Apr. 1—Southeastern Minnesota — specifically Rochester — has its share of talented boys tennis players again this spring. One missing is defending Class 2A state singles champion Tej Bhagra, a Mayo junior who's opting out of high school tennis this season in order to play bigger regional and national tournaments.
Here are five local players to watch this season:
A junior, Kennel is one of the most versatile players around, able to easily slip back and forth from doubles to singles. Kennel has great hands around the net and plays with a high skill level. Kennel teamed last year with Daniel Meunier to win the state doubles consolation title.
Wisniewski can deliver some high-end shots. His racquet speed is elite and the "wow" factor is definitely there for the senior. The key for Wisniewski will be to show consistency and improve his on-court decision making. But he's got the stuff to have a huge season.
The junior finished third in the state in Class 1A last season as he closed out an excellent campaign. Ritter's best individual strength is his serve — it's big. He's also a strong baseline hitter and is learning to become a better mover and decision maker on the court. Expect another top-three finish from the Lourdes star and maybe more.
A junior, Anand has made big strides the last three years. He's an aggresive baseline hitter and a big shot maker. Anand is a work in progress at constructing points and is working on his play around the net in order to finish off points.
Zimmerman is a tall player, about 6-foot-4. The junior finished fourth last season in state doubles, teamed with Noah Ryder, who's transferred to Mayo. Zimmerman has made a big push since the seventh grade. He's a scrappy player with a big serve who defends well.
