The ATP Challenger Tour has long been an essential breeding ground for the game’s future stars to gain experience and make their initial professional breakthrough.

The Challenger Tour has also proven to be a great stepping stone for college players who have ambitions of turning their dreams into reality, like Ben Shelton, who won three consecutive Challenger titles to finish this past season and was a quarter-finalist at this year’s Australian Open.

The former University of Florida standout, who captured the 2022 NCAA singles title, is just one rising star whose roots are in collegiate tennis. Since Shelton claimed his college crown, the 20-year-old has made quick progress at the pro level.

The #NextGenATP star became the fifth player to win the NCAA Singles Championship and a Challenger title in the same season, marking the first time since Steve Johnson in 2012. The lefty has continued to build upon his momentum and is at a career-high No. 41 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

“College tennis doesn’t always get the respect it deserves,” Shelton told ATPTour.com in July. “There’s a lot of really good talent in college tennis. It helps mature you and teaches you how to be a leader.”

Former University of Illinois standout Aleksandar Kovacevic has also seen his game translate well to the professional level since graduating in 2021. The American won his maiden Challenger Tour title this past week in Cleveland, Ohio and was a semi-finalist at last year’s ATP 250 event in Seoul, where he lost to eventual champion Yoshihito Nishioka.

Two years prior to winning the Cleveland Challenger, Kovacevic was a senior in college competing in several Challenger events across the United States. In 2021, he advanced through qualifying en route to a semi-final run in Cleveland (l. to Fratangelo). Little did he know that a couple of years later he would be back in Ohio, but this time lifting the trophy.

Aleksandar Kovacevic triumphs at the 2023 Cleveland Open. Credit: Ben Peskar

“I played a lot of pro tournaments my last season of college,” Kovacevic said. “It gave me a little bit of a cushion to make the jump to the pros. I was already ranked around 500 when I got out of college. Now after being on the pro tour for a bit, there [are] a lot of things I wish I knew even starting out on Tour, but a lot of it is a learning process and that’s okay.”

While nothing guarantees success, the college tennis path has worked for many players. Even legends like Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, and John McEnroe tasted collegiate success before rising to the professional ranks. John Isner, Kevin Anderson, Rajeev Ram, Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan and Steve Johnson are more recent examples of student-athletes boasting a strong college career before breaking through on the ATP Tour.

Johnson, who turned pro in 2012, led the University of Southern California to four consecutive NCAA team titles and captured back-to-back singles crowns (2011, 2012). The American finished his college career on a 72-match winning streak.

“College tennis was instrumental in my growth as a tennis player and as a person,” Johnson said. “It gave me a chance to grow up, mature, and see what was important in my life. Without college tennis, I wouldn’t be here today and had the career I’ve had, I know that for sure. Peter Smith, George Husack, Brett Masi, those guys helped me along the way while I was at USC. They gave me the opportunities and abilities to learn on my own but also gave me all the guidance and gave me that push I needed.”

This season, the ATP announced a collaboration with the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) to accelerate the professional development pathway for players in the American collegiate system.

Players ranked in the Top 20 of the ITA final singles rankings at the beginning of June, who have finished their education, will be granted up to eight ‘accelerator spots’ at Challenger 50 and 75 tournaments, with opportunities split between main draw (Top 10) and qualifying (11-20). Players who reach the quarter-finals or better of the individual NCAA Division I Tennis Championships will also qualify for the accelerator programme if not already eligible via their ITA ranking.

The ATP-ITA partnership allows more opportunities for college players to see how their game fits at the highest level of the sport. And history shows that the college tennis path has been a successful route for many accomplished players.

Stars On Importance Of College Tennis

William Blumberg, who was a 10-time ITA All-American at the University of North Carolina: “At 17 or 18 years old, you’re so young and immature and to have those resources and basically go to school for free if you’re a top junior… You get free coaching, two or three coaches, fitness, strength and conditioning, nutrition, all paid for and all in one place as well as being able to be a human being. If I could stay and never leave, I probably would’ve.”

