Proposal for a post-college pathway in tennis

For many talented, young Aussie tennis players, going to college has become the "next step" after their junior career. But what happens next? 

These players are going from having four or more years of high-level competition, travel, and training to, all of a sudden, being all alone when it comes to what's next. 

And it is such a shame considering there is an incredible pool of talent in this post-collegiate squad that could seriously boost the level of professional Australian players on tour. 

Yet, many of these players miss out on the chance to fulfil their burgeoning potential after college due to a lack of support and resources. 

But do our Aussie players have all the resources necessary to make the move from college play to the pro tour, earn a living and make a professional career out of their tennis? 

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We all know that the pro tour is strenuous, and it takes a whole lot of dedication, hard work, and a little bit of luck to 'make it' on tour. And after playing college for years, where training, travel, and living resources are typically not on a player to worry about, an extra layer of challenges is added to an already difficult transition mentally, physically, and financially. 

University of South Florida alum Elijah Cham is one of the many Aussie players who are currently navigating the transition from a successful collegiate career to the pro tour grind. 

"Pursuing professional tennis after college is a challenge for many Aussies," stated Cham, speaking to The First Serve. 

"Being in this situation, it's difficult to adapt to having everything a tennis player needs in college, to having to do it all alone out of pocket. It's going to take some time to adapt to life on the tour, especially doing it completely out of pocket and without any resources available."

This transition period is precisely why I propose a post-College pathway for Aussie players. But what would the pathway need to encompass?

The pathway would need to provide a clear and organised track that provides resources, assistance, and a stepping stone into the world of professional tennis for Aussie players after they complete their collegiate careers. 

The first point of concern is financial support and leverage. Having to all of a sudden completely self-finance the continuation of your career creates a barrier to success for many Aussie players. A scholarship fund by a leading organisation where a diverse group of Aussie players receive equal funding could greatly help alleviate this strain. 

Furthermore, this support can be implemented in a variety of ways. This can entail providing high-performance squads and coaching sessions on the court, as well as strength and conditioning and mental health training off of it. 

This way, a greater group of these players coming out of college can receive support, as well as work together to develop, improve, and push each other to new heights. 

In addition, this pathway could create group travel trips to tournaments, for example, a European tour for a set number of professional-level tournaments. 

Once again, these groups of players that are training and developing together would have the opportunity to travel and compete together as well in a supportive environment that allows them to focus completely on their tennis instead of financial strain.

The potential of this proposal allows for continual development and growth. But the beginnings are simple: support Australian tennis players as they graduate from college and embark on their professional tennis journey. 

As I have previously stated, Aussie collegiate players often sit at the peak of their tennis capabilities as they toss their graduation caps into the air. But a lack of support can often steer them into pursuing other careers, and in turn, Australian tennis misses out on propelling many young, hungry and hard-working talents into household names. 

A post-college pathway by a leading organisation could be the first step in supporting more collegiate players as they transition to the pro tour, and in turn help elevate the current state of professional Australian tennis, pushing a consistent crop of players to the world stage.

Play USA Tennis Pathways supports athletes who want to go down the college pathway, assisting players to get recruited to a college that meets their academic and athletic goals. If you are a player, parent, or coach and are interested in the college pathway in the United States, contact Lachlan Puyol at playusatennispathways@gmail.com