Aug. 13, 2008
Benedikt Fischer is a senior on the men's tennis team. He originally hails from Dusseldorf, Germany. Fischer transferred to Memphis in the Fall of 2006 from Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. Last season for the Tigers, he competed at the No. 5 and No.6 singles spots. Fischer put up a record of 12-6 in dual matches, ranking him as the U of M's leader in dual singles wins. Along with putting up the numbers on the tennis court, Fischer has been successful in the classroom, as well. The senior has been named to the C-USA All-Academic team for the past two seasons.
What are your personal and team goals going into your senior season as a member of the Memphis Tigers' Men's Tennis?
"I came here with the mission to help get the team back to into the rankings and we have still yet to do that. I am setting out to do anything I possibly can to help get us back into the rankings. That is one of the main reasons I returned for my senior season. I didn't want to leave the program without accomplishing the main goal I set out to accomplish."
"As a personal goal, I want to crack the rankings and do whatever it takes to get to the NCAA Tournament. It doesn't matter if I make it by being ranked or by having a solid conference tournament. I always try to set out to win in the conference tourney. Though my personal goals are important, they aren't as important as my overall team goals. The team comes first."
What has it been like moving from Dusseldorf, Germany to Texas and then to Memphis, Tenn.?
"It has really been a different overall experience. When I came here in the fall of 2006 I was fascinated with how nice and helpful everyone around the university and the city were. I have been really impressed with the attention that the athletic department puts on the student-athletes and everything that the athletic department does to help us with anything and everything that we need. We don't have anything like it in Germany. In Germany, you really don't have the opportunity to be a `student-athlete'. The focus is either put on the student part or on the athlete part, their really isn't an in between."
You have been named to the C-USA All-Academic team two years in a row. What does it take to remain a good student, while also remaining committed to your athletic team?
"It is really all about good time management skills. As a student-athlete one really needs to have a lot of focus and be able to stay organized. Being part of the tennis team has really helped me stay focused in the classroom."
What has been the difference with going from a tennis program at a junior college to a NCAA-affiliated tennis program?
"Tennis-wise their really hasn't been that much of a difference. The differences come in the academic area. The junior college classes are a lot easier than anything you take at the University of Memphis. Also, it is a lot more professional at Memphis and we have a lot more support from the athletic department as student-athletes."
What role did your parents have in you moving from Germany to the United States?
"They were really the driving force behind everything. They always taught me to take advantage of all the opportunities that are presented to you. So when the opportunity at Memphis was presented to me, I jumped at it. I am glad I did, because I love the University of Memphis and the tennis program. Now my parents just have to get used to, because I intend on staying here long after college."
What are you plans after you graduate from Memphis?
"I am majoring in business right now and am sort of looking at the finance field. I really don't know for sure what I want to do yet. I am just going to try to do some internships in the business field and see how I like it. I am pretty much open to anything though."