Brandon Holt, four-time ITA All-American at the University of Southern California: “Going to college allowed me to get a lot stronger because you have a lot of time in the weight room. It’s kind of hard when you’re on Tour to get a good training block, so college is like four years of consistently working out. Also, there [are] coaches that have a four year plan with your game. They’re like, ‘This is the player we think you can become.’ Then they have years to progress you to that point. You show up every day and they have one goal to get better and closer to that goal. They have a tailored plan for every player and I think that’s huge.”

Former University of Kentucky standout and 2022 Granby Challenger champion Gabriel Diallo: “What’s great about college tennis is you have the opportunity to play a lot of matches. It’s kind of like playing Davis Cup every weekend. You play for your school and if you buy into that college atmosphere, you become part of something bigger, like for me, ‘Bleeding Blue’ and ‘Big Blue Nation’…It’s an experience you’ll never get on Tour.”

Gabriel Diallo claims his maiden Challenger title on home soil in Granby. Credit: Tennis Canada Media Centre

Cristian Garin earned his first tour-level win of the 2023 on Sunday, beating Alexander Bublik to send Chile to the Davis Cup Finals.

On Tuesday, he continued his winning run with a 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-0 victory against seventh seed Pedro Martinez at the Cordoba Open. Prior to this month, Garin had not played a clay-court match since last July; he had not won on the surface since Roland Garros last June.

“This is my first ATP match on clay after six months, so it’s tough to get back to the rhythm of this surface,” the Chilean said post-match. “It’s nice to have another match tomorrow or Thursday… great week.”

In the two-hour, 30-minute match, Garin attacked the Martinez second serve to great effect, winning 66 per cent of points on the Spaniard’s second delivery and breaking serve five times in 14 chances. After Martinez won five straight games to snatch the second set, Garin raced through the third set without allowing his opponent a game point.

The Chilean will next face Portgual’s Joao Sousa or Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry, with the pair set to open play Wednesday on Cordoba’s stadium court.

After reaching a career-high Pepperstone ATP Ranking of No. 17 in 2021, Garin fell out of the Top 100 following a first-round exit at the Australian Open. His Cordoba opening-round win lifted him six places in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings, putting him back into the Top 100 at No. 97.

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Garin’s match was the second three-setter of the day on centre court. In Tuesday’s opener, sixth seed and home favourite Federico Coria defeated Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-2. The Argentine, who hit 12 aces and saved six of seven break points in the contest, awaits the winner of the Wednesday matchup between Facundo Bagnis and Marco Cecchinato.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame recently launched the TennisWorthy Podcast, a new series of podcasts featuring conversations with Hall of Famers and tennis legends. Among the icons featuring in the first season will be Lleyton Hewitt, Tracy Austin, Ivan Lendl and Mary Pierce.

“The individuals featured in the TennisWorthy Podcast have set themselves apart by achieving the ultimate honour in tennis – induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame,” said Julianna Barbieri, Senior Vice President of Content & Partnerships at the ITHF. “These thoughtful episodes reveal what it takes to reach the top of the game, both on and off the court. Whether it be in competition, in your career or in daily life, listeners and tennis fans alike will discover the qualities that translate to success.”

The conversations featured in the podcast will examine the mindset of champions through the experiences of some of the best players in tennis history. The TennisWorthy Podcast is hosted by Chris Bowers.

The first four episodes will be released as follows:

• Episode 1 (Jan. 25) – Australian great Lleyton Hewitt discusses the drive, intensity and “never say die” attitude that he credits for his achievements.

• Episode 2 (Feb. 8) – Tracy Austin details her immersion into tennis from her earliest days, her innate ability to push herself, and the importance of taking small steps to reaching goals.

• Episode 3 (Feb. 22) – Ivan Lendl opens up about how absorbing experiences on and off the court led to mastering the intricacies that defined his consistency.

• Episode 4 (March 8) – Mary Pierce shares her story, from how fate led her to pick up a racquet for the first time at age 10, to her desire to be the best she can possibly be every day.

Learn More About The TennisWorthy Podcast

The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island is home to the Infosys Hall of Fame Open, an ATP 250 grass-court event. This year’s tournament will be played from 17-23 July.

