Matthew Asciak, Malta’s long-time leading tennis player, tells Mark Strijbosch that his love for the sport makes all the sacrifices worthwhile as he prepares to represent Malta in the Iceland GSSE

Having just completed a full season with football club Swieqi United in the second division, tennis player Matthew Asciak must now shift his focus to the courts as he prepares to represent Malta in the Small Nations Games in Iceland early next month.

Asciak has had a very busy season, playing 24 times for Swieqi United but rather than hoping for a break, he feels physically prepared.

“Elements of different sports can be transferred to others,” Asciak said.

“Whereas tennis requires more intensive bursts of energy and different footwork, playing a full season in football has kept me physically fit and mentally active.”

Asciak is now fully concentrating on his tennis, training hard for the GSSE where he will be unseeded which can be a potential curve ball to his game as he can be pitted against highly-ranked players.

Asciak admits that being unseeded is tough but he has not yet begun to think about his potential opponents, opting to delay any form of pressure that can build up.

“Tennis, like some other sports, depends purely on the individual, and one can have an off day or a good day, irrespective of the opponent,” he said.

Asciak compares the individual lure of tennis to the team approach of football. “In tennis, you cannot hide while team-mates in other sports can bail you out of a tough game but they can also contribute to a harsh defeat despite a good individual performance,” he explained.

Asked about his chances of winning a medal at the GSSE, Asciak laughed, noting the added pressure of predictions does not help.

“It is hard to know what to expect, but I will train hard during a Sicily training camp and that should boost prospects,” Asciak said.

He will train with Gianluca Naso, ranked 268 in world tennis, and the exposure will kick him back into gear.

Training abroad and trying to up his game against ranked players is just what Asciak needs as he has not played as much tennis as he would have liked over the past years due to his coaching commitments.

In mixed doubles, the 24-year-old feels more confident. He has won in this category before and knows his partner Elaine Genovese well.

They would like to add to their collection and the silver medal won in Luxembourg spurs them on for a push for gold.

Family support

Asciak has been playing tennis all his life, encouraged and supported by his parents Helen and Gordon, no strangers to medals themselves.

He knows it is a tough ride for any budding athlete but insists that dedication is the key.

“You must see how badly you want it, and if the answer is very badly, then sacrifice as much as possible,” Asciak remarked.

“Your sport must come first, before your social life and days lazing on our sunny beaches.”

Asciak is the type who believes “you can make it anywhere, with enough hard work and dedication” and feels that, although financial restrictions in Maltese sport don’t help, this can’t be used as an excuse for failure.

He is grateful for the support his parents have given him and readily acknowledges that the Malta Tennis Federation (MTF) does its best to help the athletes but their hands are also tied. Asciak knows that in tennis it is hard to play as a full professional if you are outside the top 200 in the world.

As I left the courts, Asciak carried on with his training, swinging his racket with that usual determined look. His eyes might be aiming for the far corners to pin his opponent back but his overall sights are focused on the Small Nations.

Asciak has made his sacrifices and is now turning his attention to coaching adults and kids alike where he sees “a lot of talent coming through, with over 200 children training tennis”.

The future looks bright for local tennis, and with Asciak’s experience and cool head, Malta’s prospects in Iceland look just as encouraging.