Q&A with a Razorback: Anouk Tigu

By Khandice WintersArkansas Media RelationsThe No. 1 ranked junior player in the Netherlands, junior Anouk Tigu became has been a great contributor to the women’s tennis program at Arkansas. This fall, Tigu won the Razorback Classic in singles by defeating Tulsa’s Alexandra Kichoutkin. She came in second in doubles with Claudine Paulson at the Wilson/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Central Region Championship at the Headington Family Tennis center in Norman, Okla. Tigu also competed at the Woman’s All American Championship at the Riviera Tennis Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Prior to this fall, Tigu finished the spring 2009 season with 20-plus wins with an overall record of 22-7 and was 10-5 in dual matches. Her dual victory with Nanar Airapetion in the ITA central Region Doubles Championship led to her a No. 8 national ranking in doubles play.MR: So, where exactly are you from? Tell me a little about your home town.AT: I am from the Netherlands, I’m from a little city name Moordrecht and it’s close to Rotterdam.MR: Do you miss home?AT: Yes, it’s hard sometimes, but I mean, I really like it here, I have a great roommate who is really nice and I’m really enjoying it. I like the people here.MR: What was the biggest transition from the Netherlands to Arkansas?AT: [pausing] I don’t know, it’s like you’re always missing home, you are out of your own country, and you are living by yourself and you have to make your own choices. I know it’s a hard thing and is sometimes difficult but like I said I really like the people in Arkansas.MR: Let’s talk about some tennis, what makes this sport so exciting?AT: Well, my father is a tennis teacher and my brother, who’s older than me, plays tennis. I just enjoy doing it and I like to practice hard, it was in my family already so it’s something I picked up.MR: What’s something about tennis people might not necessarily know about? AT: It’s a very individual sport, [playing in college is different] it’s different than playing in a whole team, you have your friends in tennis and you cheer for them and your team and you’re all there to win, and its good to be with the whole team.MR: What is your favorite part about a match? AT: Competition, I like to compete. I just really like that goal and that I can train hard for it. In a match I use everything I’ve learned and try to do as good as possible and make sure it’s gone well and you’re satisfied.MR: What’s the best place you’ve traveled to with the team?AT: I really like Colorado. It’s so weird for me because I am from Holland and everything is flat and here you’re like flying and you see all the landscape, I really like that. Everything is beautiful and of course I like to go to Florida and Los Angeles. Almost every trip is exciting with the team and we always have a lot of fun.MR: Yeah it’s really cool that you’re from a different country and you get to travel the United States.AT: Yeah I’ve been here for two years and I’ve all ready seen so many parts of America, it’s awesome.MR: If you weren’t playing tennis, what other sport would you take an interest in?AT: Team sports, when I was younger I did horse riding. I really liked it and all but it was different and not as competitive, I really liked tennis more. But if I could choose another sport if I had time I would play field hockey.MR: Okay enough about sports, what do you like to do in your spare time?AT: Hanging out with friends, shopping. I really like music. I don’t know. When you’re in college you just get so busy and it’s hard to keep up with friends, so really when I have the time I just want to hang out with those who are close to me. I just spend so much time with school and tennis that I just hang out when I can, nothing particular.MR: What is your favorite Razorback tradition?AT: I’ve been here for two to three seasons and the spring season is the most important. We’ve been doing well and I really like that feeling. When we made it to the NCAA sweet sixteen, the whole team and our fans were Calling the Hogs and it was a very exciting moment for me.MR: What is your major and what do you plan on doing with it?AT: I’m still undecided, but I’ve completed all my electives and now I’m just focusing on business. I don’t really have a specialty like management or marketing. I don’t really know what I want to do in the future with it.MR: Do you think you would stay here after you graduate or go back home?AT: I really would want to go home, after four years. It’s hard to say now because you never know what will happen. I want to try and maybe go pro in tennis and I would want to do that, you know, from my hometown.MR: What is your favorite restaurant here in Fayetteville?AT: I really like Wasabi; I don’t go there as much. I sometimes go there like after a big match that we won.