Denis Shapovalov might have pursued a career in ice hockey if he wasn’t a tennis player. On Monday night, he experienced the game at its highest level before his opening match at the Dallas Open.

The Canadian watched the Dallas Stars — the NHL’s Western Conference leaders — defeat the Anaheim Ducks 3-2 in a shootout. He even had time to snap some photos with members of the Stars team from Toronto, including his friend Tyler Seguin, who scored the winning goal in the shootout.

“I’ve met Tyler before. We’ve known each other for years now,” Shapovalov said. “Really cool to see him again, and to meet a couple of the other Toronto guys was a really cool moment.”

Left to right: Wyatt Johnston, Ty Dellandrea, Colin Miller, Denis Shapovalov, Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment. Photo credit: @DallasStars

The third seed at the Dallas Open, Shapovalov will hope to replicate the Stars’ fighting spirit that was on display in Monday’s win.

“It was one of those games where [the Ducks] scored a goal, got momentum back,” he assessed. “I think Dallas did a great job to fend them off in overtime short a man, and then get the win in the shootout.

“My boy Tyler scored the game-winning goal so it was pretty cool.”

Marc-Andrea Huesler maintained his good start to the year Tuesday with first-round victory at the Open Sud de France – Montpellier, but not before he was given a thorough test by emerging #NextGenATP Frenchman Luca Van Assche.

The Swiss lefty arrived at the ATP 250 event off the back of notching victories for Switzerland against Germany’s Oscar Otte and Alexander Zverev in the weekend’s Davis Cup Qualifiers. Huesler was made to dig deep by the 18-year-old World No. 145 Van Assche in southern France, however, where he fended off five of six break points in his 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win.

“Obviously he’s very young. He’s 18, [but] already Top 150, so he’s a great player” said Huesler in his on-court interview after booking a second-round clash against top seed Holger Rune. “I saw that in the second set especially. He had a great phase there, where he wasn’t missing and [was] making my life really difficult. I’m very happy that I was able to come through this round.”

The World No. 49 Huesler’s serve pulled him through tough moments against an opponent playing just his third tour-level match. The 26-year-old fired 13 aces and won 86 per cent (38/44) of points behind his first delivery to move to 6-2 for the 2023 season.

“It’s always different, every tournament starts from scratch,” said Huesler, when asked whether his Davis Cup heroics had boosted his confidence ahead of the Van Assche clash. “Today I felt the pressure was a bit more on my side because obviously I want to win, I want to start off the year well indoors as well. I’m really happy I got it done.”

Huesler carries a 2-0 ATP Head2Head series lead into his clash with Rune in Montpellier. Both the pair’s previous meetings came in 2022, when Huesler clinched straight-sets victories in Bastad and then in the Sofia championship match to claim his maiden tour-level crown.

Like Huesler, Maxime Cressy put his big serve to good use on Tuesday to seal a second-round berth. The American sent down 11 aces en route to defeating Swiss qualifier Antoine Bellier 6-3, 6-2 for his second tour-level win of the season. Cressy, who was born in France, is making his tournament debut in Montpellier, where he next faces seventh seed Emil Ruusuvuori or Mikael Ymer.

Lorenzo Sonego lifted his third ATP Tour title on French indoor hard courts last September in Metz. The Italian gave a stark early reminder of his indoor prowess in Tuesday’s evening session, when he took out eighth seed and home favourite Benjamin Bonzi 6-3, 6-4. His next challenger in Montpellier will be Filip Krajinovic, who earlier held off Aslan Karatsev 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-2.

Quentin Halys and Marton Fucsovics also advanced on Tuesday but both needed three sets to see off home qualifiers. World No. 70 Halys downed ATP Tour debutant Clement Chidekh 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, while Fucsovics World No. 69 defeated Geoffrey Blancaneaux 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 to set a second-round clash with second seed Jannik Sinner.

John Isner has racked up frequent-flyer miles throughout his 15-year career. But the American doesn’t have to travel far this week as he competes in front of family, friends, and a local crowd at the Dallas Open. The only travel he will do this week is a short drive from his house to the Styslinger/Altec Tennis Complex.

