McGuire photo _ Brandon McGuire has been playing tennis competitively since the age of 10. Now as a junior at Christiansburg High School, he has a 11-2 record
Tennis is a game of finesse and hard hits, and a Christiansburg junior has added determination to the definition. Brandon McGuire is currently 11-2 on the season after a 6-0, 6-0 win in Pulaski on Wednesday. His two losses have come at the hands of the defending state 3A champion and runner up.
McGuire’s father and uncle played tennis in high school, but maybe not at the level they’re seeing him develop in to. He started playing at the age of eight and at 10, he was playing in tournaments competitively.
He credits hard work in the offseason as a key to his success, playing in United State Tennis Association tournaments every weekend. “USTA tournaments allow me to play against top notch competition every single match,” he said.
Typically, he practices every day and is getting faster and stronger.
His freshman year, he played in the number two singles spot for Mt. Airy High School in North Carolina. That team went 11-3 and lost in the state quarterfinals.
Last year as a sophomore at Christiansburg High School, he won about half of his matches.
“It was a struggle because I hate losing, I wasn’t at the level I needed to be to compete,” he said.
He models his game after professional tennis player, Noah Rubin who played collegiately at Wake Forest.
“He is a competitor and a fighter who never gives up. I consider my backhand to be my strong point, it is unique and unlike anyone else’s,” he said.
But McGuire admits he still have a weakness he has to work on. “My weak point is my serve, I plan to hit serve after serve until it improves.”
In the long run, McGuire would like to play tennis in college and eventually become a tennis coach, but for now, he is eyeing a district title and maybe a run deep into regional and state competition.
