Nov. 29, 2016
By Cat Perez
Men's tennis freshman Carles Sarrio traveled a little more than 4,600 miles to go to college at Auburn.
Originally from Valencia, Spain, Sarrio has slowly adjusted to America. He asked after the interview was over how his English sounded. When I explained he did a great job, his face lit up. Thankfully, tennis comes a lot easier to Sarrio right now.
Sarrio competed in four out of the five tournaments this fall season, which is no surprise. He was one of the top junior tennis players from Spain, reaching the final of the Spanish championships and receiving a No. 1 rank for U18 players. The future is bright for this young Tiger. Get to know Carles Sarrio and his transition to the United States:
What's it like to be in America to play tennis?
"I would like to come here because I heard the tennis level here is good and Auburn University was a place for me to play. That's why I decided to come play here."
Why did you choose Auburn?
"I came in February and I visited the university. I liked the facilities, the coaches and the teammates and I loved Auburn."
What is it like to play in Spain?
"It's different in Spain. I was always playing with the same guys and it's the same style of play. In America, it is different courts. I've never really played on hard courts before. Playing here is different."
What is the hardest part of the adjustment?
"The language. My English when I came here was not good. Now I can communicate with my friends, teachers and coaches. That's why I came to school here -- to improve that."
Has it been hard to adjust to taking classes in English?
"At the moment, it's okay because I am taking easier classes, but if I study hard and start studying one week before the test then I don't have any problems to do the exams."
What do you like to do on your day off?
"I like to eat well. I usually go to Wellness (Kitchen) and I love to eat what I like because we don't have enough time to eat how we want to. I eat all what I want to those days."
What is your favorite type of food?
"I don't have one specific type of food that is my favorite. I like to eat pasta and chicken. I like to eat healthy."
If someone was to visit to Spain, where would you take them?
"I would take you to eat a typical food in Spain. I would take you to some Spanish restaurants to eat typical food."
How do you prepare for your matches?
"I try to practice 100% before the tournaments. Also I try to keep focused on my work."
Cat Perez is a student assistant in Auburn athletics communications