New at The U: Ana Madcur
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Freshman Ana Madcur of the University of Miami women’s tennis team has now been at school for three weeks after coming overseas from San Juan, Argentina.
With some time at UM in the rearview mirror, Madcur sat down to answer some questions for HurricaneSports.com on how it has been so far, and more . . .
Q: What has your experience at UM been like so far?
A: I really like it. I think that everyone is so cool and they are all good people. They are always trying to help us freshmen. So, I fit in really well here. I’m really happy to be here.
Q: Is there anything in particular that has been your favorite part so far?
A: Now, I really like the [relationship] that all the girls on the team have. I love the team. We are always together, always trying to push ourselves to get better. So, that is one of the things that I really like.
Q: What has it been like adjusting to living in the United States?
A: Well, it’s really different from where I was living. I was born in San Juan, but then I moved to Cordoba to practice better. So, I’m used to living alone, but this is really different because I’m not in the same country, you have a different culture. Everybody eats so early here, everything closes really [early], I don’t know why. In Argentina, always, the restaurants are closing at 11 or 12 [o’clock p.m. and] you go to get dinner at 11 or 12 and that’s nice. Here, it’s too late [Laughs]. So, I have to get used to those changes, but I really like Miami. I think I made a good decision to come here, so I’m really happy about that.
Q: Have you started thinking about what you want to major in, or have you made a decision on that?
A: Yes, I’m studying business, but my major is economics. For now, I think it’s going to be economics. I don’t know if I will change it in the future, but I don’t think so.
Q: Any classes you’re taking right now that you really enjoy?
A: Well, I really enjoy economics . . . Economics is always in our lives, so that’s why I really like it. Also, I’m taking a talking class that is like an English class. I really like it because it’s going to get my English better, writing or listening or speaking. So, those are the two of my classes that I really enjoy.
Q: Is there anyone on the team who’s kind of taken you under their wing a little and shown you around?
A: Clementina [Riobueno] is really close with me right now, but also I think Sinead [Lohan], Steffi [Stephanie Wagner] and obviously Clara [Tanielian] because we are sharing a room. I’m always with Clara, but Clementina, Steffi and Siny are among the closest to me, and also Yoli[mar] Ogando. I mean, I feel really good with everyone, but I think I’m spending more time with [that group], but everybody is so nice on the team. I really like the team. I think it’s so important when you come to a different country—you have to deal with all different things and I think the team is really important to us, we’re going to spend a lot of time together.
Q: The first matches are a week away. How excited are you for that?
A: I’m really excited, but I’m not playing really well right now, but yes, I’m really excited. I want to play matches, I want to play tournaments. So, yes, I’m really excited, but I think I have to improve my tennis right now . . . but I’m getting better every day.
Q: When you think back on it, what was it about Miami that made you feel like this was the place where you wanted to go to college?
A: Actually, I was talking with really important universities. I was talking with Baylor, I was talking with Pepperdine. Pepperdine is Malibu, [Calif., and] it’s a really great place, but I think the most important reason why I made this decision was the relationship I had with Laura [Vallverdu]. That was so important because when we talked the first time by phone everything sounded good and I felt really comfortable with her. I think that was very important for me—also [my relationship] with Paige [Yaroshuk-Tews]. And then obviously the place, we’re in Miami. It’s one of the best places in the world right now. So, I think it was like a box of things; the place, the relationship with Lau and the University is really nice, I really like it. They are really good at tennis and that was really important for me as an individual . . . I’m really involved with tennis right now. I really want to play in tournaments and improve my tennis, so that they were really good at tennis was really important for me too.
