On Friday, Manji beat junior Kris Yee 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in IU’s 4-3 loss at ?Vanderbilt.
Sunday, in IU’s first two home matches of the season, Manji won twice more in a 6-1 victory against Western Michigan and 4-0 victory against Northern ?Illinois.
“I don’t feel like just because I’m a freshman I have more or less experience than anyone else,” Manji said. “I’ve been through a lot of pressure situations in my junior career, and I’ve just transferred it over here.”
Manji is 4-1 so far this spring and has done so from the No. 3 position in the lineup. Playing in the No. 3 position means Manji is playing the opponent’s third-best player every match, something that can prove difficult for a freshman.
IU Coach Jeremy Wurtzman said he’s confident enough in Manji’s ability to play at the No. 3 position consistently, even once the Big Ten season begins. Manji said he’s welcoming the challenge.
“I know I can step my level up when I really need to,” Manji said. “I played a lot of top players, and I feel I can go pound-for-pound with them.”
In his 6-2, 6-0 win Sunday against Northern Illinois’ Kevin Daun, Manji was vocal about his play and the play of his ?teammates.
He said that this is one of his favorite things about playing college tennis, the support system his teammates provide. Manji said he doesn’t like getting too emotional in individual tennis, fearing it might inspire his opponent.
“I love the drama and the intensity,” Manji said. “I love the team atmosphere because you can get really into the matches. You can get loud, get energetic and there’s always something going on.”
Another player often heard offering words of encouragement to his teammates is sophomore ?Matthew McCoy.
McCoy lost Friday at Vanderbilt 6-3, 6-2 before winning 7-5, 6-1 in his first match Sunday against Western Michigan and was winning 6-2, 4-1 in his second match against Northern Illinois before IU clinched the victory and play stopped.
“Matt loves to hit a ton of balls, and he loves to practice and every day he’s trying to get a little bit better,” Wurtzman said. “I think it’s just his ?preparation and hard work that’s attributed to his success so far.”
One of IU’s top returning players this season is junior Daniel Bednarczyk. Bednarczyk spent most of last season playing at the No. 3 and No. 4 spots in the lineup and has stepped up to No. 2 this season.
Against Vanderbilt on Friday, Bednarczyk struggled. In doubles he and his partner, junior Sam Monette, lost 6-0. Bednarczyk then lost 6-2, 6-4 in singles to junior Rhys Johnson.
Bednarczyk won his first match Sunday, but it took winning a third set tiebreaker 7-4. He was leading 2-1 in the third set in his second match Sunday before IU clinched the victory.
Wurtzman is not worried about Bednarczyk, saying every school has a good No. 1 and No. 2 player.
“I don’t pay attention too much to the scores and how he’s doing,” Wurtzman said. “I think he’s doing just fine up there, and it’s tough at No. 1 and No. 2 singles.”
Bednarczyk will also have the support of his teammates. Whenever any Hoosier sees another struggling, they immediately begin voicing their support for him between their own points.
Manji said he felt this mentality immediately after arriving at IU.
“It’s so easy with my guys here because we’ve been through a lot and we’re doing good,” Manji said. “It’s easy to pick them up, and it’s easy for me to pick them up.”
