Whiz Kid of the Week: Nadia Smergut Aces On and Off the Court

Tennis players like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have made headlines complaining that their season is too long, but they clearly haven’t seen the tournament schedule of East Hampton resident Nadia Smergut.

Smergut, 16, competed in 25 events last year, leading to a year-end ranking of No. 10 in the Girls 16-and-under division for the east coast. Throw in almost daily practices and a rigorous academic workload at , and you’re left with a schedule that would intimidate just about anyone.

“I’ve really increased the amount of time I’ve been practicing in the last year,” said Smergut. “When I won my first sectional tournament last year (in Port Washington), it pushed me to win more.”

Smergut said she wakes up at every morning at 6 a.m. to practice for 90 minutes on the indoor courts at Ross with her coach, Alejandro Tejerina, before class begins. After getting out of school at 2 p.m., she jumps back on court for another 90 minute practice with Tejerina before tackling homework assignments in up to five subjects.

“My parents (Annette and Peter) have been incredibly supportive with everything and have been the biggest part of this process,” said Smergut. “I wouldn’t be at the level I’m at now if it weren’t for them.”

Tejerina said that he and Smergut have been working on a number of areas in recent months to help elevate her game to an even higher level, as she prepares for an upcoming sectional tournament in Latham.

“We’ve been lucky enough to play three hours every day in the last 12 months and she’s improved in every area from her finesse and touch around the net, to using a smarter shot selection in matches,” said Tejerina. “Right now we’ve been working quite a bit on fitness off the court and mental toughness on it.”

Smergut has had a lifelong love affair with the sport, first picking up a racket when she was just 5 years old. She was first noticed at a summer sports camp by one of the coaches, who told her parents that their daughter had a knack for the game.

Smergut said is in the middle of finishing her core classes at Ross and beginning to look at Division I and Division II schools throughout the east coast including University of Miami, UNC-Chapel Hill, Emory, Syracuse, and Columbia.