University of Georgia Athletics
Quick Chat: Cyrus Mahjoob
March 07, 2024 | Men's Tennis, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Cyrus Mahjoob has been enjoying his first collegiate spring break, though likely in ways much different from his fellow University of Georgia freshmen. No trips to the beach or ski slopes for him.
A member of the Bulldogs men's tennis team, Mahjoob, from Rockville, Md., has spent the week training, working on and off the court to get better. He's even done some studying, trying to get ahead in some classes as the busiest part of Georgia's season lies ahead. He's also taken some time to relax, hang out with his teammates away from the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, and devour some Netflix, namely "The Blacklist."
Mahjoob and the Bulldogs host a quartet of matches at the Magill this weekend, starting Friday with a 2 p.m. match against No. 21 Alabama, followed by a match against South Carolina State at 5. On Sunday, Georgia hosts Auburn at 1 p.m. and Georgia State at 5.
During a Quick Chat on Wednesday, Mahjoob talked about spring break, his start in tennis, his favorite food, traveling the world alone at 16, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What has this spring break week been like for you?
Mahjoob: I've just been taking advantage of all of the free time. I'm actually spending a lot of time on the court when it's not raining, so I'm practicing, going in the gym, doing what I need to take care of. I'm also getting ahead on school for the final weeks, hanging out with the team, just kicking it together, and that's pretty much it.
Frierson: Did you play a bunch of different sports when you were younger?
Mahjoob: I did, but I actually started with tennis. That was probably the first sport I played. My dad just put a racket in my hand and threw me some balls, and then got a coach to work with me a little bit.
I also played baseball, swimming, a little bit of soccer and basketball, and was pretty well-rounded. I did everything except football; my parents wouldn't let me do that. Tennis was what I chose, and it was always my favorite to play. I liked being alone when I was playing because I knew that everything was dependent on me and how I'm working.
Coming to college and being part of a team has been a whole different experience, and it's been nice, as well.
Frierson: Who was your favorite player when you were growing up? And who's your favorite player now?
Mahjoob: Novak Djokovic has always been my favorite player, and still is. That's just always how it's been. My dad showed me Djokovic when I was really young, and it stuck with me. I love the way he competes and the way he plays.
I got to build a relationship with Francis Tiafoe, and he's a really good guy. Of the professionals I know in real life, he's my favorite. He and I have trained at the same place.
Frierson: What is it like seeing someone of Tiafoe's caliber up close?
Mahjoob: Just seeing the stuff he does on and off the court, and just the way he acts with other people. He's very humble; I know some of the guys on the pro tour kind of see themselves above others, but he's very down to earth.
Frierson: What is something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Mahjoob: My parents' cooking has always been really good. I'm Persian, and there's this dish called ghorme sabzi, and it's one of my favorite things. It's unbelievable, so it would probably be that. I don't know if you know what that is.
Frierson: I do not, but I can't wait to hear about it.
Mahjoob: I couldn't even tell you what it is. It's a mix of rice, vegetables and beans, and there's usually meat, like steak or beef. And there's some lemon or sour stuff on top, and it's just unbelievable.
Frierson: Was it fun growing up in a household where you're going to be exposed to a lot of traditional foods from Iran and that part of the world, while also living in the Washington, D.C., area, which also has food from all over the world?
Mahjoob: It was definitely awesome. My dad (Homayoon) was born in Iran, and my mom's whole family is Persian but she (Negin) was born and raised in the U.S., so I'm getting the best of both worlds. It was definitely an experience, and Rockville has access to such a diverse group of people, so that was also good and helped me become more well-rounded. On top of that, traveling for tennis was probably one of my favorite experiences.
Frierson: Is there one place that tennis has taken you that stands out above the rest?
Mahjoob: I guess certain trips stand out, though maybe not the country itself. I was a huge fan of Puerto Rico, which was one of the first places I went to alone. I was 16, and it was cool getting to travel alone.
I was also a huge fan of Italy and Argentina. Those countries were awesome, but I also had my team and my coach with me, which helped a lot.
Frierson: What was it like going to Puerto Rico by yourself at 16?
Mahjoob: It was just the start. I ended up going to a lot of countries in South America and Europe on my own. My coach, he tried to explain to my parents that I needed to get some independence and that I could handle it. I knew I could, and once I got to go, it was a lot easier than people might think. You just need to be responsible and look after yourself. ... I wasn't going to random places much or exploring the city on my own, I was kind of just going to the tennis center, going to dinner with friends, and that kind of thing. It was a great experience.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
Staff Writer
Cyrus Mahjoob has been enjoying his first collegiate spring break, though likely in ways much different from his fellow University of Georgia freshmen. No trips to the beach or ski slopes for him.
