IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine men's tennis brings in some international talent with the addition of Thomas Smart, who ranked among England's top-10 U18 players.
 
"Tom comes to UCI with a big lefty serve and monster forehand combo," said Anteater head coach Mike Saunders. "He has the raw talent, a strong work ethic and the competitive ambition to become one of the best players in our conference. He is also an excellent student with aspirations to pursue law after college. He will embody our brand, galvanize our culture and make an immediate impact on our program."
 
A member of Abbeydale Tennis Club in Sheffield, England, Smart was a semifinalist at the 2019 Junior National Championships. He was then selected to represent his country in the Junior Four Nations, a tournament featuring some of the best U18 players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
 
In 2018, Smart was also the Yorkshire men's doubles champion and the boys' U18 singles champion.