MEN: Clad in his IVP tennis shirt, Eusoff tennis captain Desmond Tan is tall, dark and handsome. Originally a badminton player in primary school, he took up tennis in Maris Stella high because the school did not offer badminton. When badminton was eventually introduced the next year, he decided to stick to tennis because he didn’t like the idea of giving up a sport without mastering it. With 9 years of tennis experience under his belt, The Desmond is raring to lead the Eusoff Tennis team to our second consecutive IHG final. Oh, and he is a Man U fan too!

W: What our chances of winning this year?

D: Actually I haven’t conducted my trials yet, but I think should be not bad. Our main rivals are Kent Ridge. Dinidu (Mr Bean, last year’s captain) thinks Temasek also quite power. Uh…Can I talk about last year’s IHG? (continues anyway) Actually last year we predicted their line up correctly and matched it so it was quite a close fight. Kent Ridge had a few ex-national players so it was quite challenging. But we really hung in there and didn’t let them win easy.

W: Wa that’s really good. Does this mean that you’re gonna step up training this year?

D: I’ll do my best. I think it’s more important that my players get more match experience so we’ll be playing matches during training so that they know how to move. Actually, there’s one thing that I’ve been thinking of (Mood turns serious, Des looks emo) I feel a bit…(silence)…that I’ve never won a medal in my 9 years.

W: (cuts in to lighten the mood) Even though you’re pretty good right?

D: (continues in a pensive tone) Ya ok la… So I really want to win this for Eusoff and myself…

W: Okok go for it man. Who’s your tennis hero?

D: Agassi when I started playing. I even got the same racket as him. He never gave up even when he wasn’t winning so much and even when age caught up with him. Now it’s Federer ‘cos he has flair and he’s cool headed.

W: OK, Sharapova, Kournikova or the Williams sisters?

D: (Immediately) OK Williams are out… (slightly defensive ‘cos this reporter gave him a raised eyebrow) Not cos anything lar… But cos there was this period when they both weren’t playing well and they were just throwing games away. I really didn’t like their attitudes. My favourite female player is actually Justine Henin Hardenne.

W: (blank look)

D: She’s very short la, like one six something… And she still made it to world no.1 which I really respect. And I admire the fact that what she lacks in height she makes up for in drive and tenacity.

W: Kinda like your type of girl?

D: Kinda like a female Agassi. (an attempt to divert this reporter’s attention)

W: (too alert) How about your kinda girl?

D: What about my kinda girl?

W: What about your girl that makes you like her la!

D: (after some time) Must have character and confidence lar.

W: (satisfied reporter) Ok, goodnight!