March 13, 2006

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -

umterps.com: What is the biggest challenge for you this season?
Marianne Baker: The biggest challenge for me this season is probably balancing tennis and schoolwork. Also, it's a challenge just staying healthy in general.

umterps.com: Would you rather play a doubles match or a singles match?
MB: Doubles! While I love to play singles, doubles is just so much more fun, exciting and fast-paced.

umterps.com: Who was the most important influence in your playing career?
MB: The most important influences I would have to say are my parents. I started playing tennis on local public courts at the age of three. When I became old enough to play in tournaments, my parents would drive me anywhere and paid for me to go pretty much anywhere in the U.S. They believed in me 150% and without them, I don't think I'd been where I am today.

umterps.com: If you weren't playing tennis, what would you be doing?
MB: I have no idea! I have been playing tennis my entire life and most of my friends at home play tennis. When I go home for breaks, I usually go to the tennis club that I used to play at and practice. I don't think I can imagine myself not playing tennis.

umterps.com: How important is confidence to a tennis player?
MB: I believe that confidence is really important to any tennis player. If you're in the third set of a match and tied 5-5, you have to just believe that you're groundstrokes are going to be there. I've won many matches where I could tell my opponent wasn't confident in herself. IT is something I am able to take advantage of by making her hit a shot that she's not comfortable with.

umterps.com: Has there been a highlight to your season?
MB: Anytime I beat a ranked opponent is always a highlight. I haven't beaten many people who are highly ranked in the nation and coming out victorious in a match like that is always a highlight.

umterps.com: What do you do in your free time?
MB: I love watching the OC and my favorite movies are the Matrix Trilogy.