Wronski ready to lead Rebels

Any elite tennis player knows a strong game requires the right combination of physical ability and mental toughness.

UNLV's Elliot Wronski showed his physical prowess last year. This season, he plans to establish himself as one of the smartest players in the Mountain West Conference.

Wronski, of Cheltenham, England, opened the season last month as the 27th-ranked player in the nation. He said that honor already has moved him a step closer to his goal.

"It's nice to get a bit of recognition," said the junior, who will be starting at the No. 1 singles spot for the Rebels. "You get the sense that players have a bit more respect for you."

Indeed, Wronski has built an intimidating resume during his two seasons at UNLV. Most notably, he went 20-13 at the top spot in the lineup last spring and was named the ITA Mountain Region Player to Watch before advancing to the second round of the NCAA singles championship.

Fifth-year UNLV coach Owen Hambrook said Wronski's athleticism caught many opponents off-guard.

"People underestimate how good of an athlete he is," said Hambrook, whose squad claimed its first Mountain West tournament championship in April to earn a trip to the postseason. "But he moves very well on the court. He's very quick and he positions himself well. A lot of (opponents) are surprised by how many balls he gets to."

But Hambrook also knows the word is out, and he expects his top player to be a marked man this year.

"When you're that highly ranked, there will always be guys looking to knock you off," Hambrook said. "So Elliot will just have to take things one match at a time."

Wronski knows he'll be a target for opposing teams, but he said he plans to use experience in his favor.

"Last year I was still fairly new," said Wronski, who became the Rebels' top player when former standout Joel Kielbowicz graduated in 2006. "Now I feel like I'm going to be one of the people other teams are looking out for. I've become the equivalent of a seasoned veteran, I guess, and I think that will help me in matches."

Wronski didn't quite meet his own expectations two weeks ago at the ITA Mountain Region Men's Tennis Championships at the Darling Tennis Center, where he was eliminated by Boise State's Clancy Shields in three sets.

But Hambrook said Wronski had nothing to be ashamed of.

"He ended up losing to (Shields), who made it to the (singles) final," the coach said. "I think he definitely came away from the match knowing he's capable of beating guys. And he's going to play many more matches against ranked guys, so he'll have chances to prove himself."

Wronski's next test will come at the Fertitta Tennis Complex this weekend, when the Rebels host the three-day UNLV Fall Classic, beginning Friday. Hambrook said the tournament will allow him to experiment with his lineup, and he's not too worried about wins and losses.

"I don't really place too much emphasis on the fall," he said. "The guys are working really hard in the weight room and on the track. They'll be in the best shape possible by the spring."

But Wronski said he takes every match seriously, noting that he intends to leave his mark before leaving UNLV after next year.

"I'd like to look back one day and know I made a difference here," he said. "I want to know I led them my best and I influenced the younger people on the team."