Courtesy of UNA Athletics

University of North Alabama’s men’s tennis player Nazar Fedoryshyn is in his final year of eligibility. In his fourth year as a Lion, Fedoryshyn prepares for a final Atlantic Sun season and graduation.
Tennis made the UNA player grow up apart from his older sister, Anastasiia Fedoryshyn, who would constantly travel for competitions. But it was through her he first encountered tennis, and her coach became his until he was 12 years old.
For the next two years, Fedoryshyn did not have a coach, he would practice by himself with the help of his father, Yevhen Fedoryshyn, who put him through physical training with yoga, pilates, and swimming.
When Fedoryshyn entered secondary school, now retired tennis player and coach Róbert Varga caught him practicing one day, which led to his recruitment.
“After practice, he came up to me and said, ‘I would love to work with you,’” said Fedoryshyn. “In a few weeks, we started working. He was a great coach.”
The Lion said Varga was the base he needed to learn how to be a good player, and the reason why he came to love tennis. In his hometown, Lviv, Ukraine, he is said to have enjoyed other sports like basketball and soccer more than tennis. Still, there was something about tennis that he “could not live without.”
The sport that led his days became the one thing that would bring him to the United States and play at the university level. He was ready to work for it. Fedoryshyn started preparing for offers his senior year of high school at School #91. He began in-depth English lessons, managing his documentation, and playing the best tennis he could. He said his mother, Svitlana Fedoryshyn, and father played a “huge role” in his university applications.
Fedoryshyn was motivated to join UNA after meeting with the then head coach Brice Bishop.
“I saw that I could bring something to the program to build a good team,” he said.
Upon arrival, Fedoryshyn said he had a “rough start” because his English “wasn’t great.” Still, he was able to rely on his teammates, with whom he created “great friendships and environment.” Even though some have transferred or graduated, Fedoryshyn said they still keep in touch.
Fedoryshyn finished his freshman year with an overall 4-14 singles record and a 4-9 in doubles. Following his sophomore year, he discovered an ease for doubles play, finishing 11-4 in doubles with former pair Carlos Materredona. Fedoryshyn and Materredona were named ASUN Doubles Pair of the Year, UNA’s first nomination for the post-season award. He finished 4-11 in singles.
The Lion participated in the transition in administration within the tennis program. For the 2022-23 season, Olaya Garrido-Rivas assumed the Director of Tennis position and Aitor Reparaz assumed as assistant coach. Today, Reparaz is the men’s tennis coach.
“[Coach Reparaz] is definitely bringing a lot of new things to the university and to the tennis program. He helped our team to become one of the best championship competitors.” said Fedoryshyn.
Reparaz commented on the player, “Naz is a great guy and passionate tennis player. He works very hard on court and also in the classroom. I’m very proud of him and I can’t wait to see what he achieves in the future.”
Fedoryshyn achieved 26 total wins his junior season, 13-10 in singles and 13-7 in doubles, his career-high. As a senior, he plans on beating his personal record and achieving postseason awards, alongside the ASUN title.
Still, the player is also focused on academics by completing his business administration degree. He has found an interest in economics and the stock market and plans on pursuing a master’s degree at UNA.
Fedoryshyn was chosen to participate in the NCAA Student Athlete Leadership Forum, a leadership conference that unites more than 5,000 student-athletes throughout the United States. Fedoryshyn was one of the two ASUN athletes to attend and the first-ever UNA Lion to do so.
“At the forum, we talked about how to become a great leader, about how important self-awareness, self-discipline and self-management are because you must know how to help yourself before you help others,” said Fedoryshyn. “It kind of hit me a lot. Whenever I came back over the break, I was trying to focus on myself a lot before I would help my teammates and give them advice.
Being close to the finish line, Fedoryshyn said he wishes to be remembered as a great leader and player, and as someone who could always lend a helping hand.