University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Lea Ma
April 08, 2022 | Women's Tennis, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Lea Ma is playing some of the best tennis of her life right now. It's not improved technique or strategy that's helping the Georgia junior, she said, it's not worrying about the results that has freed up her game and allowed her to play her best.
Ma, from Dix Hills, N.Y., is ranked No. 29 in the country and plays No. 1 singles for the 11th-ranked Bulldogs, who host Kentucky on Friday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. She does the same warmup routine before every match, which includes hitting a certain number of shots with associate head coach Drake Bernstein.
During a recent Quick Chat, Ma talked about playing better this season, how much tennis she watches, being a veteran on a young team, and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: In what ways are you a better tennis player today than you were a year ago?
Ma: Honestly, this semester I've been playing some of the best tennis I've ever played, and a lot of it is not worrying about the results as much. I'm just letting myself play on the court, relaxing, playing my game, and knowing that I can compete with anyone. A lot of it is more mental than in my game but it's helped me a lot, just not worrying about winning and losing.
Frierson: How hard is it to get to that place where you're not focused on the outcome?
Ma: In the fall I was struggling with that a lot, I felt like I had a lot of pressure to do well, and then in the winter break I took some time off and I realized that winning and losing is not the end of the world. That time off during the winter break really helped me.
Frierson: How much professional tennis do you watch? Are you glued to the TV whenever one of the Grand Slams or bigger tournaments is being played, or do you get enough tennis in your daily life and you want to get away when you're at home?
Ma: I watch here and there. Some matches I'll watch but not too much. It's not my favorite thing to do.
Frierson: What do you like to do to get away from school and tennis?
Ma: I like being home and spending time with my family. I have a nephew now and I love seeing him grow up, so spending time with my family is the most important that.
Frierson: There are a lot of new and young players on the team this season, so what is it like now being on the of the veterans? Do you like having a leadership role?
Ma: It's new for me. Last year, I liked having our seniors because I could go to them with anything, so this is new for me. I do like being there for the new players and supporting them in any way that I can. It's fun being with them; it's a great group of girls.
Frierson: What is your favorite class that you've taken at Georgia?
Ma: One that's hard that I did well in was my survey of accounting class. One that was fun for me was one of my FYO (First Year Odyssey) classes, it's a fishing class. And I like to fish.
Frierson: Who is the funniest person on the team?
Ma: I've got to go with Mell (Reasco). She's really funny and she'll come up with some funny one-liners.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing in 10 years?
Ma: In 10 years how old will I be? Oh my gosh, I'll be 31. Maybe I'll still be playing some professional tennis.
Frierson: You're playing for two coaches, Jeff Wallace and Drake Bernstein, who both played for Georgia and have been around here a long time. What is it like working with those two every day?
Ma: [Laughs] They're both great. They're kind of like a second family for me, and I know I can come to them with anything. I love showing up on the court every day and
it's easy to play for them; they're always there for me and I have a huge amount of respect for them. On the court, they know what to tell me.
Frierson: How often do you try out new rackets? Are you always testing the new stuff or do you tend to stick with the equipment that you know works for you?
Ma: I'm one to switch every year. Like in the fall, when we're not in the thick of it playing matches, I will mess around with a few new rackets, and if I like one I'll switch.
Frierson: I've talked to Meg Kowalski about this and she said she barely knows what kind of racket she's even using. Do you get into the minutiae of all the different parts of a racket like string pattern and string tension?
Ma: She and I are very different. I need to feel comfortable with what I'm using. I try and change my tensions depending on where I am. If I know I'm playing outside and it's warm, I'll change my tension because the conditions are different. You have to get a feel for everything.
Frierson: Are you that detail-oriented in all parts of your life?
Ma: I think it's just around tennis. I'm a superstitious person on the court but off the court I'm fine.
Frierson: What kind of superstitions do you have?
Ma: In the warmup, when I'm hitting with my partner, I have to hit volleys first and I have to serve first, and then at the end of the warmup I have to hit six forehands and six backhands with Drake. I don't know, it's just a routine that I have. I'll feel off if I don't do it.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Lea Ma is playing some of the best tennis of her life right now. It's not improved technique or strategy that's helping the Georgia junior, she said, it's not worrying about the results that has freed up her game and allowed her to play her best.
