Alabama
Auburn
Gabriel Diaz Freire is Ready for Friday’s Alabama-Auburn Men’s Tennis Match
3/4/2021 4:35:00 PM | Men's Tennis
The graduate transfer has learned the importance of every Southeastern Conference match and especially Friday’s home contest against the Auburn Tigers
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – For Gabriel Diaz Freire, playing at Alabama was meant to be.
"Alabama was always one of my dream schools," Diaz Freire said. "Before I came to America five years ago, I was looking at different school's Instagram accounts and the Alabama men's tennis one came up and I knew that one day I would play here."
And while that route hasn't been straight, the Gijon, Spain, native did indeed roll into Tuscaloosa this fall, joining a veteran Crimson Tide squad as a graduate transfer after an undergraduate career that started at Loyola-Marymount and finished at Clemson.
When Diaz Freire made his way to Tuscaloosa after graduating from Clemson with a degree in psychology and human resources, it wasn't just the Crimson Tide's Instagram presence that brought him from the Palmetto state.
"When I visited here I fell in love with this place," Diaz Freire said. "The incredible facilities and the people who make this place so special. Alabama is always going to push you to be the best you can be and that's what I was looking for when I chose to come here."
Alabama started its fall season at the Tiger Fall Invitational down at Auburn, with Diaz Freire making his debut on the courts of the Crimson Tide's fiercest rival. At that point, after his time at Clemson, he was probably more fired up to play South Carolina.
But now, after wearing the script A on this chest for the last six months, the rivalry aspect of tomorrow's match against the Tigers (the Auburn variety, not Clemson) is a little clearer.
"After my years at Clemson and being part of their rivalry with South Carolina, I think it helps me understand Alabama-Auburn," Diaz Freire said. "Going into the Auburn match, I'm super excited to play, to represent Alabama and to win the Iron Bowl."
Playing with a group that has been together for quite a while, with a majority of the team in their fourth or fifth year playing together, the transition could have been tough, but that really wasn't the case.
"Coming into such an established team, I knew it could be tough, but we all have great relationships and we're all friends, and really like brothers I would say," Diaz Freire said.
The Tide's established core also helped Diaz Freire and the other Crimson Tide newcomers understand what it means to play for the Crimson Tide and against the likes of Auburn and other Southeastern Conference rivals.
"In the beginning, in the fall, I didn't really understand about the rivalries and playing in the SEC," he said. "But now, after playing through the fall and into the spring, and facing teams like Texas, and the SEC schools, I get what it means to be a part of Alabama tennis. We work hard everyday, we compete and work to win every match on every court."
After playing mostly indoor dual matches in the early weeks of dual match play, with no fans due to COVID-19 regulations, Diaz Freire got his first taste of what it's like to play under the lights at the Alabama Tennis Stadium last weekend against Kentucky.
"Playing inside, there definitely wasn't as much energy without the fans," Diaz Freire said. "So it was super fun to play outside and to have the fans cheering us on. I think we brought a lot of fun and energy playing outdoors last Friday and I can't wait to do it again against Auburn."
While the fans certainly fired Alabama up, helping them to an upset win over then No. 15 Kentucky, Diaz Freire and his teammates also got the fans going with their play and courtside cheering.
"When you have your teammates and the fans cheering you on and pushing you, it really helps me," he said.
The Alabama-Auburn match is slated to begin at 6 p.m. CT at the Alabama Tennis Stadium.
Due to health and safety considerations in addition to the current guidelines, attendance at Alabama tennis home competitions is on a first-come, first-served basis until reaching capacity if the matches are played outdoors. Facial coverings must be worn at all times unless eating or drinking. If the match is moved indoors due to weather, there will be no spectators allowed.
Get all the latest information on Alabama men's tennis by following AlabamaMTN on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
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