Why College Tennis is a good Fit: A self-reflection

Don’t underestimate the benefits of college tennis.

It can be the perfect springboard to the pro tour—as it was for me.

College was the ideal transition from juniors to higher-level tennis.

Why?

Because it happens in a protected environment.

What does "protected" mean?

You compete (whether you win or lose) and then you regroup with your team and coach. You travel as a group, share meals, return to campus life, attend classes, reset, and then continue training or practicing. A few days later, you're off again for another match, together as a team. There's support and balance. When tennis isn't going well, you have the opportunity to step back and reset on campus. That's powerful. Many of us living this lifestyle don't recognize just how supportive and empowering the system truly is.

On the entry-level pro circuit, it’s not like that:

It's isolating. You are by yourself. Arranging housing, meals, and practice is entirely your responsibility to plan and organize. The lifestyle revolves around competition, leaving little room for other outlets. When the results don't materialize, things can become bleak. The panic, anxiety, and the overwhelming burden of self-imposed expectations can be intense. You might find yourself traveling alone, lacking companionship or a support network. These were feelings, experiences, and moments of solitude I had never encountered before.

There's not much you can do to prepare for this. No amount of prior knowledge or advice can offer a mental or emotional guide to follow. It's a process of trial and error. It's unexplored territory. It's during these times that your adaptability is truly put to the test.

A quick background with my experience:

I’ll confess that I made my fair share of mistakes throughout my time playing on the National and Pro Circuit in Tennis.

I dove directly into ITF Futures Qualifying as my first event. It was an entirely new format and level of competition from what I was comfortable with and already adjusted too. It became a stark wake-up call.

These events include a qualifying draw with approximately 128 players vying for 16 spots in the main draw over four days. It's a single-elimination format. At the end of the four-day event, your results are entirely on you. No one is concerned about who you are, your feelings, or whether you even made it past the first day. The sole focus for everyone is competing for those 16 spots, and that's all that counts. It's that simple.

If you lack unshakeable confidence in your game, don't even attempt it. I realized that confidence required a complete redefinition at this level. This realization dawned on me about two years in, after I had already diminished a significant part of my self-confidence.

When I finally took a step back, following advice from a training mentor, I suddenly felt like I regained some control over my experience. I started participating in a mix of National events, local league play, and smaller prize money events where I had the opportunity to experience "winnings" from my competitive results. This instilled confidence in my game. This was the missing variable in the equation that I desperately needed. However, at this point, I didn’t realize it, but I was ¾ of the way through my Pro Circuit journey.

1) The Perfect “Realistic” Springboard

We all mature at different rates during our teen years. Physical development varies for everyone. Some peak between 12–16, others much later. I was in the latter category. My body maxed out at 5'9", weighing 130–140 lbs during high school. It wasn't impressive but it was reasonable.

For majority of competition, most high school players compete within their state, region, and some National tennis competitions. While these events do provide a strong foundation for tournament play, it doesn’t necessarily prepare you for the standards of international tennis and competition.

My take:

Playing college tennis allowed me to compete against top-tier international athletes. These players approached every match with a hunger to win every match. Their determination and intensity were unlike anything I encountered in U.S. junior tennis. Many of them were trained with a mental strength and mindset that I can describe as distinctive to their country and coaching techniques.

If you weren't among the Top 50 national juniors, you probably hadn't experienced this level of tennis before college. Adjusting can be challenging. However, within the "protected" college environment, complete with teammates, over 20 matches per season, team travel, and academic duties, students learn how to recover quickly. This setup strengthens players mentally and builds the resilience necessary to compete against high-level opponents.

2) The Maturity Time

This builds on the first point. The jump in competition level from juniors to college tennis is significant and another (even bigger) leap awaits on the pro circuit.

Not every player is physically or mentally ready for college-level tennis straight out of high school. The 18–22 age window can be a crucial period for development.

Unless a High School athlete is:

• In a program that develops physical maturity.

• Guided by a coach who truly understands their game.

• Developing confidence and a competitive mindset.

…it’s unlikely they’ll be ready to compete at the college level right away. Realistically, only the Top 100, perhaps just the Top 50, national juniors are close to being ready, and even then, it’s not a guarantee.

My take:

The two years I spent in college were essential for learning how to adapt and compete at this new standard. My Tennis IQ, physical skills, and confidence as a competitor improved dramatically between the ages of 18 to 20. These improvements were visible only through consistent tournament and match results over the course of both seasons I competed in. That time was transformative for my growth into an adult competitor ready for the entry-level ITF circuit.

