With every serve and volley, Green Hope men’s tennis players Vivek Indlamuri (‘25) and Stephen Gervase (‘26) transformed the tennis court into their personal playing field as they dominated their opponents in doubles matches. On May 11, 2024, Indlamuri and Gervase did just that when competing in the 2024 NCHSAA 4A Individual Men’s Tennis conference at Millbrook Exchange, earning the winning title in the doubles championship final.

Gervase and Indlamuri faced opponents from three schools before competing in the final match — the first against Lake Norman, the next against South Mecklenburg and the third against Providence. The pair maintained a solid lead against the three teams, building up to a win against Hough’s Jesus Espinoza and Jackson Davis in the final match. Gervase and Indlamuri lost the first set 5-7, but went on to win the other two sets 6-3 and 6-2, respectively, claiming their title as state champions.

When asked about what he did to prepare for the championship, Gervase mentioned rigorous practices with Indlamuri. “We did a lot of doubles practice together and felt really good about the match beforehand. Vivek and I talked a lot and strategized on how to go about playing the different teams which is something that served us well.”

Indlamuri echoed a similar sentiment and explained that their thorough preparation set them up for success. “I think the thing that really helped us succeed was the fact that we had done so much practice. On a personal level, we both did a lot of practice outside of school as well,” he said. 

The pair attested to their nerves before the final match, especially with a loss in the first set. Gervase shared insight on his feelings before and after the match. “Honestly, I felt really nervous before the final match and I wanted to pull through and keep the winning streak,” he said, explaining that they were ultimately able to push past their anxieties. “It was discouraging that we lost the first match, but we pulled ourselves together and made a comeback in the final two sets, and it was a relief that we were able to secure the win after all that effort.”

Both Gervase and Indlamuri expressed pride in their individual performances throughout their championship run and expressed their gratitude toward the opportunity to showcase their talent at the state level. “I definitely could have performed better in a couple matches, I think I played really well overall. In regards to improvement, I definitely think I could have worked on some of my serves as well as put away some balls in a couple of the matches,” said Indlamuri. Gervase shared similar sentiments, expressing how he was content with his overall performance, despite having a slow start in his finals match.

Gervase commented that he could have performed better. “If I were to do this match all over again given my experiences, I would tell myself to stay calm and have more faith in myself- even though we lost the first set, we found our groove and made a comeback in the final two sets. It’s important to always remember to believe in yourself and trust your abilities and the hard work you’ve put in,” he said. 

When asked about the entire team’s tennis season, both players felt content with their accomplishments. “I think the season was really successful, and even though we lost the state final match, I think the team put out a really great effort. We had really good team coordination and bonding this year as well, so that was really fun to experience,” said Indlamuri.  

Both Gervase and Indlamuri encourage underclassmen to continue to work hard and train consistently, especially if they want to compete in a state conference. Although the championship conferences and the regular season concluded for the 2023-24 year, the Green Hope men’s varsity tennis team will return next spring to kick off another successful season for the next school year.