It isn’t too common for a tennis match to last three hours.
But that’s part of Spencer Liang’s game.
The senior played a match that lasted that long in the opening round of the ITA Regionals in October, where she advanced to the singles semifinal round.
“I can stay out there as long as it takes,” Liang said.
So far, Liang has impressed this season. She won a doubles title at the Duke Bonk Invitational in September, a tournament where she also finished in third place in her singles draw.
And it’s because of her relentless playing style.
“It’s really difficult to do,” UF coach Roland Thornqvist said.
“She’s so fast and so skilled at playing defense that players tend to begin to take more risks when they’re fatigued, and that’s when Spencer is at her best.”
Using her naturally defensive mindset and her speed to run down and return every ball, Thornqvist said that her ability to hit the ball above opponents’ shoulders makes it difficult on opposing players.
“I think that really frustrates them because they don’t want to be out there,” Liang said.
“If I needed to, I could have played more matches.”
The senior said the duration of her matches makes it easy for her to get under her opponents’ skin.
“I think it just frustrates my opponent,” Liang said.
“They know that they have to be willing (to play) really long points and really long matches most of the time in order to win.”
And while Liang’s style of play helps in her own individual matches, senior Kourtney Keegan said it also benefits the rest of the team in practice.
“It’s not easy to play against someone that’s going to hit every ball back,” Keegan said.
“It makes everyone else’s game better.”
Although her play has resulted in an overall singles record of 34-14 in her two years at Florida, the next step in elevating her play prior to the regular season, Thornqvist and Liang said, is being more aggressive offensively.
And in her final year as a Gator, Keegan said Liang’s improvement is easy to see.
Last year, Liang was undefeated in Southeastern Conference singles play and finished the Fall ranked No. 66 in ITA doubles.
But Thornqvist said she’s playing at an even higher level.
“She’s playing her best tennis by far for us right now (in) her senior year,” Thornqvist said.
“And that’s always a coach’s dream.”
Contact Cassie Amundson at camundson@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @camundson_.
Spencer Liang returns a ball during the 2016 ITA Regional Championships in October at the Ring Tennis Complex.
