
Photo by: Austin Perryman/MSU Athletics
'The German Machine' returns for a final ride
January 18, 2022 | Men's Tennis
STARKVILLE – Florian Broska could very easily be making a living playing professional tennis right now.
Broska graduated from Mississippi State with a degree in business management last spring after enjoying a storied four-year career on the courts for the Bulldogs.
But with his junior season cut short in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Broska had the option to return to MSU for another year of eligibility. It didn't take much on head coach Matt Roberts' part to convince Broska to play one more season in maroon and white.
"It's hard to leave college and nice to be on a team," Broska said. "After college, it's all on your own more or less and I really like the team aspect of college sports. It also came down to getting an opportunity to get a higher degree. I took the opportunity to get my master's degree."
Bringing Broska back definitely bolstered a Bulldog roster that has six other players returning from last season's 16th-ranked squad that reached the Round of 16 at the NCAA Championships. It also affirmed to Roberts that he is building a program that the players themselves take a lot of pride in being a part of.
"Him wanting to be here for another year and his passion for Mississippi State, that just shows me that we've created something where guys love it here," Roberts said. "That was my goal when I first got the job. I wanted to create an environment where guys want to stay here and graduate. When he came back for his fifth year, that gave me a lot of reassurance that we're doing something good."
There are also the leadership abilities that Broska brings back as well. Affectionately known as "The German Machine" to his teammates and coaches, Broska can usually be found on the court or in the weight room hours before and after practice trying to improve upon his game.
Roberts believes that Broska's tireless work ethic sets the perfect example to several of the younger players on the team.
 "He's ready to rock and roll every single day," Roberts said. "He's so consistent in how he competes for the team that it gives us all a lot of confidence."
SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST
Broska burst onto the collegiate tennis scene in the fall of 2017 and finished up his first season with SEC All-Freshman and ITA Southern Region Rookie of the Year honors. The Bulldogs won the SEC Tournament that season and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.
"We won so many matches and an SEC Championship in my first year and it wasn't as exciting because I'm from Germany and didn't know how important that is," Broska said. "Looking back now, it's crazy because that's such a huge thing."
Broska has been ranked every year that he's been a Bulldog and was a second team All-SEC selection last season. He owns an 84-54 record as a singles competitor and has posted 13 victories over ranked opponents, including a straight-set win over then 13th-ranked Henri Squire of UCF in the opening round of NCAA Singles Championships last year in Orlando, Florida.
In September, Broska beat two-time All-American Tyler Zink in the first round of the ITF Fayetteville 15K and closed out the fall by winning the GT Invite hosted by Georgia Tech.
Broska enters the 2022 campaign with a career-best No. 22 ITA ranking and will be a fixture atop Mississippi State's lineup card this spring.
"He's proven so much since he came in playing No. 6 for us," Roberts said. "Now he's moved up and playing an aggressive style of tennis. His development on the court has been awesome to see in the last four years. He's gone from our No. 6 to top 25 in the country. He's playing No. 1 for us and been a rock in doubles."
Broska's accolades in doubles are equally impressive. He holds a 60-44 career record in doubles play and ranked as highly as sixth nationally along with partner Gregor Ramskogler going 6-2 this past fall.
But whether its singles or doubles, Broska is ready to leave his mark on MSU men's tennis during his fifth and final year. Broska and the Bulldogs open their season with a doubleheader against Middle Tennessee State and UAB on Sunday starting at noon.
"It's my last season so I'm ready to take advantage," Broska said.
A SECOND HOME
Broska never visited Mississippi State during his recruitment.
In fact, it wasn't until his second day in Starkville that he was able to tour the campus after making the nearly 8,000-mile journey from his home in Eitelborn, Germany and arriving at his dorm after dark.
"The next day I was so tired because it was my first time really having that long jetlag," Broska said. "I can remember looking out the window and it being weird because everything was super new and different. But I'm from a smaller town so the vibe was very similar and had that family feeling."
Little did he know at the time, but the view outside that dorm room window would quickly become a second home for Broska over the next four-plus years. Even when he makes a rare trip back to his home country, the locals there have trouble keeping track of where home exactly is for him these days.
"When I'm back visiting in Germany, people will ask me when I'm going home," Broska said. "Then they'll think about it and ask when I'm going back to the (United) States. So even to other people, it's become a home to me. It's definitely a second home because I'm here more than I am in Germany."
THE NEXT CHAPTER
Broska understands that his college career is in its final few months both on the court and in the classroom.
Whenever he receives his master's degree and competes for the Bulldogs for the last time, Broska intends to turn tennis into his profession. He plans to join former teammates Nuno Borges and Giovanni Oradini on the ATP Tour.
"My goal is to go pro for at least two years," Broska said. "One year is not enough to really see where you're at. I'm going to play for as long as I can."
But when the day eventually comes for Broska to hang up his racket from that level of competition, he plans to put his degrees from Mississippi State to use. He hopes to get into the field of information technology securities.
The question is, will Broska return to his native Germany or return to the United States to work?
"Once I get to that point, I'm going to apply in Germany as well as in the States," Broska said. "I really don't have a preference. If I find a great job in Germany, then obviously I'm going to take it. But if I find an awesome opportunity here, I don't think I'd be able to say no. There are going to be some tough decisions."
