came to the U.S. I am looking forward to playing with the new freshmen. One of them, John Hallquist Lithén, I know really well. I think he will be a great asset for us and make an immediate impact for the team."
John Hallquist Lithén
It would be interesting to ponder if freshman John Hallquist Lithén had ever imagined spending his first semester of American college life in his hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden. Gothenburg, the second largest city in the country, has had a few COVID-19 regulations in place in order to minimize the spread of the virus. Currently, there is a restriction in place where no more than eight people are allowed to gather at a single time. Otherwise, life has been relatively normal for Hallquist Lithén, who has dedicated this past semester to practicing tennis.
"I had the whole summer and fall to focus on my tennis," said Hallquist Lithén. "I've been playing in the morning, eating lunch, then training in the afternoon as well. When there's no tournaments, I'm training about 3-4 hours of tennis and then fitness on top that."
Hallquist Lithén is looking forwards to coming to Ole Miss and being a part of a team alongside his fellow Rebels.
"We have some league matches here in Sweden and I like the team atmosphere," said Hallquist Lithén. He will be stepping foot in the U.S. for his second time ever in January.
Finn Reynolds
Despite being in a precarious situation, living on an island where the COVID-19 virus could spread easily, the virus has been nearly expelled in Finn Reynolds' hometown of Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
"We're just doing a good job," explained the Ole Miss senior. "We had an original lockdown for a month. But now, we don't have any cases."
Being at home has allowed Reynolds to become refreshed and rejuvenated for the upcoming season. Reynolds, a 2020 ITA All-American, has dedicate the semester to physical fitness. He has been able to spend ample time on the court, as well as participate in other activities that his hometown has to offer. From swimming at the beach to hiking the mountainside.
"I would usually do an hour and a half of fitness a day, and another 30 minutes or so of general exercises, two hours of tennis at least, and another hour or so in the afternoon," said Reynolds.
A big change is in store for the Ole Miss senior, as an unexpected physical alteration has taken place for the Rebels' wildcard.
"Expect a haircut. That will be a big change for people who haven't seen me," said Reynolds.
Honing-in on the season, Reynolds already has his sights set on the Rebels' upcoming match against Tennessee in the ITA Indoor Team Championships. The last match the Rebels played prior to the COVID-19 shutdown of the 2020 season was against the Volunteers last March.
"My last match of the season was against Tennessee and I didn't play very well. But this time, we can win," said Reynolds.
Lastly, Reynolds can't wait to see his teammates, and in particular, his doubles partner and fellow ITA All-American, Tim Sandkaulen.
"I'm excited to come have fun with the boys... and beat Tim in table tennis," Reynolds joked.
Looking Ahead
The Rebels will be at full-force for the upcoming semester after nearly 10 months separated. Ole Miss men's tennis concluded the 2020 season ranked No. 15 nationally in the ITA rankings after peaking at No. 11 in March. Seeking to make a statement during the winter season, the Rebels look to cement themselves a spot within the coveted ITA top 10. The five returning athletes join Brady Draheim, Jan Soren Hain, Tim Sandkaulen and Cotter Wilson, all of whom competed in the fall. Additionally, first-semester freshman Jakob Cadonau is set to join the Rebels this January too. Stay tuned for what is to be an exciting and unique season.
For more information on Ole Miss men's tennis, follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissMTennis, on Facebook at OleMissMTennis and on Instagram at OleMissMTennis, follow Coach Hansson on Twitter at @TennisToby.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
/ Men's Tennis
Loan Lestir Caps Men's Tennis Comeback at Memphis (1/17/2025)
Friday, January 17
Nik Scholtz:On Selection for Davis Cup
Wednesday, October 08
Men's Tennis UGA & UT Preview
Wednesday, October 08
2012 NCAA Tournament Selection Special
Wednesday, October 08