Four-year Aztec player, Eugenio Gonzalez Fitzmaurice, is closing his senior year with the men’s tennis team with a positive outlook on his tennis career and team environment as they reach the Mountain West Championship.
Alongside head coach Gene Carswell, the two dove into the team’s final stride of the season and Eugenio’s impact as a player, person and asset.
As a senior, Eugenio has felt a strong sense of support from the Aztec community throughout the past four years and feels ready to pursue his future, thanks to an impactful experience in the SDSU tennis program.
“In my case, I am liking tennis more every year because of my teammates and the result of becoming brothers,” Gonzalez Fitzmaurice said. “Having a supportive and motivated environment, getting to see them every day at 6 am workout or just practice in general definitely gets us all together.”
As the season continues in the conference, both Carswell and Eugenio agree that the team’s progression has improved, with the players’ health, including Eugenio’s, a key factor. Eugenio believes he owes it to his teammates to maintain a motivated mindset with the conference tournament in sight, due to falling short in his sophomore year.
Eugenio’s experience of playing overseas, starting at age 12, sometimes without his parents, helped shape him as a person and a player, but he credits San Diego State as the place that truly defined his growth.
He explains that college tennis is the only place where you can experience teamwork toward a shared goal. Even though it is an individual sport, everyone is always there for each other, through the ups and downs.
Moreover, Eugenio has made an impact on his career during his time as an Aztec by being recognized as Mountain West All Singles in 2025, Mountain West Player of the Week in April 2024 and a two-time Mountain West Freshman of the Week in January/April 2023.
Carswell describes this senior player as ‘a diamond in the rough’.
“We’ve seen him evolve into a person who speaks up when he sees something within the team and that’s something that takes growing up.”
Eugenio is known for his aggressive baseline game with a toolbox ready to be opened in tough points. With the support of the Aztec community, he has become more disciplined and using his good shots is what has helped him blossom into the player he is now.
“He’s learned how to use his competitive spirit,” Coach Carswell adds, “which has always been there, but he’s learned how to manifest it into something that is truly beneficial for the team.”
Overall, the SDSU men’s tennis team is an environment of motivation and support. Each and every one of them fights and finds solutions until the last point together. Believing in each other is what makes this group special.
“I hope I brought something positive for everyone [on this team]. My teammates here or that have left, I hope they work for every single goal this program has,” Eugenio said.
After graduation, Eugenio plans to travel the world to play professionally, keeping the experience and growth he gained at San Diego State close to him.
He and his fellow seniors played their final home match as Aztecs on Sunday, April 19, against New Mexico, ending in a team win, a moment that not only showcased the team’s hard work throughout the season but also honored the lasting impact of its senior class.
