Alex De Gabriele one of Malta’s leading tennis players, a student athlete at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), captained the tennis team to a remarkable fifth consecutive CAA Conference Championship this weekend after the team from UNCW beat Elon University in the final.
Alex, who is in his Junior (third year) as a full-time tennis player at UNCW, has now won three consecutive CAA titles since joining the UNCW tennis program in 2022. I interviewed Alex shortly after their team’s victory at Elon.
Q: Alex, congratulations on UNCW winning the CAA Tennis Conference Championships for a record fifth straight year. How does it feel to lift the title?
Alex de Gabriele: “Thanks so much! It feels incredible. Winning the CAA title is our main objective at the start of each season. It’s a great moment for the team and for me personally.
“This year, I had the added responsibility of being the captain of the team so there was extra pressure to ensure that we reach our pre-determined objective. It was a very tough season, but everyone played their part and gave everything they had, and that made the difference.”
Q: What do you think was key to the team’s success this season?
Alex: “Honestly, it was the unity of the team, especially at the start of the season when the results were not coming our way. We’re a really tight group on and off the court.
“This year we added no less than 5 new players to an already winning line-up, and we needed time to ensure that we find the right team chemistry. We ended the season on a high note, winning our last 11 matches.”
Q: On a personal note, what are the most important things you’ll take from this season?
Alex: “This was a very particular season for me after having missed all of last season due to a shoulder injury. Coming back from such a setback was not easy, but I think that I’ve matured a lot despite some difficulties earlier in the season.
“College tennis is intense, you’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for your team, your school and record books. That adds pressure, but it gives you purpose. I’ve worked on my consistency, and I feel I’ve become a better player in the process.
“Most importantly, I think I’ve managed to work my way out of a very difficult period, and I’m happy it turned out the way it did at the end.”
Q: Now that the CAA Championship is over, what’s next for you this summer?
Alex: “We now have a very exciting road trip to North Carolina State this weekend as we play in the first round of the NCAA National Championship against Georgia.
“This is the pinnacle of tennis college, and we are excited to battle it out against one of the best tennis programs in the country. I also look forward to a very intense summer schedule starting with the GSSE 2025 in Andorra, followed by Davis Cup in North Macedonia and the University Games in Germany.
“The shift from representing UNCW to representing your country in these important events brings a different kind of sporting pressure which I am really looking forward to. I also plan to travel to Tunisia for several ITF Pro events after which I will take some rest before I had back to the USA for my last year as a college student.”
Q: Any final words?
Alex: “Yes, above all I want to thank all those that make my journey as a student athlete possible. Apart from my family, who have supported me ever since I took up the game of tennis, I would like to personally thank the MEYR Sponsorship programme for their sustained support, as well as the Maltese Olympic Committee and Malta Tennis Federation for always being there to help out.
“This has been a very rewarding process in my development as a tennis player but more importantly as a person. I truly hope that more athletes are inclined to follow a similar programme as this would be an incredible benefit for the tennis movement in the country.”
