University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Lourdes Carle
November 01, 2018 | Women's Tennis, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Georgia women's tennis freshman Lourdes Carle is a long way from home. The native of Daireaux, Argentina, was actually back in Buenos Aires last month playing in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, and she also has a familiar face nearby in her brother, Pedro, who is in graduate school at Georgia.
Carle has won three of her four matches for the Bulldogs this season and she will be in action at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex this weekend during the Bulldog Classic. She sat down for a Quick Chat before practice Wednesday and talked about adjusting to college life, her Youth Olympic Games experience and much more.
Here's some of what she had to say:Â
Frierson: How are you adjusting to college tennis, college itself and living in the U.S.? There's a lot for you to adjust to, isn't there?
Carle: I think it's a big thing for me, coming from another country that's totally different. But I'm enjoying really much my experience here. School is hard and you have to study a lot, and the practices are really hard also, but I think one great thing for me is that I'm learning to be more organized. Here you have to manage your time really well and that's a thing I really appreciate from here.
Frierson: How beloved is Juan Martin del Potro in Argentina? It seems like everyone in the tennis world loves him, but I'm sure he's especially huge in his home country.
Carle: All the people love him and he's also from [Buenos Aires Province] so sometimes I've had the chance to talk to him and he's a really nice person. In Argentina, he's a really important person.
Frierson: I know you were back in Buenos Aires recently to play in the Youth Olympic Games, so what was that experience like?
Carle: I think it was one of the biggest tournaments I've ever played in my whole career. My results were not so great, I lost in the first round in singles, playing my doubles partner, so kind of bad luck there. But I enjoyed a really good experience, and I enjoyed playing close to my family over there which is not common for me because I always play [events] far from my house and my family and friends.
We lost in the semifinals of the doubles and we were close for the bronze medal, but like I say I enjoyed it. The village was amazing, having the chance to interact with other people, which I think it the biggest thing for the Olympics. You play your sport and you get to know different people from different sports.
Frierson: Is there something from home that you miss, besides your family and friends?
Carle: I miss the food there. I mean, here the food is great, but in Argentina we eat asado, is like meat, like barbecue here, but it's different. I miss that and of course, yes, my friends and my family.
Frierson: Have you been to Viva!, the Argentinian restaurant close to downtown?
Carle: No, but a lot of people have told me that it's a great restaurant but I've never been yet. I think I should go.
Frierson: I understand that your brother (Pedro) is also here, going to graduate school and helping out with the team a little. How nice is it to have him here as you adjust to college and all the new stuff?
Carle: He's a great support to me; he's doing a Master's degree in sports management. He graduated from Florida Gulf Coast and is now working here. He helps me a lot and we support each other a lot, more than when we were in Argentina. I see him on the weekends and I think it's a really good help for me.
Frierson: Have you been to a Georgia football game yet?
Carle: No, (laughs) I've just seen it on the TV. I'm also trying to understand the game, but I think it's really fun.
Frierson: Did you play any other sports growing up?
Carle: I started at six playing padel tennis [a sport different from paddle tennis, it's apparently like a hybrid of tennis and squash] and I started with that because my brother was playing, but then I realized that it wasn't the sport I liked and I changed to tennis. I love tennis.
Frierson: What would you be doing if you weren't playing tennis?
Carle: For sure if I wasn't playing tennis I would like to play field hockey because I like the sports with teams. If I don't play sports I would like to work in the TV, doing like, I don't know, some TV shows or something. I've always liked that.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
Players Mentioned