The World No. 38, who has called Dallas home for five years, spoke with ATPTour.com about what he enjoys most residing in the Texas city. Isner, seeded fifth, meets Chun-Hsin Tseng on Tuesday night in the opening round of the Dallas Open.

What do you like about living in Dallas?
I think the people here. By and large, the people here are very, very nice. They have welcomed my family here with open arms.

How much time do you get to check out the city and is there a certain area you like to check out?
I get a lot of time to check out the city. I like Deep Ellum, Lower Greenville, I have some friends that live in that area. I like Downtown and the Perot Museum [of Nature and Science] — our kids really like that. And the aquarium. A lot of the stuff we do revolves around the kids.

What’s your favourite restaurant?
There are multiple. I love steak. Nick & Sam’s, Al Biernat’s are both fantastic. In my opinion, Dallas is very well known for their incredible restaurants. I like Beverley, Mi Cocina, Doce Mesas. The list could go on and on.

If you’re short on time, Is there a fast-food restaurant you like?
Because of our family dynamic now with kids, Bubba’s. It’s like the only drive-thru in Highland Park. Between Bubba’s and Chik-Fil-A, the kids like it and of course I’ll dig in.

What’s your opinion on the Texas-famous Whataburger?
I do like Whataburger. I don’t eat that many of them for whatever reason. There’s not one that’s too close to me, so I have to get out of the bubble a little bit but I’m definitely a fan.

Is there somewhere you like to go for sweets?
I like Baldo’s Ice Cream. It’s close and the kids like it as well.

When was the last time you attended a Cowboys, Mavericks, or Stars game?
Last week, I went to a Stars game before their [All-Star] break. They lost to Carolina in Overtime. I love hockey, it might be my favourite sport besides tennis. I go to more Stars games than Mavericks games. And I went to two Cowboys games this year.

What is the most unique thing you’ve ever done in Dallas?
Probably the state fair. It’s a tradition here. It’s not that unique, but for me being from another state, it is. It’s a staple here in Dallas. We ate corn dogs and didn’t feel that great after.

What is one thing in Dallas you’ve heard about that you haven’t done but want to try or attend?
I’ll stick with the food theme. I think Keller’s [Drive-In] Burgers. I haven’t had that burger yet. Everyone in Dallas has their favourite burger spots. I think Hudson House has a really good burger but I need to try Keller’s.

If someone who had never been to Dallas before came to visit, what would you say they need to see or do?
I would say we’ll go a little outside of Dallas and catch an event at AT&T Stadium. A Cowboys game, or a concert. It’s a very cool spot.

What about outside the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex? How much of Texas have you been able to see and do you have a favourite spot?
I really like Buc-ee’s. Even if we’re going on a road trip that’s not so long, we’ll stop in there even if we don’t need gas or food. You always stop there! You can get anything. You can walk out of there with a brand new ensemble. I think when people not from the state see that place they’re like, ‘What the hell is this place?’ It’s pretty unique.

There’s no place like home for John Isner.

After an empty trip Down Under to start his season, the American earned his first win of 2023 at the Dallas Open, just a short drive from his home in the Texas city. The fifth seed defeated Chun-Hsin Tseng 7-6(5), 7-6(1) on Tuesday night to get off the mark on the year.

“I would love to win some tennis matches in Australia. It just never happens,” said Isner, who has reached the Australian Open fourth round twice. “I normally play my best at home, in the United States, and this is actually home.

“I’m a homebody and very lucky to, of course, have this tournament here in my backyard. I’m happy to move on. I’ve got to keep improving, and I think I can.”

One year ago at the inaugural Dallas tournament, Isner reached the semi-finals but bowed out to eventual champion Reilly Opelka after a 46-point tie-break—the longest singles tie-break in ATP Tour history.

On Tuesday, the American made quick work of Tseng by comparison in the one-hour, 47-minute match. Though he could not convert on any of his five break chances in the opening set, Isner hit 22 aces and played two strong tie-breaks to win in what was just his fifth match since fracturing his left wrist at the 2022 US Open.

“He’s a great player,” the 37-year-old said of Tseng. “He’s young, he’s very fast, he’s great from the back of the court, much better than I am.

