On The Plains with Billy Blaydes: "Never give up on anything"

Auburn senior Billy Blaydes, a key contributor to Auburn men’s tennis success over the past four seasons, is preparing to take the next step in his future.

Blaydes, a native of Windermere, England, was captivated by tennis at the age of seven after watching the Wimbledon Championships on television.

“I was around seven years old when I started playing tennis,” Blaydes said. “Being from England, I watched Wimbledon on TV and decided it was something I wanted to try. We had two local tennis courts near where we lived, so my brother and I started playing.”

Blaydes played tournaments until age 13 while also playing soccer before ultimately choosing tennis full-time, inspired by three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray.

“I think Andy Murray was probably one of the biggest inspirations for me,” Blaydes said. “He was Scottish and lived about an hour and a half from where I grew up. He was the main man at the time. It was around the Olympics when I first started playing tennis, and he won the gold medal.”

Blaydes showcased his talent in England, reaching a career-high junior national ranking of No. 3. He won multiple junior national titles, including a junior singles title, as well as several junior ITF doubles titles. Despite his success, his recruitment process came late, leaving uncertainty about where he would continue his career.

“I started my recruiting process my last year before I graduated high school, and Auburn was a great school for me,” he said. “I knew the assistant coach who recruited me was English. He was the only coach who came to England to visit me because COVID at the time was causing chaos.”

That familiarity made the transition easier, as Blaydes already had strong connections within the program.

“I knew two English guys on the team, Finn Murgett and Will Nolan,” said the 2024 All-SEC performer. “They had great things to say about the program, and what really impressed me was that I grew up with Finn. Finn is an interesting character, a bit fiery, and Auburn made him into a great guy. Will was a great friend of mine growing up, and he would be on the team with me for three years. I think that was one of the biggest things that drew me to Auburn.”

During his time on the Plains, Blaydes built lasting relationships with both teammates and coaches.

“Bobby (Reynolds) and I have a fantastic relationship,” Blaydes said. “We’re both very similar in that we’re not the most outgoing on the court. We keep things contained, and that helps us understand each other. Raul (Dobai) was my roommate for two years and has now been on the coaching staff for two years. He’s helped a lot, especially from a doubles perspective. Trey (Morris) is very passionate, loves tennis and holds everyone to a high standard. I’ve been very lucky with my coaches every year.”

Blaydes arrived at Auburn in January 2023 and made an immediate impact, earning SEC All-Freshman honors in his first semester. As a sophomore, he led the team with a 28-10 overall singles record and a 22-4 mark in dual matches, earning second-team All-SEC recognition.

As a junior, Blaydes and Will Nolan became the first Auburn doubles team since 2009 to win the ITA Southern Regional title, earning a berth in the NCAA Doubles Championships. He returned to the NCAA Doubles Championship as a senior alongside his brother, Freddy.

This spring, Blaydes has posted a 19-16 singles record and a 21-14 doubles record, primarily partnering with Freddy. Through both success and setbacks, he has carried lessons from the sport that extend beyond the court.

“I think the main thing that tennis teaches you is to never give up on anything,” Blaydes said. “Tennis and life, you can compare them very closely. You could be down a set and losing in the second, and you can come back and win. It’s the same in life. You go through situations where you might be struggling, but if you keep working hard and doing the right things, you’re going to have success down the road. Bobby always taught us that you’re a person before a tennis player, and how you approach tennis is how you approach your life.”

As an international student, Blaydes also embraced the personal growth that came with his time at Auburn.

“I think Auburn has helped me grow a lot as a person,” said the two-time NCAA Doubles Championship selection. “It takes time to adjust to how classes work, and I’d never really been on a massive campus like this before. You have to learn time management and make sure you’re on time.”

Auburn’s sense of community left a lasting impression on Blaydes, particularly through the meaning of “War Eagle” and the Auburn Family.

“‘War Eagle’ is something you hear at the airport and in so many different places around the country,” Blaydes said. “The Auburn Family is something I didn’t expect when I came here. I thought it was just another university, but it’s crazy how tight everyone is. Whether it’s football, baseball or any other sport, everyone is so supportive and just wants the best for Auburn. I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who came and watched all the matches over the years. I’ve been lucky to meet some great people through tennis and through Auburn.”

As his time on the Plains comes to a close, Blaydes is focused on what lies ahead.

“I’m definitely going to try to play professional tennis,” Blaydes said. “I’ve given my life to this, so I think I have to give it a go. I love tennis—it’s my life and what I’ve grown up doing. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love it, so I owe it to myself and everyone who has supported me—my coaches and parents—to try to play professionally and see what happens.”

Blaydes remains passionate about the sport, leaving the door open to coaching at the college or private level in the future.

As he reflects on his Auburn career, it is the relationships that stand out most.

“I’ll definitely remember all the great teammates I’ve had,” Blaydes said. “I think that’s number one, and I’ve been very lucky to have great teammates every year. I’ve had incredible memories spending every day with them. The coaches, players, staff and everyone around the university—it all feels like one big family. I’ll miss that as I go do my own thing. It’s crazy how fast this time has flown by, but I’ve loved every second of it. Everyone’s been so welcoming, and that family spirit here is something that’s very hard to find.”

Blaydes has compiled 86 career singles victories and 78 doubles victories, ranking seventh and sixth in program history, respectively. His 164 combined wins rank sixth all-time at Auburn. He also reached a career-high ITA singles ranking of No. 36 and a doubles ranking of No. 7, and is currently ranked No. 11 nationally with partner Freddy Blaydes.