Oklahoma State University Athletics
International Series: From Paris With Meraut
February 22, 2016 | Cowboy Tennis
This is the new Oklahoma State tennis feature series called the International Series. Each feature will tell a different story of a player or coach on the Cowboy Tennis squad.Â
By: Patrick Osborne, OSU Athletics Communications
Tristan Meraut was about to make a big move.
It was a 4,000-mile move, to be exact. Meraut was about to journey from Paris to Oklahoma State to start his college career.
The move would be big in distance and change. He would be moving to another country to speak a different language and give up the life he had grown to know the previous two years.
"Four years ago I moved to Paris because of the French Federation," Meraut said. "I was playing for them. (Paris) was very good. Paris is a big city with a lot of people so I met a lot of players from different countries so I had a lot of fun in Paris. I had my own apartment and car."
Originally from Guadalupe, Meraut started playing tennis with his dad when he was 5. His dad, Boris Meraut, was a tennis coach in the area so it was only natural for his son to play.
Meraut picked up the game fast and it didn't take long for him to realize he could be good.
Four years after picking up his first racket, he won a national tournament in France. It was the confidence builder he needed to realize he could be good at the sport.
"I think at about nine, I thought could be a good player," he said. "Not crazy but a decent player."
Meraut continued to improve along his way to Paris, and eventually it came time for him to decide if he wanted to play college tennis.
That's when he met Remi Boutillier, a former player of Oklahoma State coach Jay Udwadia from his time as coach at Fresno State.
"They started to talk and (Boutillier) had a good experience with me at Fresno State and (Meraut) wanted to play at that level someday because (Boutillier) was playing at a high level," Udwadia said. "Tristan had an agency he was using, and he communicated to myself and that's how things got started."
So it was settled, the kid from Paris would move to Stillwater. He was used to traveling but Meraut was still nervous, understandably. He was afraid Oklahoma would be too cold and he was nervous he would struggle to understand the Southern accent heard around here.
But at the same time he wasn't afraid to take the chance. He had been around the world and this would be similar. It would be another trip, nothing to be too afraid of.
As if moving to another country without a firm grasp of the language wasn't a big enough challenge, Meraut also had the challenge of coming to Oklahoma State late.
He arrived in Stillwater in January, meaning he missed the important fall semester and season.
"Anytime you have kids coming in midyear they have to get adjusted quickly," Udwadia said. "They didn't have the fall to get adjusted to school, the team and traveling."
With so many international athletes on the team, it would seem hard for the team to mesh all the languages and cultures to get to know each other. But Meruat said it wasn't as bad as it might seem because everyone went through the same learning period when they arrived.
The upperclassmen help the underclassmen, and before they know it they are a team.
"It took me about two weeks to get to know everybody on the team," Meraut said. "But because we're international athletes I would say it's easier for us to talk to each other. We all talk slowly."
He also said it helps that they all have similar interests, especially with their love for soccer.
"I kind of find myself with them a lot easier than American people," he said. "It's helpful."
Also, Meraut quickly learned he would have to adjust on the court as well with how he approached the game. In Paris he was playing for himself. If he lost it was on him. If he won, all the success went to him. But at Oklahoma State he would play for himself and his team.
Similar to his quick adjustment off the court, Meraut adapted quickly on the court with his first win as a Cowboy coming in thrilling fashion as he defeated Linus Erhart to lead Oklahoma State to victory against Nebraska. He also posted the most successful start of the spring for the Cowboys with eight wins in his first nine matches.
Meraut struggled with injuries the remainder of his freshman year, but managed to finish with an 8-5 record.
A year later, Udwadia can see the changes in Meraut since he arrived shortly before the spring season.
"Socially he's able to communicate a little better," Udwadia said. "On the court he has gotten better. Physically he has gotten stronger in the weight room. All those things kind of add into him growing as a person and player."
Meraut can see the changes, too. With his English improving each day, he is able to talk more and more with his classmates and teammates. Now he is the one helping the freshmen with their classes and getting adjusted to Oklahoma State.
On the court, he is more experienced. Combing his international and collegiate experiences, there isn't a lot Meraut hasn't seen in tennis. Taking that mindset to the court, he said he could already tell a difference this year with his on-court focus and how he approaches pivotal match situations.
Looking back, he has enjoyed the 4,000-mile journey. Paris was great for him, but so is Stillwater. Professional tennis was great, but so is college tennis.
"I enjoyed Paris a lot but I think (the United States) is definitely better because of the American environment," he said.
Part of the American environment Meraut loves so much, and said couldn't be found in Paris is the family atmosphere found at Oklahoma State. It's something he hasn't had at other places, and it's something that has made the move a little easier.
