It has been a tale of two seasons so far this year for sophomore Alex Conti. Conti has been a force in doubles matches all year. Along with senior partner Scott Green, Conti raced out to an 8-4 record, second on the team behind Alex Kasarov and David Hippee, the No. 44 doubles team in the country. Conti’s effectiveness in doubles play has helped the Badgers win nine of 12 doubles points this year.

Conti points to both practice habits and chemistry with his partner Green as reasons for the great start for the pair.

“The main thing is just working hard in practice, which just transfers over to the match,” Conti said. “I played a few matches with Scott last year, so that chemistry carries over to this year.”

With as well as Conti has played in doubles all season, singles matches have been a struggle for the sophomore in 2004. Conti began the season losing his first eight matches and struggled to find his rhythm on the tennis court.

“He’s been hitting the ball so well in practice, but he just had not been able to convert it into matches,” Wisconsin head coach Pat Klingelhoets said. “He’s just got to get a couple of wins and get his confidence, and [wins] should come. Out here in the practice court, he looks great.”

Conti himself admitted that his confidence was shaken due to the lack of results in singles matches.

“My confidence is down right now. I don’t have a lot of confidence right now, so I’m trying to do everything I can to not worry about that,” Conti said prior to the Badgers’ spring break trip to Miami, Fla. for a trio of matches.

Conti’s confidence has since received a major boost, though. Since Conti’s 0-8 start, he has stepped up his play, going 2-2 in singles play, and just might be shaking off the slump that plagued him early on, while still playing lights out in doubles matches.

Over spring break, Conti found his stride, having the best individual week of any Badger. Though the team sputtered to a 1-2 week, Conti went 2-1 in both singles and doubles play, including two come-from-behind victories.

The Badgers need Conti to come alive now more than ever, as UW has a disappointing 5-7 record and will need strong play from Conti to gain more victories and make a run toward the top of the conference standings. So far, Conti is answering his team’s call and has started playing his best tennis of the season. Conti’s game looks to be coming together at a key juncture of the season, as UW gears up for the bulk of its Big Ten schedule.

A power player who can move up to the net when needed, Conti has begun to stay more focused on the court, and emphasizes taking advantage of his opponents’ weaknesses.

“I feel like I am comfortable at the net, but the main way I play in singles is from the baseline,” Conti said of his style of play. “Emotions play a huge factor, though. Some days, emotions are running high, and it is really intense out there at the duel when people are out here and people are watching. Depending on the day, sometimes I want to just like to play my game and keep focused. Other days I will be a little bit more vocal. As a rule, I just try to keep my focus.”

As of right now, Conti has his focus set on achieving a .500 mark in Big Ten matches, while pushing the Badgers higher up the conference ladder.

“I’d like to go 5-5 in the Big Ten and for the team. I’d like to see the team finish in the top five in the Big Ten, hopefully go to NCAAs. That would be the ideal goal,” Conti said.

Klingelhoets shares Conti’s goals and has faith that his team, with Conti’s improved play and encouragement, could make a run through the conference.

“We want to finish in the upper half of the Big Ten, and we want to make the NCAA tournament. Realistically to do that, we probably have to be in the top 45 nationally, so we have our work cut out for us,” Klingelhoets said. “We are getting better. The guys are working hard and I feel like our attitude is good. We are making progress each week, and if we can keep getting a little bit better throughout the season, I think we can end up with a pretty good year.”

Conti has set his focus on finishing strong, and the rest of the team seems poised to face the challenge.

“I think we have a lot to look forward to yet,” Klingelhoets said.