Top-Notch Tulsa Tennis Player Is Now Number One

By Kyle Dierking, NewsOn6.com

TULSA, OK -- He has tennis triumphs and a laundry list of accomplishments.

"When you go to a place, you want to make the biggest impact possible," said Tulsa tennis senior Arnau Brugues. "Here, I think I did it."

Brugues's brutally honest assessment couldn't be more correct. The Tulsa senior is a three-time All-American and a three-time Conference USA Player of the Year. Now he's the number one singles player in college tennis.

"When I came to Tulsa I just wanted to make the lineup and play my best," Brugues said. "After that season, I finished in the top 10 and knew it was possible."

For Brugues, it's been a long way to the top. Prior to coming to Tulsa, he played professionally for four years - all while balancing tennis and text books.

"I was practicing in the mornings, then going to school at night and playing professional tournaments and traveling," Brugues said.

As he was trying to climb his way up the tennis ladder, questions started to creep in his mind.

"I knew I had the game, but I don't think I was mentally ready to play professionally," Brugues said. "I was thinking to myself, ‘what am I going to do if I'm 25 years old and I'm not top 100 in the world? What am I going to do without a degree?'"

Coming to TU ended up being the best of both worlds for Brugues. While continuing to craft his tennis game, he earned his degree. Now as he gets ready to head back into pro tennis, he feels no pressure.

"If not I can come back and finish my M.B.A. and do like everyone - just work," Brugues said with a smile.

Whether its pro tennis player or professional worker, Brugues still plans on being based in Tulsa.

"The school and this city has (given) me a lot," Brugues said. "There's no better place than Tulsa to start my professional career again."

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