Athlete of the Week: Carol Furlong

Carol Furlong is the team captain for the Longwood Run Senior 4.0 Women’s Doubles team and was recently named the USTA’s December 2010 Tennis Captain of the Month. Furlong has been playing tennis for more than 25 years and loves the game not only because of the camaraderie but also because she can play mixed-doubles with her husband, Louis. When Furlong is not coaching, she plays at The Landings where she has lived with her husband for almost 20 years.

How did you get your team together and become a team captain?
I took a group of girls from different clubs that didn’t have a team to play on; we played out of Payne Park the first year. The second year we moved to Longwood Athletic Club in Longwood Run because they allowed us to play earlier in the day.

What would you like to improve?
The focus, I guess. Sometime I’m distracted when I see people walking along the side of the court or talking, especially if I hear my husband’s voice, even if I can’t see where he is. So I don’t let him come and watch me.

What is one of the best tips you’ve ever been given?
One of the best tips I’ve ever received is to think of volleying as catching a ball in a glove. That means you put your hand up in front of you just as if you would catch the ball, and as the ball touches your strings, you squeeze the handle the same way you would close your glove.

Who are you dream mixed-doubles partners?
Rafael Nadal and Martina Navratilova.

What is the best memory you have had with your team?
Getting to the finals of the competition of some of the best teams in Florida in Daytona Beach last year. We just missed going to nationals by one single tiebreaker. So, we were the finalists and we didn’t win the whole thing, but we had a great time.

Do you know someone who would make a great Athlete of the Week? Let us know! Send your suggestions to: [email protected]