Kutztown, Pa (April 20, 2012) – The Kutztown University men's tennis team takes on Millersville in a Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference semifinal contest this afternoon beginning at 3 p.m.
 
NOTE:  The game schedule has been changed due to poor weather conditions soon to come in the Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania area for this weekend. It has been announced that the PSAC Individual Singles and Doubles Championships this weekend in Bloomsburg have been cancelled due to heavy rain for Saturday and Sunday.
 
Sophomore Rushi Amin (Orefield, PA/Lake Brantley) (Allentown, Pa./Lake Brantley) is currently on a five-match winning streak, ready and focused to compete at Bloomsburg. At last week's match at Edinboro University, Amin defeated his opponent, Ryan Deimel from Edinsboro University, with set scores of 6-0 and 6-1.
 
In preparation of the PSAC Championships, Kutztown University sports information student assistant Kristen Cornelis interviewed Amin. 
 
Kristen Cornelis: How do you prepare for a match?
Rushi Amin (Orefield, PA/Lake Brantley): Preparing for a match is different every time – for me, it is usually focusing on the match about an hour before it starts. I listen to music that motivates me, and mentally prepare myself for it, especially if it's a tough one. I talk to myself about how I am going to play each point, and that's almost exactly how I play.
 
K.C.: What's been the highlight of the season?
R.A.: So far, the highlight of the season was us beating Millersville 8-1. We played as a team, strong and confident, going point by point for every match. The result was something none of us expected, but it was great to see everyone try their best.
 
K.C.: What's your favorite tennis memory?
R.A.: Well, there are a lot of them, but I think the best one was my first international tournament in Hyderabad, India. I was serving with a 4-5 score. Suddenly I lost 3 points in a row, which gave my opponent three match points. I don't know what happened to me after that or what I said to myself, but I saved those three match points and won the match from there (7-5). It was probably the longest match I've ever played.
 
K.C.: What is your favorite thing to do besides tennis?
R.A.: Besides tennis, I am also a big soccer and cricket fan. I like to play and watch them whenever I can.
 
K.C.: Do you prefer singles or doubles?
R.A.: Singles, on any given day. I have grown up playing mostly singles. It's also the best way I can represent myself.
 
 
K.C.: What match was your most memorable to look back on?
R.A.: The match against Bloomsburg: It was the semifinal of the regional, 2011. We had beaten them twice before, but this time we were down 4-2. They only needed one more match to win, but we pulled three straight matches under pressure and clinched the win.
 
K.C.: Who has been your biggest inspiration throughout your life?
R.A.: Overall, it's been my dad; he's taught me the most. When it comes to tennis, there are three people. Two of them are my coaches back in India - Darshan and Chintan Mehta. My personality is a portrayal of their teachings. The third one is Roger Federer, someone I've always wanted to take after and has inspired the tennis player in me.
 
K.C.: What PSAC team do you like to play against the most?
R.A.: Millersville. All the guys are really nice, and we get a good sense of competition as well.
 
K.C.: Who would you say is your biggest rival team?
R.A.: I would have to say it is Bloomsburg. They are the only one we have lost to in the conference, and that is the team I would love to see us beat.
 
K.C.: Do you have any pre-game rituals?
R.A.: I have a lot of rituals. I listen to some specific music before playing. I touch the ground when I enter the courts, every time before a match. I touch the ground with my racket and kiss my racket after each win; my bottle should be aligned with my tennis bag in a certain way. It really bothers me when someone moves the bottle out of the way.
 
K.C.: Do you have a celebrity crush?
R.A.: Oh yeah, two actually: Mila Kunis and Jennifer Aniston.
 
K.C.: If you weren't playing tennis, what sport would you play?
R.A.: I would be playing soccer, for sure. In fact, I played soccer for my school in India in the seventh grade.
 
K.C.: What do you want to get out of your experience here at Kutztown University?
R.A.: I look forward to getting a good education, learning as much as I can from my professors and my coach, making a lot of friends and enjoying the college life here – always learning something out of everything I do.
 
K.C.: How do you feel going into this weekend?
R.A.: We are well prepared and ready for it. We have been working really hard for the past year and I think it is all going to pay off this weekend. Let's hope for the best.