Allie Will is no stranger to success. It’s been a way of life for her.
In three years at Florida, she has lost just three times in singles dual match play. She has won awards ranging from team MVP to Southeastern Conference Player of the Year. Last week, when the Intercollegiate Tennis Association released their updated rankings, Will earned a new distinction.
She is now the top-ranked singles player in the country.
“It’s something I’m definitely proud of, but I’m just looking to get better and play my best tennis in May,” she said. “It’s great, but it doesn’t mean that much.”
For Will, trying to get better is something that has been ongoing. She came into college as the No. 3 recruit in the country after a stellar youth tennis career. As a freshman, she was All-SEC, All-American and team MVP. Last year, she helped the Gators win a national championship.
In other words, getting better isn’t easy. Coach Roland Thornqvist, who recruited Will and has coached her throughout her tenure at Florida, believes the key is to not get caught up in the rankings.
“If you start looking at the numbers, it can really get your head spinning and make you lose focus on the things that can actually have a hand in the outcome,” he said. “She’s level-headed enough to be proud that she’s ranked No. 1, but not overwhelmed by it.”
Playing at the No. 1 and No. 2 spot in Florida’s singles rotation her entire career, Will has faced the best of the best. She has just 10 losses overall, and only two of them have come to players outside the national top 50. Against players in the top 10, Will is 6-3.
The last player to defeat Will, Stanford’s Nicole Gibbs, was also her opponent in the Feb. 12 dual match at Stanford. Will won, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.
With fewer than two months to go until postseason play, and with plenty of challenging matches before, Will still doesn’t feel like she’s playing her best. Mentally, however, she feels as strong as ever.
“Normally, you’re never really going to play your best tennis. It’s more about dealing with what you face that day,” she said. “I feel like maybe I’m doing that the best I have in college tennis.”
As the top-ranked player on the defending national champions, the adversity that Will faces comes from high expectations and top-notch competition. Undefeated in singles play this year, she has handled that adversity quite well.
“I’m definitely not playing my best tennis,” Will said. “Mentally, I’m maturing a little bit more, which is why I’ve been successful.”