“I had to use my serve to my advantage. Truthfully, the first set should have been a lot easier. I was a little bit worn out after that first set, emotionally. But I was able to stay even in second set and I played a really, really good tie-break. I’m very happy I’m not still on this court. I want to go to bed!”

Isner will next face qualifier Zachary Svajda or Daniel Altmaier.

In earlier Tuesday action, sixth seed J.J. Wolf scored a 6-3, 6-3 win against countryman Brandon Holt in his first action since reaching the Australian Open fourth round. Wolf dominated on serve, hitting nine aces and winning 93 per cent of his first-serve points. He did not face a break point in the match, converting on three of his six break chances.

The 24-year-old will meet Radu Albot in the second round after the Moldovan beat Liam Krall 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, denying the Southern Methodist University star a win in his ATP Tour debut. 

Seventh seed Marcos Giron won an all-American matchup with Alex Rybakov, 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-1, while eighth seed Adrian Mannarino advanced with a 7-6(6), 6-2 victory against American Steve Johnson.

All four seeded players in Tuesday action at the ATP 250 advanced to the last 16, where they join top seeds Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Denis Shapovalov and Miomir Kecmanovic.

A wrist injury may have disrupted Alex Rybakov’s plans for the final months of the 2022 season, but the American has wasted no time getting back to business this year.

Playing in just his second tournament after a four-month absence, Rybakov defeated Jonas Forejtek and Elmar Ejupovic in straight sets to reach the main draw of an ATP Tour event for the first time at this week’s Dallas Open.

The 26-year-old’s tour-level debut against countryman Marcos Giron on Tuesday at the indoor ATP 250 event will be made even more special by the fact that he spent four years cutting his teeth in college tennis at the nearby Texas Christian University. ATPTour.com spoke to Rybakov to find out more about the World No. 378 and his journey to the top level of the sport.

How does it feel to qualify for your first tour-level main draw?
It feels great. I’m stoked, honestly. I’m really just happy to be back on court. I was out for about four to five months with a wrist injury after the US Open, so I’m just happy to be playing and competing, and obviously qualifying for my first ATP [event] on top of that is just the cherry on top. I just really feel great being back on court, feeling healthy, and feeling like I can play matches at a full percentage.

Did it come as a surprise to you at all?
To be honest, I played my first match back last week [at an ATP Challenger Tour event] in Cleveland, and I was really nervous before the match because I wasn’t sure… When you’re playing a lot of matches, you’re kind of in the rhythm and you feel good, but I wasn’t really sure how my level was going to be. I was pleasantly surprised, I had a battle with [Aleksandar] Kovacevic and he ended up winning the tournament, so [I was] pleasantly surprised with my level.

Then when I came here, I didn’t even know if I was going to be in the tournament. I was one out [of the qualifying field], then I ended up sneaking in and saw that I had a pretty good draw, one of the lower seeds, and came out and just trusted what I’ve been working on in practice. It worked out, and I feel pretty good about my game right now.

You played college tennis just down the road in Fort Worth…
Yeah, I played at TCU. Luckily my coach from TCU was able to come out today and watch, and then a bunch of my friends that came out and watched today and yesterday as well. So, it’s a good feeling seeing them and having that support.

How did you get into tennis when you were younger?
My parents are both tennis coaches. So, my sister also played college tennis at FSU [Florida State University]. Since I was a little kid, I was just always on court. I saw my sister playing and obviously my parents wanted me to pick it up because they were coaching and they had played since they were young.

I fell in love with it from a young age, and from a young age I knew that I wanted to be a professional tennis player, so I had my sights set on that and I’m grateful to my parents for introducing me to it and I’ve loved it ever since.

Are they still coaching to this day?
Yeah, they still coach. My dad coached me until I was about 16 and then I started going to the USTA to practise there, and then went to college. They still watch my matches and give me tips here and there, but they’re not really my full coaches anymore. They’ve ‘retired’ into just my parents now!

Where do you train?
I train in Boca. I’ve been working with my coach Hugo Armando for [about] six months now, and also my strength and conditioning coach, Franco Herrero for about six months. I’m just trying to establish a little bit of a team around me, and they’ve really been great and I’ve really noticed a difference in my game and my fitness levels. I’m just really grateful to have them in my corner.