3) The Reality Check

Honestly, completing four years of college tennis is quite an achievement, and I only finished two. Although my college career was shortened due to my academic ambitions and pursuits, I still had a significant experience with the realities of college athletics. Physically, it’s exhausting. By the time an athlete finishes college, they’ve already dedicated anywhere from 10–14 years to the sport, likely with no significant break.  Not to mention the balance for between personal life, academics, and athletics all at the same time.

At that point, it’s fair to ask:

“Do I really want to continue this path into the demanding world of pro tennis?”

Some players realize it’s time to shift toward a non-tennis career path and dedicate themselves to the college major they spent the last four years studying. For others, tennis transforms into a hobby or weekend competition at lower levels than they once competed at. And for some, it’s the end of the road (a time to hang up the rackets) for the time being.

High-level tennis (college or pro) requires full commitment from the athlete and their family. The investment of, time, money, and lifestyle is massive. Families are brought together, pulled apart, or simply stretched thin trying to make it all work.

Eventually, every player reaches a decision point, often during their last season of either High School or College Athletics. It's a personal crossroads, shaped by finances, opportunity for the future, and an induction into adulthood. For those who choose to continue into the realm of professional tennis, the financial component becomes one of the biggest factors in how much opportunity they have to achieve the next level in the sport.

My take:

I was prepared to reach the highest level of tennis possible. Having played just two years of college tennis, my body endured only about half the wear, tear, and mental stress compared to those who played four consecutive years. This was both an advantage and a disadvantage. While my body had a chance to recover from the 11 years of continuous physical strain from 1996 to 2007, I also lost my connection with competitive tennis and the confidence I had at the end of my college tennis career.

So today, it’s fair to ask:

“Was I ready to take this leap back then?”

My experience on the Pro Circuit:

Let's begin by examining the facts and figures. From what I remember, among all the juniors I trained with in my youth (most of whom were ranked higher and attended prestigious athletic programs), only two chose to pursue the ITF Pro Circuit after college tennis. This meant that out of everyone I graduated high school with, I had the opportunity to reconnect with just those two players regarding a completely new aspect of tennis, which was entirely unfamiliar to me. Little did I know how challenging this would be for my starting point.

Finding partners to practice with at events, train with between tournaments, or share housing costs proved more challenging than expected. Occasionally, I managed to join forces with new acquaintances or former training partners to share travel and housing expenses, which helped maintain some consistency in training. However, it wasn't always straightforward, and sometimes it required meeting other tennis competitors at the events themselves and teaming up on the spot to share costs and practice sessions. In reality, I often traveled solo and stayed in budget hotels or private Airbnb rooms to keep expenses manageable.

Reflecting on my coaching journey, here are a few key principles that shaped my journey:

• I lived at home with family.

• Trained during the day with hitting partners that I organized week to week based on availability and tournament schedules.

• Trained with local college teams as a hitting partner and Volunteer Assistant Coach.

• I managed my own gym, agility, and fitness training based on research and trusted input from friends and mentors.

• Planned my own competitive schedule around budget, travel efficiency, and opportunity.

• Learned to cook and brought my own cookware and ingredients to tournaments to save money and maintain nutrition.

• Drove to as many events as possible, carrying all gear—including my stringing machine—to avoid extra expenses.

• Shared housing and travel with other players whenever possible.

As both an individual and an athlete, it was crucial for me to take on as much responsibility as possible during my Pro Circuit journey. I aimed to avoid reliance on others. I never took out a loan or sought financial assistance. While my family supported my basic living and car expenses, all the money I spent on tennis came from coaching lessons and stringing rackets for students.

There were chances to move to full-time training environments, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave the support and stability of home. That consistency became a grounding force in an otherwise unpredictable lifestyle. There are some things I could have changed and others that could have helped.

Ultimately, I was lucky to go through that phase of my life (2011-2016), gaining some important and highly relevant life lessons:

1. On my own terms and merit

2. Build an entrepreneurial-style coaching resume as Head Academy Pro and Volunteer Assistant Coach at two different NAIA colleges.

3. Learn how to balance training, lifestyle, budget, and travel arrangements.

4. Grow up in a space that was both familiar and unfamiliar. Tennis was my life and passion, and I was able to pursue it at the entry professional level while mentoring juniors on their collegiate path.

5. Created a pathway for myself to build a career and support a family in the future with the experiences I gained.

Final Thoughts:

College tennis is more than just a stopgap, it’s a real, proven path to growth. Whether you want to pursue the pro circuit or simply become the best version of yourself through competition, the lessons learned in that environment are invaluable.

It offers structure. It demands growth. And for many, including myself, it becomes the defining step in a lifelong tennis journey.