Meet @RazorbackWTEN: Flavia Araujo
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 54 University of Arkansas women’s tennis team begins its 2015 spring schedule Saturday, Jan. 17 with a home doubleheader against Wichita State and Mercer. In an effort to get to know the Razorback women’s tennis team, ArkansasRazorbacks.com will feature a student-athlete each day leading up to Jan. 17.
Today’s featured student-athlete is junior Flavia Araujo.
Araujo is in her third season with the Razorbacks, coming to Arkansas from Sao Paulo, Brazil. She has been a steady contributor on the court, owning a 23-23 career singles record. Araujo finished the 2014 fall schedule with an 8-7 mark, including claiming the championship at the Oklahoma Sooner Invite.
She was named a 2014-15 Red Tie Honoree for the Spirit of the Razorback Award.
Araujo was also the recipient of the 2013-14 Lee Spencer Cup individual award for her work off the court.
ArkansasRazorbacks.com recently sat down with Araujo (@flaviadaraujo).
Why Arkansas? Well, first of all, when I came on my recruiting visit, I loved everyone. Everyone was so welcoming and I loved the place, the facilities were incredible, more than I imagined it would be. I just fell in love with it and committed right away. I Couldn’t have made a better choice.
What do you do to get away from tennis? I play the guitar. I’m really into music so every time I can I log onto my computer and try to find different stuff, new stuff that they are releasing. My whole family is involved with music so for me it’s a really good getaway.
What is your favorite part about being on the tennis team? The girls are really nice, we make a good group. We are excited about playing this season. I think what’s nice about us is that there never really is bad timing or bad moods with us, everything just goes really well. We have a good flow everyday and it never gets boring.
Do you have a favorite saying from Coach Hegarty? I have a lot of really good sayings from him but I really like when after a match, you did a good job and he just comes right back at you, slaps you on the back and says ‘good job.’ That’s always on my mind.
What are three things you can’t live without? Family, first of all. That’s a hard question. I would say family for sure, first one, second one would be sports. I really think sports has impacted my life since I was little and that’s the main reason I’m here and the reason why everything that’s happening in my life is working so well, and friendships as well, it’s been great. I have really good friends back home, and really good friends here so I think they keep me going everyday because I don’t have family around.
If you could play doubles with anybody, who would it be? Roger Federer. He’s my favorite player, my favorite player ever is Gustavo Kuerten from Brazil but Federer is my favorite right now and has been for the last years. He is just great. He won a gold medal in the Olympics so I think it would be really nice. He’s the best ever.
Forehand or backhand? Forehand. I do love my slice backhand, but my forehand is what I have fun with. I do all the tricks using the forehand.
Of all the training that goes into tennis, what do you like to do the most? I’d say volley. I really like the volley drills, it’s always been my favorite. I starting playing tennis playing doubles so being at the net has been a huge part of my life.
Where is your favorite place on campus? Probably the Old Main park, right there with all the trees. In the spring it’s very beautiful.
For more information on Arkansas women’s tennis, check ArkansasRazorbacks.com and follow @RazorbackWTEN on Twitter.