"I think everyone is supporting each other," he said. "The soccer team will come support us and we do the same for them. I think (Oklahoma State is) one big happy family."Â
For updates on Meraut and the rest of the Pokes, follow @CowboyTennis on Twitter and Instagram.Â
By: Patrick Osborne, OSU Athletics Communications
Tristan Meraut was about to make a big move.
It was a 4,000-mile move, to be exact. Meraut was about to journey from Paris to Oklahoma State to start his college career.
The move would be big in distance and change. He would be moving to another country to speak a different language and give up the life he had grown to know the previous two years.
"Four years ago I moved to Paris because of the French Federation," Meraut said. "I was playing for them. (Paris) was very good. Paris is a big city with a lot of people so I met a lot of players from different countries so I had a lot of fun in Paris. I had my own apartment and car."
Originally from Guadalupe, Meraut started playing tennis with his dad when he was 5. His dad, Boris Meraut, was a tennis coach in the area so it was only natural for his son to play.
Meraut picked up the game fast and it didn't take long for him to realize he could be good.
Four years after picking up his first racket, he won a national tournament in France. It was the confidence builder he needed to realize he could be good at the sport.
"I think at about nine, I thought could be a good player," he said. "Not crazy but a decent player."
Meraut continued to improve along his way to Paris, and eventually it came time for him to decide if he wanted to play college tennis.
That's when he met Remi Boutillier, a former player of Oklahoma State coach Jay Udwadia from his time as coach at Fresno State.
"They started to talk and (Boutillier) had a good experience with me at Fresno State and (Meraut) wanted to play at that level someday because (Boutillier) was playing at a high level," Udwadia said. "Tristan had an agency he was using, and he communicated to myself and that's how things got started."
So it was settled, the kid from Paris would move to Stillwater. He was used to traveling but Meraut was still nervous, understandably. He was afraid Oklahoma would be too cold and he was nervous he would struggle to understand the Southern accent heard around here.
But at the same time he wasn't afraid to take the chance. He had been around the world and this would be similar. It would be another trip, nothing to be too afraid of.
As if moving to another country without a firm grasp of the language wasn't a big enough challenge, Meraut also had the challenge of coming to Oklahoma State late.
He arrived in Stillwater in January, meaning he missed the important fall semester and season.
"Anytime you have kids coming in midyear they have to get adjusted quickly," Udwadia said. "They didn't have the fall to get adjusted to school, the team and traveling."
With so many international athletes on the team, it would seem hard for the team to mesh all the languages and cultures to get to know each other. But Meruat said it wasn't as bad as it might seem because everyone went through the same learning period when they arrived.
The upperclassmen help the underclassmen, and before they know it they are a team.
"It took me about two weeks to get to know everybody on the team," Meraut said. "But because we're international athletes I would say it's easier for us to talk to each other. We all talk slowly."
He also said it helps that they all have similar interests, especially with their love for soccer.
"I kind of find myself with them a lot easier than American people," he said. "It's helpful."
Also, Meraut quickly learned he would have to adjust on the court as well with how he approached the game. In Paris he was playing for himself. If he lost it was on him. If he won, all the success went to him. But at Oklahoma State he would play for himself and his team.
Similar to his quick adjustment off the court, Meraut adapted quickly on the court with his first win as a Cowboy coming in thrilling fashion as he defeated Linus Erhart to lead Oklahoma State to victory against Nebraska. He also posted the most successful start of the spring for the Cowboys with eight wins in his first nine matches.
Meraut struggled with injuries the remainder of his freshman year, but managed to finish with an 8-5 record.
A year later, Udwadia can see the changes in Meraut since he arrived shortly before the spring season.
"Socially he's able to communicate a little better," Udwadia said. "On the court he has gotten better. Physically he has gotten stronger in the weight room. All those things kind of add into him growing as a person and player."
Meraut can see the changes, too. With his English improving each day, he is able to talk more and more with his classmates and teammates. Now he is the one helping the freshmen with their classes and getting adjusted to Oklahoma State.
On the court, he is more experienced. Combing his international and collegiate experiences, there isn't a lot Meraut hasn't seen in tennis. Taking that mindset to the court, he said he could already tell a difference this year with his on-court focus and how he approaches pivotal match situations.
Looking back, he has enjoyed the 4,000-mile journey. Paris was great for him, but so is Stillwater. Professional tennis was great, but so is college tennis.
"I enjoyed Paris a lot but I think (the United States) is definitely better because of the American environment," he said.
Part of the American environment Meraut loves so much, and said couldn't be found in Paris is the family atmosphere found at Oklahoma State. It's something he hasn't had at other places, and it's something that has made the move a little easier.
"I think everyone is supporting each other," he said. "The soccer team will come support us and we do the same for them. I think (Oklahoma State is) one big happy family."Â
For updates on Meraut and the rest of the Pokes, follow @CowboyTennis on Twitter and Instagram.Â
Players Mentioned
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