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Denise Dy hopes to build on a strong sophomore year next season.
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July 19, 2010
Denise Dy enjoyed a breakout season in her second year at Washington, starting strong in the fall and finishing with a 26-5 record. Her .839 winning percentage last year was the third best mark in program history. Dy had impressive wins to get to that record, with five victories over women that finished the year in the Top-25. The ITA Northwest Regional title she won in the fall included victories over second-ranked Jana Juricova of California and third-ranked Hilary Barte of Stanford. She was the first Husky to win that tournament. Dy continued a strong season with a run to the semifinals at the ITA National Indoor Championships, and earned her first NCAA Championships bid in both singles and doubles this spring. She was named an All-American along with teammate Venise Chan.
This summer, Dy is hard at work rehabilitating a knee injury that affected her mobility last season. She hopes to come back stronger as a junior. Dy will play in the Washington State Open later this summer, where she will defend her singles title from last season that helped springboard her to a breakout season as a sophomore.
GoHuskies.com: Are you training this summer like you did last summer?
Denise Dy: You can't expect me to do exactly what I did last year but you can expect me to be ready for the season come fall. I'll just work my butt off.
GH: What are your thoughts on the season?
Dy: It was my goal to earn All-American honors and to make the tournament. This year I hope to get past the first round.
GH: How's your knee feeling? I know you were playing with it for most of the dual season.
Dy: I want the team to do good so I played, but now that I played my knee will probably take 3 times longer to heal than it would if I would have rested.
GH: What do you think are your strengths?
Dy: I think I'm fast with my feet, my first 2 steps are very explosive, but with my knee I lost that explosiveness?
GH: What do you think were your best wins from this past year?
Dy: The Arizona match is definitely in my mind. I was in a lot of pain that day. The regional tournament was probably the most awesome because winning a tournament is a big accomplishment and I'm glad I was a part of that. Nationals was great as well.
GH: What parts of your game do you think will be improved this Summer?
Dy: I need to work a little more on my backhand and maybe putting a little more spin on the ball, or just changing it up and using different shots. My backhand needs the most work as well as volleys.
GH: What is else is on your Summer schedule?
Dy: There's other tournaments that I may play in, but Washington State is when I'm most looking forward to coming back. I'm also playing doubles with Deanna.
GH: Did winning last year give you a god confidence boost?
Dy: Winning the Washington State Open showed me that I was doing the right things and that if I keep doing the things I'm doing that I can go a little farther than the Washington State Open. It would be cool to win it again though.
GH: This year you're going to have to switch up doubles partners. Is that something you think about?
Dy: Yeah, I think about it. I think about if I will lose my ranking, that seems a little unfair. I don't really know how the NCAA does it. I love doubles, with only singles I feel a little lonely. There's a new girl I can't mention that I might play with.
GH: When did you first start playing tennis? Did your family play? What other sports did you play growing up?
Dy: My family loves sports, but they grew up in the Philippines were funds are hard to buy a tennis racket or a basketball. They loved sports but never really played; bowling was the only sport they really played. My dad's an architect and my mom's a broker. My brother loves tennis and he put me up to playing. My mom's opinion is that you can't only do well in school; you also have to have an activity. My mom put me in basketball camps, even tap dancing. Each summer I learned something new, I was busy.
GH: Did you have any favorite players growing up?
Dy: I loved Pete Sampras and Martina Hingis.
GH: Have you declared for a major yet?
Dy: No. I actually applied for Sociology and I'll know in 3 weeks. I hope I get in. Summer is the worst time to apply. Hopefully I'll get in the Fall. I also like psychology.
GH: What made you interested in that?
Dy: I feel like I've been interested in it my whole life, without even knowing it really!
GH: Is it because tennis is a very psychological game?
Dy: It's a very mental game. Just like golf, or any sport. A lot of the time I think its more mind and soul than anything. When I was traveling for four years when I was a teenager, I remember the only thing I was interested in and loved was sports psychology and how different people react across cultures and goad each other. I remember seeing how all different people react and communicate with each other. From that, I was thinking that it's not that bad. Also, in my free time I liked to read book and like psychology books. So, I figured why not?
