The New Breeding Ground

Opinion

College Tennis: The New Breeding Ground

Prediction: Within the next 10 years, a player who spent time developing their game in college will hoist a grand slam singles trophy.

While dining hall food and a semester of Microeconomics was probably plan E for Roger, Serena, Novak and the like, times have changed. College tennis, Division 1 in particular, has become a legit springboard to the top of the game.

The New Breeding Ground

As of March this year, there were 15 men and 5 women in the Top 100 who played in college. That includes fan favorites Ben Shelton (Florida), Emma Navarro (Virginia), Chris Eubanks (Georgia Tech), and Danielle Collins (Virginia/Florida). Just a decade ago, you could have counted the list on one hand.

The shift is real, and it’s fueled by a few key factors.

Why College Tennis Works

💰 Money Matters

Pro tennis is glamorous for all of 6 seconds, until you’re burning through your savings to play a low-level Challenger in Uzbekistan. Financial woes are the number-one reason many talented players hang up their rackets before hitting their peak. But college tennis combats that.

With scholarships, players can develop their games without drowning in debt. They can also keep up to $10k in prize money from pro tournaments every year, helping them recoup tournament entry fees, travel and equipment costs, etc. Think of it as a safety net.

🤺 Match Experience

College players compete constantly. Team screaming dual matches, individual tournaments, you name it. They rack up a ton of match play experience in a short time, and battle through pressure-packed situations—ideal and necessary prep for the tour.

🕰️ Time to Grow

With today’s game being more physical than ever, players need time to develop their bodies and endurance. College gives them that time. So instead of trying to break through at 17 (like in the Chang/Sampras era), today’s stars tend to peak closer to their mid-20s.

Why the Trend Will Continue

College tennis will only become a more popular option for top juniors. Why?

• Role Models: The success of Shelton, Navarro and now many others has validated it as a path to the top of the game. This will only push more talent into the collegiate system.

• ATP Accelerator Program: This initiative gives top college players opportunities at Challenger (low level pro) events, fast-tracking their transition to the pros.

• NIL Deals: And now that college players can earn Bud Light money cash by sticking a local tire shop logo on their shirts, they can use the extra resources to improve their development.

The Perfect Storm

College tennis offers a combination of financial support, competitive experience, and a delayed entry to the brutal pro tour that aligns with the realities of today’s sport. It’s a no-brainer for many players—and the results are starting to show.

So, mark it down: Sometime in the next decade, we’ll see a former college tennis player thanking their coaches, teammates, and their freshman-year roommate, while hoisting a grand slam trophy.

Trivia

Who was the most recent person to win a grand slam singles title, who also played college tennis?

A. Danielle Collins

B. John McEnroe

C. Arthur Ashe

D. Coco Gauff

Meet the Player

Francisco Cerúndolo

From: Argentina 🇦🇷

Alma Mater: University of South Carolina 🐓

Best Slam Result: 4th Round

Career High Ranking: 19

Fun Fact: “I sing all the time”

Game Analysis: Fran is happiest on the clay, where he has time to bully opponents around the court with his massive forehand. That said, he has trouble defending from the backhand corner, which gets him in trouble.

Career Prediction: The 26 year old has his best tennis ahead of him. With better results on the dirt (he seemed to struggle this year), I think he can get back inside the top 20 and make his debut in a slam quarterfinal.

Shot of the Week

The 180 Kamikaze Winner

tennislegend

View more on Instagram

Rush the net when your opponent has an easy overhead? Of course. Proceed to hit a 180 turn-around pick-up volley winner? Naturally.

The reaction from his teammates at the end says it all. Enjoy 😎

News

Headlines From the Tours

🤑 Do the money dance. According to news outlet Sportico, 9 out of the 15 highest earning female athletes in the world this year are tennis players. The result is a testament to the growing popularity of women’s tennis from both fans and brands, and to the groundwork laid long ago by the likes of Billie Jean King.

🏟️ Hey Gen Z, show us what you’ve got. Eight of the most promising screenagers players under 20 will compete in the ATP Next Gen Finals next week. While the tournament doesn’t count for ranking points, it does offer $2M+ in prize money. Past winners include Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

🏛️ Updates on the Sinner doping case. Based on the schedule of hearings released by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Jannik’s case will start at the earliest Feb 11th. This timeline awards him the opportunity to defend his Australian Open title, though he will undoubtedly be asked about the impending trial by every reporter in Melbourne. Based on Iga’s light 1 month ban, I’d be surprised if he got more than 3 months.

Memes

Emma Raducanoe

Truthfully this is a cop out and I hate myself for it. Better than nothing though.

Answer

B. John McEnroe

In 1978, McEnroe lead Stanford to an NCAA championship. Later that year he ditched the little known college for the pros.