David Chu’s nickname is “Crazy,” but that’s the last thing you would call the quiet senior — unless it was in reference to his willingness to work hard and become a better tennis player.

“David really started to make big strides in his game when he started taking his footwork to another level,” head coach Matt Anger said. “One time, he was doing well, and one of the guys, without thinking, said, ‘Gosh, it’s crazy the way he’s starting to move his feet.’ I had to laugh; not only was that his nickname, but the fact that someone might look at doing a good thing to that extreme as crazy.”

That’s about the only thing Anger would call crazy about Chu. The senior from Vancouver, British Columbia, just finished his fourth and last season as a Husky. During the past four years, Chu has won 64 singles matches and played in two NCAA championships. Chu can’t believe his tenure as a UW tennis player is now over.

“It’s kind of awkward because it feels like I just came here, and now I’m leaving,” Chu said. “The time here went by so fast.”

It all started when his father introduced Chu to the game of tennis when he was 6 years old. His father would play every other day, and soon, Chu was taking lessons at the local club. Chu says his father has been the biggest influence on him.

“He always comes to my matches, and he always helps me the most when I’m having problems,” Chu said. “Especially now, when I have problems, he’ll come watch and tell me what to do.”

Luckily, Chu had a good mentor right when he stepped onto campus. Daniel Chu, his brother, was a junior at the UW and also competed on the tennis team. The brothers, who have been playing together since they were 8 years old, were roommates during Chu’s freshman year.

“It was fun,” Chu said of the experience with his brother. “He taught me all the good places to eat around campus and showed me where all my classes were. Just knowing that he was my roommate, and we could go out there and hit whenever we wanted — that was good. He was a big help.”

Anger, who has had a member of the Chu family on his team since 2003, enjoyed coaching the brothers because of their strong work ethic.

As a freshman, Chu won the team’s Haller Peterson Award, which is given to a player who works hard and is a team player.

“It’s no question why or how David has won that award,” Anger said. “Those are the things he has each and every day.”

After an average sophomore year, Chu excelled in his junior year, leading the Huskies in overall singles wins with 24. He also earned a Pac-10 All-Academic honorable mention. This year, Chu has 14 total singles wins and is coming off his second NCAA championship appearance. Chu says that Friday’s comeback win against Texas Tech was his most memorable moment as a Husky.

“That comeback was just amazing,” Chu said. “I honestly thought we didn’t have a chance because we were down in all the matches except for one. It’s such a good feeling to know that we can come back from that situation and carry that emotion into our other matches.”

Anger respects the fact that Chu never complains or pouts about lineup changes.

“Without a doubt, he has grown both as a person and a player,” Anger said. “As a person, he may be one of the most fair, honest people we’ve had. Not that other people aren’t fair and honest, but he is able to look fairly at himself, at where he might stand on the team.”

Overall, Anger is sad to see Chu’s career as a Husky end. He said it was enjoyable working with a player who is always motivated and working hard.

“Hard-working is too åeasy to say,” said Anger. “I know a lot of athletes are working hard, but he is able to do it without any prodding. He is able to work hard without hesitation and do what’s best for the team.”

Chu will miss college tennis just as much as Anger will miss Chu’s hard work and genuine presence on the team.

“It’s just all the feelings, the emotions,” Chu said. “You can’t get that anywhere else except in college.”

Reach reporter Taylor Soper at sports@dailyuw.com.