WT: Maria Martinez-Romero looks back on UTA career
5/3/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 3, 2012
By Melissa Cebold / UTA Athletics
ARLINGTON, Texas - Maria Martinez-Romero never thought she would cap her career at UT Arlington with the Southland Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year honors. But that's what happens after completing the 2012 season with a 10-1 record in league play at the No. 1 position.
"I didn't expect it at all because there are really good players out there," said Martinez-Romero, a native of Nules, Spain. "I was very happy about it just because since my freshman year I was very scared to play here."
The senior led the Mavericks to numerous victories, including two SLC championships and two runner-up finishes during her four years at UTA.
"You play for a team and you don't play for yourself anymore," she said. "I started liking it even more than just playing for myself and I'm really glad I got this recognition."
Martinez-Romero began her love for tennis at an early age, following in her parents' footsteps. As a five year old, she played at the local tennis club near her home, and also enjoyed other sports growing up.
"I liked to play every single sport, but since I was playing tennis and I was kind of good at it, I couldn't just play another sport because it wouldn't be serious," she said. "I liked to play every sport, but I was just focused on tennis."
Focusing on tennis paid off when UT Arlington head tennis coach Diego Benitez began searching for his 2008-09 prospects. Studying in America was not something that Martinez-Romero was considering, but Benitez thought otherwise.
"Diego emailed me and he called me," Martinez-Romero said. "He was very friendly and he also speaks Spanish. I just gave it a try and it actually worked out."
The Player of the Year completed her career at UT Arlington with an overall singles record of 73-13 and picked up 42 conference wins against only two loses. Martinez-Romero went undefeated as a freshman and a junior, with an 11-0 recorded both seasons. She lost only one match in each her sophomore and senior seasons, earning her an impressive 10-1 mark each time.
With all the success on the court, Martinez-Romero still found time to excel in the classroom. The senior is graduating with a double major in broadcast journalism and Spanish.
"I think it's something I'm used to. Since I was a little kid I was always going to practices and also keeping up with school work," she said of the balance between school and tennis. "I always thought that I never want to leave one of the two things. I always want to do well in both."
Martinez-Romero was given the responsibility this past year of playing at the No. 1 position for the UTA women's tennis team.
"It was very nerve-racking at the beginning of the semester when the coaches told me that I would be playing at the top of the lineup and I have to lead the team," the first-team all-conference performer said. "I'm a very normal girl. I don't like to be on top of anybody. I think they really respected me and I did well, so they had an example to follow."
Martinez-Romero's tennis career is coming to an end for the Mavericks, but she is not ready to leave her home here at UT Arlington.
"I'm very sad. I'm still assimilating that I'm done with tennis," she said. "It's hard to understand just because I've been playing tennis for so long and now I feel like I'm not going to have time to play tennis anymore.
"New things are going to come. I'm going to do an internship this summer and I'm planning on doing a masters. I would like to help with the team or also work in the athletic department."
