Peter Alex and Rohan Chinwalla made separate appearances in last year’s boys tennis state meet.
But Hinsdale South new doubles team started preparing long before this season with the hope of achieving a common goal of returning to state.
Both Hornets competed last year at the state meet under different circumstances. Alex, now a sophomore, went 0-2 at singles, with both losses coming in straight sets to Metamora’s Will Keohrsen and Downers Grove North’s Mike Yong.
Chinwalla, currently a junior, combined with graduate Greg Murray to go 3-2 at doubles, reaching the fifth round of the consolation bracket.
Before the season, Hinsdale South coach Steve Snider looked at Hinsdale South’s assignment to the Downers Grove South Sectional and realized that the best bet to get both Alex and Chinwalla to the state meet was through doubles. After all, Hinsdale Central alone looked to be a sure bet to get two singles entries through to state.
Chinwalla said right after last year’s state meet, Snider was already considering pairing him with Alex. Chinwalla said it hasn’t been that difficult of a transition.
“It’s not that different [with Alex],” Chinwalla said. “Greg and Peter have similar personalities and they are similar on the court.”
In the offseason, Alex and Chinwalla began taking lessons together with Alex’s father, Bill, a tennis pro at the Midtown Athletic Club in Willowbrook. Bill Alex was a state doubles champion at Hinsdale Central with partner Joe Leininger in 1979.
“My dad has definitely been an awesome coach,” Peter Alex said. “He has been a big factor on [improving] our game.”
Bill Alex has also scouted opponents for Peter Alex and Chinwalla and delivers advice before matches.
To prepare for this season, Peter Alex and Chinwalla hit more at Midtown with Hinsdale South’s No. 2 doubles team of Raman Mathur and Namit Sambari.
“Peter’s dad has taught us stuff that the Central coach [Jay Kramer] taught him,” Chinwalla said. “He has taught us to know where your partner is at the net. We have used different formations that obviously other teams don’t.”
Alex and Chinwalla have just five losses entering this week with dual meets remaining against York and Naperville North before the West Suburban Gold meet Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16, at Addison Trail.
At the Downers South Sectional on May 23, Hinsdale South doubles will face stiff competition from the host Mustangs, Downers North and defending state champion Hinsdale Central.
Both Peter Alex and Chinwalla play singles in U.S. Tennis Association tournaments in the offseason, so doubles play has been a new full-time experience. Peter Alex can see the doubles team returning for 2016.
“If things work out and we make some headway, this could be a great doubles team [next season],” Peter Alex said.
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