Nov. 15, 2017
By Amanda Ronan, Auburn Media Relations
Because Australia doesn't offer athletics at the collegiate level, Sunshine Coast native Andie Dikosavljevic came to Auburn simply aspiring to further her tennis career. The senior mentioned, "All of these young people are given the opportunity to continue playing their sport at such a high level, so being able to play sports in college is what I really like about the U.S." The move of nearly 8,934 miles from Australia to Auburn proved worthwhile as she currently sits in 12th in all-time singles victories in school history, and is looking to climb higher up that list in her swan song season on the Plains.
In addition to those wins, Dikosavljevic has earned a number of prestigious accolades during her outstanding career at Auburn. During her first three seasons, she was the USTA /ITA Southern Region Singles Champion (2015), named to the All-SEC First Team (2016), the All-SEC Second Team (2017) and won the ITA Southern Region Cissie Leary Award for Sportsmanship (2017). Last season as a junior, she finished the season with a 20-12 record in singles and qualified for the NCAA Championships singles tournament.
Q: What made you want to come to the United States, from Australia, to go to school and play tennis?
A: I wanted to play tennis after high school, and in Australia we don't have college sports at all. It was good that I got to keep playing after high school.
Q: What made you want to come to Auburn?
A: I really liked the team and the coaches. I just connected really well with them, and that was the main thing. Also the facilities are great. I didn't really know too much about the U.S., so it was mainly the people here, the coaches and the players.
Q: What's the biggest difference between Australia and the United States?
A: I can't speak for the entire U.S. because I've only lived in Auburn, Ala., but there's just subtle differences. It's all the same language, but we drive on the left side of the road, restaurants are different and college sports. All of these young people are given the opportunity to continue playing their sport at such a high level, so being able to play sports in college is what I really like about the U.S.
Q: What's been your favorite memory playing tennis at Auburn?
A: I would say qualifying for the Sweet 16 my sophomore year when we beat Arizona State. It was just the best match ever. It was so long. Every single match was in three sets and we ended up winning 4-2. We were down the whole time on every court, so it was just such a great win for the whole team and the whole program. It was the first time Auburn had ever reached the Sweet 16.
Q: What's been your favorite memory just as a student at Auburn?
A: I'm not sure because all of my best memories are on the court with my team. All the success, together as a team, has been the best.
Q: Do you plan on moving back to Australia when you graduate?
A: I'm hoping to go to graduate school at Auburn. I'm applying right now. I'm planning to get my Master's in Industrial Organizational Psychology.
Q: What's your favorite aspect of tennis?
A: I just love competing. I'm a perfectionist and very competitive within myself. It doesn't matter who I'm playing, I really just don't want to get beaten by anyone no matter how good they are. I just love playing at a high level.
Q: What was your biggest goal for your senior season?
A: I think just playing the best tennis I can and having the most success I could have as a team. We want to win the SEC Championship, we want to win the national championship, so that would be my goals and my team's goals.
Q: What's your favorite Auburn tradition?
A: I love tailgating. I'm not a huge football person, but I love the whole atmosphere around it. I love tailgating with all of my friends, which we don't do that for any sport back home. I love the eagle flying before the game, and I love all the songs they play during the game and how everyone knows them.
Q: Who's your biggest role model?
A: My mom. If one day I ended up being like my mom, I would be super happy.
Q: What do you make sure that you do when you get to go home to Australia?
A: I live right by the beach, so I go to the beach all the time. We have all of these cafes by the beach and coffee shops, so I always go there. I love Melbourne, which is about a two-hour plane ride from where I'm from, and it's also where the Australian Open is. I seem to always go to Melbourne when I'm home, I just love it. I just make sure I see all of my friends.