While not patrolling the tennis court, Oleg Simonyan has been busy elsewhere around Glendale seeking ways to improve his game.
In making an attempt to improve his footwork — something he relies on heavily during a match — the Hoover High senior boys' tennis singles player has taken to running and hiking in the town's surrounding hills.
"With tennis, it's mostly about footwork," said Simonyan, who will take part in the CIF Southern Section Individuals Tournament on Thursday at Andulka Park Tennis Center in Riverside. "You just find different ways to improve on it, so you are ready for your next match."
Simonyan advanced to the tournament after finishing runner-up in the Pacific League Tournament on May 1 at Pasadena High. Simonyan, who will make his second appearance in the tournament, suffered a 6-3, 6-4 defeat against Sawyer Patterson of Burroughs.
Simonyan, who helped Hoover finish third in league and advance to the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs before falling to third-seeded Harvard-Westlake, enters Thursday's competition confident and having a better understanding of the tournament after taking part in it in 2011.