It Runs In The Family

For Georgia men's tennis freshman Parker Jacques, there was no hesitation committing to the "G." As the son of a decorated tennis letterman, Eddie Jacques, Parker knew that once Georgia tennis became a possibility, he would work to make it a reality.

"Growing up a Georgia fan, we have pictures of me at five or six years old on the indoor courts, pictures of me at two or three at football games, so I've always grown up loving Georgia football, loving Georgia tennis, just bleeding red and black," Parker said. "When this opportunity presented itself, I was like, 'There's no place I'd rather go.'"

Despite his father being an SEC singles champion, an NCAA All-American and team captain during his collegiate career at Georgia, Parker never felt pressured into playing tennis or attending Georgia.

His father jumped at the chance to coach when he first picked up a racket at three years-old. Eddie propelled him through a journey to play for Georgia tennis once he showed interest. Regardless, having a father as a coach added a unique layer to their relationship.

"We've definitely had, and I think he'd laugh at this as well, our ups and downs on the court," Parker said. "It's a father-son relationship but also a coach-player one, so we've butted heads a couple times, but as I've gotten older, it's been great," he said. "Especially at tournaments, he can coach and help in that way, but as soon as it's all over, it's back to being father and son."

Parker grew up playing at Alabama Athletic Club and graduated high school from Madison Academy in Huntsville, Ala. in 2022 after winning a state title his junior year, the first in his school's history.

Parker took a gap year teaching tennis and training while living in Atlanta after graduation. He moved to Athens this fall along with six other new players: five freshmen and transfer Ryan Colby. These fresh additions to Georgia tennis made the transition smoother for him.

"It definitely helps having a team," Parker said. "Doing it by yourself is definitely tough, but having the guys is definitely a boost of energy. There is a joy about getting to do it with people that I really do love and care about. For some of them, I've only known two months, but I really do consider them my brothers."

Along with his teammates, Parker utilized his year of preparation in Atlanta to get ready for Athens, mentally and physically. Parker placed an emphasis on the importance of long, structured days during his gap year, mimicking the challenge he would face of balancing the academic and athletic rigor as a student-athlete at Georgia.

"I think it definitely has had an impact on understanding the structure of what flow of the day works best and understanding how to get your own rest," Parker said.

Despite the preparation and help from teammates, he is still transitioning into life as a Division-I student athlete. Parker is grateful for the program as he continues to iron out the everyday details of his life in Athens.

Shortly after arriving in the Classic City, Jacques saw for himself the culture of Georgia tennis that his father had always told him made this program special.

"Really within the first week or two, we were doing everything together, and we were so connected," he said. "You can see it in practice. You can see it in tournaments. There's something a little bit different about our team from some of the other teams we'll see. The connectedness, the way we encourage each other, the way we're on the court, looking at the brother next to us."

Parker himself is an addition to this culture, bringing his competitive spirit and hard-working nature to the court. However, as a newcomer to the program, he is still working to define his identity as a player with the help of coaches, making progress with a strong win during the regional tournament in Atlanta in early October.

Outside of match play, Parker, with his uplifting demeanor, looks to focus on the controllable items, learning from coaches' guidance and leaning on his own moral foundation to hone his energy and attitude. While he may feel the occasional nerves before taking to the court for a match, Parker leads his play not only with a competitive drive, but also with joy.

"Coach Diaz is always talking about how if you're losing, you're going out in a blaze of glory, trying to fire up everyone around you, even if your match isn't going the way you'd like it to go," Parker said.

As both a player and a teammate, he makes it abundantly clear that he sources his passion and drive from his Christian faith, giving credit to God for his athletic ability. When Parker plays, whether it's in a match or practice, he feels like it's his unique way of worshiping. He wants people to view his joy on the court as a testament to God's love. Parker wants his actions to mean more than just hitting a tennis ball.

"I believe He's given me this talent," he said, "Ultimately, in four years, the tennis will be gone. But if I can leave an impact that I really loved Jesus and make an impact on his teammates' relationships with Jesus, that would be way more important to me than if we win four national championships, if we win the SEC tournament, or if I have any individual success."

Throughout Parker's tennis journey, he's been able to rely on the cornerstones of faith, family, and positivity to excel, which has led him here, wearing the "G" across his chest.

Players Mentioned

Ryan Colby

Parker Jacques

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