by Jens Deju
Peter Bong is a sophomore on the SIU men's tennis team. Bong is the No. 1 singles player for the Salukis. He recently took some time off to speak to Jens Deju of the Daily Egyptian.
Daily Egyptian: How would you describe yourself as a player?
Peter Bong: I'm probably known as a fast player on the court, that's one of my main strengths. I'm also consistent on the court as well, but I still need to improve a lot.
DE: Why did you choose SIU?
PB: Well, I'm an accounting major and I got told that SIU had a real good accounting program, like top five in the nation. Also the coach told me that it was like a new team, new coach, like a whole new program so I was looking forward to that.
DE: Do you try to model yourself after any other players?
PB: No, not really, but I did like Michael Chang at one point because he was like the fastest player on the court at his time and I'm just as fast as him on the court as well I think.
DE: How would you describe yourself off the court?
PB: Off the court I'm very relaxed, really friendly. I like to socialize a lot, really easy to get along with I think.
DE: Do you have any hobbies?
PB: I used to have a lot of hobbies when I was a little kid, like fishing, just playing computer games, playing video games and all that, but as I get older, I don't really have time for hobbies anymore.
DE: You were younger last year than most college freshmen. Add that to the fact you're from a foreign country, and how hard was it for you to adjust once you got here?
PB: I adjusted very well I think. The only problem was probably just the jet lag from here to Australia, but I really was looking forward to coming to college and especially being 17, I was looking forward to learning a lot of stuff and being more experienced with stuff and just maturing more.
DE: Do you ever get teased about your last name?
PB: When I was a little kid, all the time. I never really got offended, but as I got older, people really liked it and they just said it was a cool surname. They wished they could have it. I mean, Bong, you know? But so far in college, no one's teased me about it. Some people even call me Bong as my first name.
DE: How nice is it to be on the most diverse team on campus with all of your players being from different countries?
PB: It's great I think, just so I can know different people from different countries and just to get to know their culture and everything as well.
DE: How much has your game changed since you came to America?
PB: It's changed a lot. I think it's improved a lot. The competition has helped me get stronger and the coaches have helped me improve my game as well.
DE: What do you still need to improve on?
PB: I'd like to get my mental game a lot stronger. It's pretty strong at the moment, but I'd like to get it stronger. My forehand is the main thing that I'm concentrating on right now.
DE: What are the main differences between American and Australian tennis?
PB: I'm not sure, but I know that it was a big step from playing juniors in Australia and then coming to college and playing tennis. It's a much stronger competition ... it's just another level of tennis.
DE: What are the main differences between American and Australian culture?
PB: I don't think there is much difference. Basically everything is the same except, right now I'm living in Carbondale, so it's a bit of a smaller town than where I lived in Australia. I lived in Melbourne, which is like the biggest city. There aren't many differences except that [Americans] drive on the wrong side of the road.
DE: Favorite actor?
PB: Chris Rock. He's so funny.
DE: Favorite movie?
PB: "Lethal Weapon 4."
DE: Favorite TV show?
PB: I'd have to say "Simpsons."
DE: Favorite musician?
PB: It would be Daiede, he plays like techno.
DE: Favorite local restaurant?
PB: Wise Guys.
Reporter Jens Deju can be reached at jdeju@dailyegyptian.com
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