Ma, from Dix Hills, N.Y., is ranked No. 29 in the country and plays No. 1 singles for the 11th-ranked Bulldogs, who host Kentucky on Friday at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex. She does the same warmup routine before every match, which includes hitting a certain number of shots with associate head coach Drake Bernstein.
During a recent Quick Chat, Ma talked about playing better this season, how much tennis she watches, being a veteran on a young team, and much more. Here's some of what she had to say:
Frierson: In what ways are you a better tennis player today than you were a year ago?
Ma: Honestly, this semester I've been playing some of the best tennis I've ever played, and a lot of it is not worrying about the results as much. I'm just letting myself play on the court, relaxing, playing my game, and knowing that I can compete with anyone. A lot of it is more mental than in my game but it's helped me a lot, just not worrying about winning and losing.
Frierson: How hard is it to get to that place where you're not focused on the outcome?
Ma: In the fall I was struggling with that a lot, I felt like I had a lot of pressure to do well, and then in the winter break I took some time off and I realized that winning and losing is not the end of the world. That time off during the winter break really helped me.
Frierson: How much professional tennis do you watch? Are you glued to the TV whenever one of the Grand Slams or bigger tournaments is being played, or do you get enough tennis in your daily life and you want to get away when you're at home?
Ma: I watch here and there. Some matches I'll watch but not too much. It's not my favorite thing to do.
Frierson: What do you like to do to get away from school and tennis?
Ma: I like being home and spending time with my family. I have a nephew now and I love seeing him grow up, so spending time with my family is the most important that.
Frierson: There are a lot of new and young players on the team this season, so what is it like now being on the of the veterans? Do you like having a leadership role?
Ma: It's new for me. Last year, I liked having our seniors because I could go to them with anything, so this is new for me. I do like being there for the new players and supporting them in any way that I can. It's fun being with them; it's a great group of girls.
Frierson: What is your favorite class that you've taken at Georgia?
Ma: One that's hard that I did well in was my survey of accounting class. One that was fun for me was one of my FYO (First Year Odyssey) classes, it's a fishing class. And I like to fish.
Frierson: Who is the funniest person on the team?
Ma: I've got to go with Mell (Reasco). She's really funny and she'll come up with some funny one-liners.
Frierson: In a perfect world, what are you doing in 10 years?
Ma: In 10 years how old will I be? Oh my gosh, I'll be 31. Maybe I'll still be playing some professional tennis.
Frierson: You're playing for two coaches, Jeff Wallace and Drake Bernstein, who both played for Georgia and have been around here a long time. What is it like working with those two every day?
Ma: [Laughs] They're both great. They're kind of like a second family for me, and I know I can come to them with anything. I love showing up on the court every day and
it's easy to play for them; they're always there for me and I have a huge amount of respect for them. On the court, they know what to tell me.
Frierson: How often do you try out new rackets? Are you always testing the new stuff or do you tend to stick with the equipment that you know works for you?
Ma: I'm one to switch every year. Like in the fall, when we're not in the thick of it playing matches, I will mess around with a few new rackets, and if I like one I'll switch.
Frierson: I've talked to Meg Kowalski about this and she said she barely knows what kind of racket she's even using. Do you get into the minutiae of all the different parts of a racket like string pattern and string tension?
Ma: She and I are very different. I need to feel comfortable with what I'm using. I try and change my tensions depending on where I am. If I know I'm playing outside and it's warm, I'll change my tension because the conditions are different. You have to get a feel for everything.
Frierson: Are you that detail-oriented in all parts of your life?
Ma: I think it's just around tennis. I'm a superstitious person on the court but off the court I'm fine.
Frierson: What kind of superstitions do you have?
Ma: In the warmup, when I'm hitting with my partner, I have to hit volleys first and I have to serve first, and then at the end of the warmup I have to hit six forehands and six backhands with Drake. I don't know, it's just a routine that I have. I'll feel off if I don't do it.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Assistant Sports Communications Director 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.
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