Do you have any goals for 2023?
I have some pretty ambitious goals. I feel like coming out of college with the whole COVID thing and less tournaments, and I’ve had some trouble with injuries… I feel like my ranking doesn’t really show where my game is right now. With that being said, one of my big goals is Top 100… That’s where I want to be by the end of the year. It’s going to take a lot of work and it’s going to take a lot of wins, and I know that, but that’s what I’m shooting for.

What do you want fans to know about you?
Just for the general public to see my passion for the game, and me enjoying myself and that I love tennis. Right now I have a mullet and a moustache, but I’d have to think about that a little bit more to give you a particular answer.

Are you still close with the TCU programme?
Obviously Devin Bowen, who is the Associate Head Coach, came out today, and hopefully [Head Coach David] Roditi comes out as well moving forward. I’m still close with some of the guys on the team, so I hope some of them are able to come out. Obviously with school and everything, it’s tough. I think it depends on what time I play. If it’s night session, I’m sure a lot of people will come out. I hope so.

Jack Sock rode a rollercoaster on Monday evening at the Dallas Open. For the American, the up-and-down ride took him into the second round.

The former World No. 8 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings battled past Ilya Ivashka 7-6(2), 4-6, 6-4 after three hours and four minutes of topsy-turvy tennis. Sock saved 15 of the 18 break points he faced to move on and earn a clash with top seed Taylor Fritz.

“That’s why I put in the work right there the past few months,” Sock said. “For anybody that follows [me] obviously I didn’t go down to Australia, so I did about a three-month offseason to get my body right, get everything dialed in and give this sport another good run.

“I’ve had a tough couple years and it’s been fun grinding my way back. These matches are what makes it worth it to keep going and this one feels great. I’m excited to move on.”

The wild card appeared in firm control of the match when he led 3-0 in the third set and earned three break points to extend his advantage. But suddenly it was Ivashka with the momentum, levelling the set at 3-3 before positioning himself to move ahead by a service break. 

But Sock remained calm on Stadium Court to defeat the man who eliminated him 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of qualifying at last year’s Western & Southern Open. The home favourite won two less points than his opponent (116-118) and struck 10 double faults, but he also hit nine aces and claimed 75 per cent of points behind his first delivery.

It will be a Dallas Open rematch for Fritz and Sock, who also met in the second round in Texas one year ago. On that occasion, Fritz triumphed 6-1, 6-4 to take a 3-2 lead in the pair’s ATP Head2Head series.

It did not take long for history to be made at the 2023 Cordoba Open.

Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles won the longest match in tournament history on Monday when he defeated countryman Roberto Carballes Baena 6-7(6), 6-3, 7-5 in three hours and 26 minutes to reach the second round. The previous-longest match came in 2020, when Albert Ramos-Vinolas outlasted Pablo Andujar in three hours and 20 minutes.

“It has been a battle. The conditions on clay are always with a lot of rallies and long matches, especially with two Spanish players. And I like to play these kind of matches… although not so long,” Zapata Miralles said, cracking a laugh. “It’s the first match I’ve won this year, but in the first tournament on clay. So for now the goal is to keep improving and to be able to advance in the tournaments and to take advantage of this clay swing, which is important for me.”

Zapata Miralles converted five of the 11 break points he earned in the first ATP Tour main draw match contested on clay this year. The eighth seed will next face Colombian Daniel Elahi Galan or Chilean Tomas Barrios Vera.

Dusan Lajovic, who made an ATP Masters 1000 final on clay four years ago in Monte Carlo, clawed past Peru’s Juan Pablo Varillas 7-6(3), 6-3 in two hours and three minutes. The Serbian was clutch under pressure, saving eight of the 10 break points he faced to advance to a clash against defending champion Ramos-Vinolas.

Argentine wild card Juan Manuel Cerundolo, the 2021 Cordoba champion, led Spaniard Pablo Andujar 6-4, 1-0 when the four-time ATP Tour titlist retired. Cerundolo will try to upset top seed Diego Schwartzman for a place in the quarter-finals.