Steep Learning Curve for Raguin at the Gaborone M15 ITF Tourney

Sunday Standard

Steep Learning Curve for Raguin at the Gaborone M15 ITF Tourney

It was a tough professional debut for Ntungamili Raguin at the ITF (International Tennis Federation) Gaborone M15 tournament this past week.

The 17-year-old lost his first professional match 7 – 5, 3 – 6, 5 – 7 against USA’s Preston Brown. Despite a spirited fight, against a much taller, physically imposing and experienced professional opponent, Ntungamili’s inexperience was all there apparent to see.

A nervous start, which was compounded later by faults which led to a loss of crucial points made things difficult for the teenager. In his post-match interview, the youngster alluded that the early nerves had taken a lot out of him. So much, he says, he felt fatigued towards the end of the deciding set.

In the end, this cost him the match as he failed to make it count when he was serving for the match. Despite leading 5 – 2, the youngster somehow failed to clinch the match as Brown fought back to eventually snatch it. 

Reflecting on the match, Raguin’s coach Killian Sinclair said ‘he was disappointed but happy.’ “It shows we still have a lot to work on. I think he’s got a lot of good things, a lot of character. He tried very hard until the end, which is one of the most important things.”  

“The main goal we set when we came here was about how he presented himself and the attitude he had, and I think that was a success today. Especially since he didn’t convert one of his match points, of course. But overall, I think it was a positive match. Hopefully he doesn’t take it too hard. I’m disappointed but happy.”  

This being his first professional match, and against a physically mature and imposing opponent, there were however good takeaways. This was an experience the teenager needed as he charts his way towards professional tennis.

“It’s good because it shows that there are many different types of tennis players. Today he played someone who’s very, very tall, very heavy, serves very, very well. That’s the reality of tennis — there are a lot of people like this, and in juniors you don’t get that experience so much.”  

“So, it’s a very good thing to play some men’s tennis now, because that’s the goal. As much as we want to do well at the French Open, we have goals that go way beyond juniors. It’s important to get the experience now so that he doesn’t have that shock later,” Sinclair says.

While losing from a winning position in his first professional match was hard to take, glimpses of huge potential Raguin has were all out for everyone to see. In fact, as he sets sights in competing on playing the men’s grand slams and competing well in them in the future, Batswana can be excited.

Regarding the many faults which cost Raguin some valuable points, coach Sinclair is not worried. He says the faults were expected. He attributes the faults to works they are doing to improve his play as well as the pressure of playing an experienced quality opponent.

“It’s partly by design because we’ve been working on improving his shot quality, and when you work to improve your shot quality, it comes with a few more mistakes.” 

“But it’s also because of the quality of his opponent. Today he played a professional player – it’s different than playing the juniors that you’ve seen him play here. So, it’s a mix of both, I would say.”

Even more interesting for coach Sinclair was how the youngster is handling the pressure. “Mentally, he’s been really making strides recently. It’s tough because the better he plays, the higher the level. The better he plays, the more pressure he feels – the pressure from others, or in general pressure for himself, what he wants to achieve. It’s been a little time for him to adapt to that. But he’s going through it and he’s on a good path I would say.”

With the first professional match now behind him, Raguin will be looking forward to his next outing. This will be this coming week when he returns to the court again for his second professional match. For him, these matches also serve as preparations for the upcoming Rolland Garros Junior Championships, Davies Cup Africa Group IV and hopefully Junior Wimbledon.

“We have still next week here, next week as well, and we go straight to the French Open after that. He has his final exams in school – he’s still in school. Then we have a small break with, or break here’s the Davis Cup in Kenya. He’s really excited about that. And then we’re gonna go to England, and depending if he’s in or not,” Sinclair says.

As for the young Raguin, his eyes are set on the next ITF Gaborone M15 match. His wish is just to do his best and make the country proud. As for what the future holds, only time will tell.

The post Steep Learning Curve for Raguin at the Gaborone M15 ITF Tourney first appeared on Sunday Standard and is written by Sunday Standard Reporter