US College Signings 2017 (and general college tennis chat)

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

RE: US College Signings 2017 (and general college tennis chat)

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Spectator wrote:
Bearing in mind the success that some of the top-ranked university doubles players have later enjoyed on the pro tour (including GB's own Dom Ingot, the Skupskis, etc) that number one ranking for Julian Cash is quite interesting.

Yes, it's a huge achievement. Number one, in the whole of USA college tennis. He's not too shabby at single either, seemingly.

Nice article:

http://www.okstate.com/news/2016/9/13/mens-tennis-cash-and-kadhe-become-osus-first-top-ranked-doubles-duo.aspx

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I think Julian's singles rank is important in terms of showing how much he has improved as his partner ranked 50 places lower has already been as high as no. 3 in doubles two years ago.

I just hope they have a really strong year for college but he also gets an opportunity to make a mark in futures as a singles player, which would give us a better understanding of what his 29 in college tennis means.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Added Adam Coyne, Ronald Mataba and Takura Mlambo to the list of men already at college

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Added the list of men who completed their 4 years of eligibility this summer

Oakland2002 · All-time great

And Jordan Angus (who I think is our only top 100 college male graduate this year) is the first to put his toes in the waters of pro tennis at Fountain this week. Good luck to him!

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Interesting to see CD's comments about Alice Gilan in the Roehampton Futures thread. There are a lot of talented and hardworking young players out there doing the hard yards day in day out but it strikes me that the most critical think in terms of development as a young player is physical resilience, a brief period of injury at the wrong time and you drop of the radar. Alice has been reported as having had a very strong last 18 months.

If for example Victoria Allen had picked up an injury whilst playing in Dundalk which had taken her out for a couple of months she wouldn't have had success there and not been in a position to do so well at Nottingham. Fortunately that is not been how things have turned out and she has been able to work hard through the summer and demenostrate her progress.

The Optimist touched on the fact that Alice had made the decision to for go college tennis and start on the futures tour.

Looking from the outside in, it is hard to come close to understanding the difficult decision making process that very talented ie nationally ranked but not elite internationally ranked players go through in making these decisions. Particularly where there has been a sustained period of injury resulting in unrealised potential for development. It is more straight forward where there is a degree of parental support available that can offer a gap year playing futures full time (perhaps two) off the back of some academic success at school but as a generalisation that is limited to the 8% of the population who to varying degrees are able to afford school fees.

Increasingly you can see where college tennis can fit in providing a more structured environment to realise that potential without the enormous fiscal investment even a tentative stab at playing futures requires.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Monday 26th of September 2016 02:27:09 PM

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Just for clarification, as I think you missed out a key word in your post Oakie, Alice is going for full time tennis rather than US college.

But yes, it is a difficult decision for those approaching 18 who have been in full time education. The structure of the school day and the rules on absenteeism make it very difficult for those wishing a normal education to get enough tennis in to know what their potential could be (ignoring Miss Arbuthnott here as a complete outlier!). If they've been able to train regularly it has probably been at the expense of competition, and if they've competed regularly it's probably been at the expense of training. And of course, if you wait more than 6 months after taking your school exams it becomes very difficult, if not impossible to get a place at a good Div 1 college. So no trying tennis full time for a year and seeing how you get on.

Another issue, which I think steers more and more down the college route, is, as Oakie points out, finances. Those who have been in a normal educational environment for the reasons stated above probably aren't immediately ready for the tour. Nor are they particularly high on the LTA radar, and of course that means no help to bridge the gap between where they are on leaving school and where they could be once able to devote themselves full time to their sport.

Edit:Typos

-- Edited by The Optimist on Tuesday 27th of September 2016 09:11:42 AM

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Added Jovana Knezevic to those already at college

Kenneth · Lower Club Player

Interesting thoughts about Alice. People make all sorts of interesting decisions but unless they are at the very TOP of the junior tour trying to "go pro" at 17/18 is insanity. Unless they are very wealthy of course then why not!

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I agree, the why not option is a very fabulous one for her to have but I think the outcome is likely to be the same some probably best off using the money to get on the housing ladder but until you have a go you never know.

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Added Caleb Dyer to those already at college

The Optimist · ATP qualifying

Added Emily Arbuthnott to the list of those already at college. Think the women's list is probably complete now.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

A big shout out to Luke Johnson, age 22, (and ex-WR 1607) who graduated from Clemson (South California) this year and, having put a bit of cash together working over summer, is now about to embark on his pro career.

He's just won the Loughborough British Tour event (beating ATP-ranked Mason Recci).

Nice article about his background and plans for the future:

www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/tennis/tennis-leeds-ace-johnson-s-eyeing-professional-career-1-7717786

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Congratulations to Luke on his win

Nice start following his graduation from Clemson which is a massive ACC football school in South Carolina. It's also one of the top (most academic) public schools (similar fees to the UK if you live in state) in the South Eastern United States.

Although I am sure the SoCal ref was a typo, interestingly 6/11 of the most academic public schools in the US are part of the University of California system, Clemson just squeezes in the top 20.