Luckily, it will be a while before Broska has to make those choices. And fortunately for the Bulldogs, "The German Machine" chose to return for a final ride in Starkville.
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Broska graduated from Mississippi State with a degree in business management last spring after enjoying a storied four-year career on the courts for the Bulldogs.
But with his junior season cut short in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Broska had the option to return to MSU for another year of eligibility. It didn't take much on head coach Matt Roberts' part to convince Broska to play one more season in maroon and white.
"It's hard to leave college and nice to be on a team," Broska said. "After college, it's all on your own more or less and I really like the team aspect of college sports. It also came down to getting an opportunity to get a higher degree. I took the opportunity to get my master's degree."
Bringing Broska back definitely bolstered a Bulldog roster that has six other players returning from last season's 16th-ranked squad that reached the Round of 16 at the NCAA Championships. It also affirmed to Roberts that he is building a program that the players themselves take a lot of pride in being a part of.
"Him wanting to be here for another year and his passion for Mississippi State, that just shows me that we've created something where guys love it here," Roberts said. "That was my goal when I first got the job. I wanted to create an environment where guys want to stay here and graduate. When he came back for his fifth year, that gave me a lot of reassurance that we're doing something good."
There are also the leadership abilities that Broska brings back as well. Affectionately known as "The German Machine" to his teammates and coaches, Broska can usually be found on the court or in the weight room hours before and after practice trying to improve upon his game.
Roberts believes that Broska's tireless work ethic sets the perfect example to several of the younger players on the team.
 "He's ready to rock and roll every single day," Roberts said. "He's so consistent in how he competes for the team that it gives us all a lot of confidence."
SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST
Broska burst onto the collegiate tennis scene in the fall of 2017 and finished up his first season with SEC All-Freshman and ITA Southern Region Rookie of the Year honors. The Bulldogs won the SEC Tournament that season and advanced to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament.
"We won so many matches and an SEC Championship in my first year and it wasn't as exciting because I'm from Germany and didn't know how important that is," Broska said. "Looking back now, it's crazy because that's such a huge thing."
Broska has been ranked every year that he's been a Bulldog and was a second team All-SEC selection last season. He owns an 84-54 record as a singles competitor and has posted 13 victories over ranked opponents, including a straight-set win over then 13th-ranked Henri Squire of UCF in the opening round of NCAA Singles Championships last year in Orlando, Florida.
In September, Broska beat two-time All-American Tyler Zink in the first round of the ITF Fayetteville 15K and closed out the fall by winning the GT Invite hosted by Georgia Tech.
Broska enters the 2022 campaign with a career-best No. 22 ITA ranking and will be a fixture atop Mississippi State's lineup card this spring.
"He's proven so much since he came in playing No. 6 for us," Roberts said. "Now he's moved up and playing an aggressive style of tennis. His development on the court has been awesome to see in the last four years. He's gone from our No. 6 to top 25 in the country. He's playing No. 1 for us and been a rock in doubles."
Broska's accolades in doubles are equally impressive. He holds a 60-44 career record in doubles play and ranked as highly as sixth nationally along with partner Gregor Ramskogler going 6-2 this past fall.
But whether its singles or doubles, Broska is ready to leave his mark on MSU men's tennis during his fifth and final year. Broska and the Bulldogs open their season with a doubleheader against Middle Tennessee State and UAB on Sunday starting at noon.
"It's my last season so I'm ready to take advantage," Broska said.
A SECOND HOME
Broska never visited Mississippi State during his recruitment.
In fact, it wasn't until his second day in Starkville that he was able to tour the campus after making the nearly 8,000-mile journey from his home in Eitelborn, Germany and arriving at his dorm after dark.
"The next day I was so tired because it was my first time really having that long jetlag," Broska said. "I can remember looking out the window and it being weird because everything was super new and different. But I'm from a smaller town so the vibe was very similar and had that family feeling."
Little did he know at the time, but the view outside that dorm room window would quickly become a second home for Broska over the next four-plus years. Even when he makes a rare trip back to his home country, the locals there have trouble keeping track of where home exactly is for him these days.
"When I'm back visiting in Germany, people will ask me when I'm going home," Broska said. "Then they'll think about it and ask when I'm going back to the (United) States. So even to other people, it's become a home to me. It's definitely a second home because I'm here more than I am in Germany."
THE NEXT CHAPTER
Broska understands that his college career is in its final few months both on the court and in the classroom.
Whenever he receives his master's degree and competes for the Bulldogs for the last time, Broska intends to turn tennis into his profession. He plans to join former teammates Nuno Borges and Giovanni Oradini on the ATP Tour.
"My goal is to go pro for at least two years," Broska said. "One year is not enough to really see where you're at. I'm going to play for as long as I can."
But when the day eventually comes for Broska to hang up his racket from that level of competition, he plans to put his degrees from Mississippi State to use. He hopes to get into the field of information technology securities.
The question is, will Broska return to his native Germany or return to the United States to work?
"Once I get to that point, I'm going to apply in Germany as well as in the States," Broska said. "I really don't have a preference. If I find a great job in Germany, then obviously I'm going to take it. But if I find an awesome opportunity here, I don't think I'd be able to say no. There are going to be some tough decisions."
Luckily, it will be a while before Broska has to make those choices. And fortunately for the Bulldogs, "The German Machine" chose to return for a final ride in Starkville.
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