Leontina Slovak began playing tennis between the ages of seven and eight. While that may have been a late start compared to most, she did not let that stop her from being the best player she could be.
But, for the athlete, it was not always tennis. Slovak also played ice hockey, but eventually gave it up because there was no women’s team where she was. While tennis may not have been her only love, she still gave it all she had.
The Reading, England native achieved a lot before coming to the States and just continued to climb.
Originally, Slovak attended Bradfield College, where she led her team to International Sports Technology Association (ISTA) and country titles in 2022. She was also the recipient of the Manning Davenport Award in 2018.
Since coming to America, she has completed three seasons with Slippery Rock so far, now in her senior year.
Slovak ended her first season by producing an overall doubles record of 20-7, as well as a 6-0 mark inside the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play. Slovak won 10 straight doubles matches with Dari Sakhanova, whom she continues to play with now four years later.
“My teammate, Dari, she’s an incredible tennis player,” she said.
Slovak has gone from looking up to her teammates, including Shakhanova, to being an athlete that others look up to.
During the beginning of the season, at the Husky Invitational, Slovak became the 16th athlete in program history to record 100 career wins.
“It doesn’t feel real,” she said. “I’ve been here for such a long time, and the 100 wins is something to show for it.”
The milestone was something that was always in the back of Slovak’s mind; she was always thinking about how many matches she won or lost. But during the match that clinched that milestone, Slovak did not even know it was her 100th win.
“It didn’t really settle in,” she said.
But now that it has, she’s on to her next goal of making it to the PSAC Championships and going to nationals. The milestone only makes her more motivated to keep going.
While the 100th career win was a huge achievement for Slovak, her favorite game memory is beating Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) last year during the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament.
After losing to them during the regular season and again during the PSAC Championships, The Rock pulled out a win for the NCAA tournament.
Slovak won her match against Hannah Beitat by taking two of the three sets.
“Its very cliché,” she said. “But it was such a big achievement for all of us. It was definitely one of the biggest moments.”
That was not the only big moment for Slovak. She has also been a PSAC Scholar Athlete and named to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Scholar-Athlete team all three seasons with The Rock so far.
She closed out last season with a 14-9 overall record in singles competition, including an 11-6 mark out of the fourth flight. During the PSAC West play, Slovak went 4-1 and had a 24-8 doubles record, teaming mainly with Amaia Balaguer Brau. She earned her first All-PSAC West honors in doubles as well as Balaguer Brau. Slovak also ranked 11th in the ITA’s Atlantic Region singles and fifth in doubles, as well as being a College Sport Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Selection.
She chalks up the big moments to her biggest mentor, her old coach from Bradfield. While he may not be her current coach, his teachings still run through her mind.
“He always told me to be my biggest fan,” she said.
Another thing that helps her is her superstitions.
“I have to listen to a specific playlist I’ve created before every single match,” she said.
Her other superstitions include drinking out of her Stanley cup and picking out certain tennis balls to play with. While it may seem silly to some, it works for her.
But what keeps her motivated through the rough patches and long matches is the fact that she’s dreamt about coming to America and having a team, much like the one she’s on now, stand by her.
“I was like 13 or 14 years old when I found out that I could have this opportunity,” she said.
Tennis takes up so much time during her day. Between practices or games, as a way to keep her head on straight, Slovak always makes sure to carve out time to spend with friends.
“Spending time with my friends, my teammates,” she says, is so important to her.
Now, being an athlete that others are looking up to, Slovak has one piece of advice.
“Just keep going,” she said. “The entire journey isn’t a walk in the park; it’s not just sunshine and rainbows. Just remember why you’re here.”
And the advice that has stuck with her through her many years of playing, she hopes will give someone else the same motivation.
“Be your biggest fan.”
