MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State tennis signee Nathan Martin recently was afforded the unique opportunity to play against an opponent that helped mentor his tennis career. Martin got to face James Kent in ths West Virginia Public Court Event last week. Kent is a seven-time champion in the event and is also Martin's doubles partner in the championship. The following is a feature story about the occasion by Ryan Pritt of the Charleston Gazette.
There sometimes comes a time in a young man's life when the only thing standing between him and success is the person responsible for him being there in the first place.
For 17-year-old Nathan Martin, that time will come at 6:30 tonight in his men's open singles semifinal match at the Charleston Public Courts tournament, when he squares off against seven-time champion and No. 3 seed James Kent. (www.msueagles.com note: Martin lost to Kent in the match)
Martin, a native of Louisa, Ky., overcame an upset stomach and a gutsy performance by 24-year-old Bradley University graduate Wil Lofgren to take a 7-5, 6-4 win in the quarterfinals Tuesday.
But if not for Kent, the No. 6-seeded Martin would have never played a game in Public Courts.
"I told him about the tournament," said Kent. "I thought it would be a good chance to play the men's open, just for practice."
Martin, who also plays as Kent's men's open doubles partner, has enjoyed the experience and the wins he has accumulated thus far.
"I like it. I don't know, I've done pretty good for my first time, I guess," said Martin. "It's not really much different [from tennis in Kentucky] at all. It's just different players I've never seen before."
Kent recruited Martin to play with him via Facebook message about eight months ago. The two have been playing ever since, first at Ritter Park Tennis Center and now at the High Intensity Training Center, both in Huntington. There is no doubt Kent will be far from a strange opponent for
"Nathan and I have played like a million times over the last eight months," said Kent. "It will be an awkward match but I am proud he has gotten this far."
Despite winning five district championships in high school and playing varsity tennis since the third grade (in Kentucky, students can participate in non-contact varsity sports, regardless of age or grade), Martin remains skeptical about his chances to upend one of the most successful Public Courts players in the tournament's 50-year history.
"I'm going to try to beat him, but I'll probably feel bad if I do," said Martin. "It probably won't happen, but I'll try. I've taken about 10 sets off of him, but he's beaten me in 150 or so."
Although Kent remains rightfully confident in a head-to-head matchup, he is quick to point out the level of skill his protégé possesses and the amount of progress he has made.
"I felt I've played well in the whole tournament, I've really been serving pretty well," said Kent. "[Martin] has a big serve, he hits big shots and he has all the tools right now. He has come a long way in eight months."
Martin will attend Morehead State University on a tennis scholarship in the fall.