A member of the Bulldogs men's tennis team, Mahjoob, from Rockville, Md., has spent the week training, working on and off the court to get better. He's even done some studying, trying to get ahead in some classes as the busiest part of Georgia's season lies ahead. He's also taken some time to relax, hang out with his teammates away from the Dan Magill Tennis Complex, and devour some Netflix, namely "The Blacklist."
Mahjoob and the Bulldogs host a quartet of matches at the Magill this weekend, starting Friday with a 2 p.m. match against No. 21 Alabama, followed by a match against South Carolina State at 5. On Sunday, Georgia hosts Auburn at 1 p.m. and Georgia State at 5.
During a Quick Chat on Wednesday, Mahjoob talked about spring break, his start in tennis, his favorite food, traveling the world alone at 16, and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: What has this spring break week been like for you?
Mahjoob: I've just been taking advantage of all of the free time. I'm actually spending a lot of time on the court when it's not raining, so I'm practicing, going in the gym, doing what I need to take care of. I'm also getting ahead on school for the final weeks, hanging out with the team, just kicking it together, and that's pretty much it.
Frierson: Did you play a bunch of different sports when you were younger?
Mahjoob: I did, but I actually started with tennis. That was probably the first sport I played. My dad just put a racket in my hand and threw me some balls, and then got a coach to work with me a little bit.
I also played baseball, swimming, a little bit of soccer and basketball, and was pretty well-rounded. I did everything except football; my parents wouldn't let me do that. Tennis was what I chose, and it was always my favorite to play. I liked being alone when I was playing because I knew that everything was dependent on me and how I'm working.
Coming to college and being part of a team has been a whole different experience, and it's been nice, as well.
Frierson: Who was your favorite player when you were growing up? And who's your favorite player now?
Mahjoob: Novak Djokovic has always been my favorite player, and still is. That's just always how it's been. My dad showed me Djokovic when I was really young, and it stuck with me. I love the way he competes and the way he plays.
I got to build a relationship with Francis Tiafoe, and he's a really good guy. Of the professionals I know in real life, he's my favorite. He and I have trained at the same place.
Frierson: What is it like seeing someone of Tiafoe's caliber up close?
Mahjoob: Just seeing the stuff he does on and off the court, and just the way he acts with other people. He's very humble; I know some of the guys on the pro tour kind of see themselves above others, but he's very down to earth.
Frierson: What is something you could eat every day and never get tired of it?
Mahjoob: My parents' cooking has always been really good. I'm Persian, and there's this dish called ghorme sabzi, and it's one of my favorite things. It's unbelievable, so it would probably be that. I don't know if you know what that is.
Frierson: I do not, but I can't wait to hear about it.
Mahjoob: I couldn't even tell you what it is. It's a mix of rice, vegetables and beans, and there's usually meat, like steak or beef. And there's some lemon or sour stuff on top, and it's just unbelievable.
Frierson: Was it fun growing up in a household where you're going to be exposed to a lot of traditional foods from Iran and that part of the world, while also living in the Washington, D.C., area, which also has food from all over the world?
Mahjoob: It was definitely awesome. My dad (Homayoon) was born in Iran, and my mom's whole family is Persian but she (Negin) was born and raised in the U.S., so I'm getting the best of both worlds. It was definitely an experience, and Rockville has access to such a diverse group of people, so that was also good and helped me become more well-rounded. On top of that, traveling for tennis was probably one of my favorite experiences.
Frierson: Is there one place that tennis has taken you that stands out above the rest?
Mahjoob: I guess certain trips stand out, though maybe not the country itself. I was a huge fan of Puerto Rico, which was one of the first places I went to alone. I was 16, and it was cool getting to travel alone.
I was also a huge fan of Italy and Argentina. Those countries were awesome, but I also had my team and my coach with me, which helped a lot.
Frierson: What was it like going to Puerto Rico by yourself at 16?
Mahjoob: It was just the start. I ended up going to a lot of countries in South America and Europe on my own. My coach, he tried to explain to my parents that I needed to get some independence and that I could handle it. I knew I could, and once I got to go, it was a lot easier than people might think. You just need to be responsible and look after yourself. ... I wasn't going to random places much or exploring the city on my own, I was kind of just going to the tennis center, going to dinner with friends, and that kind of thing. It was a great experience.
(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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