YOUR GAME EDUCATION EDUCATIVE STEPS: World-ranked junior Ethan Lye is targeting the US college pathway as a launchpad for a Springboard for success pro career. A number of notable names have transitioned from standout US college competitors to successful professional players. JOHN ISNER NICOLE GIBBS While setting school win records A winner of four NCAA titles as a four-year All-American (two singles, one doubles at the University of Georgia and one team title) for between 2004 and 2007, the Stanford University, Gibbs was top-10 star also earned a major recognised with the Honda in speech communication. Sports Award for tennis in 2012. Four years on, she peaked at general rule, the higher a player’s juniors. Choosing a high school KEVIN ANDERSON No.68 in the WTA rankings. UTR, the more scholarship that balances academics and Anderson’s path to 2017 US opportunities will be available. tennis is critical – this age (12-18) Open and 2018 Wimbledon ASTRA SHARMA Athletic scholarships are is one of the most challenging finals earlier included three Sharma, who cracked the available to male players with a periods for an elite player as seasons at the University of world’s top 100 soon after UTR range of 9.5 to 13.5+ across the training, competition and Illinois, where he earned All- reaching a first WTA final at several divisions and to female academic demands all increase American honours each year Bogota in April, honed her players with a UTR range of 6.5 in a subsequent time period. For from 2005 to 2007. tennis skills at Vanderbilt A life-changing education to 10.5+. (myutr.com) over six years, we have executed University. Time spent in the US The best way for a player to an academic and elite training STEVE JOHNSON college system also enabled the The US college tennis pathway tread by many successful pro players is increasingly increase their UTR is to work model at The McDonald College. The former world No.21 is the multi-talented Sharma to work hard on developing a stronger accessible to Australian juniors – and it provides a solid foundation that can reap Character requirements most-decorated US college towards a medical degree. game in tournament conditions. College coaches want to recruit tennis player ever, after twice lasting rewards beyond the game. By Players should aim to achieve RYAN HENRY great people into their team and winning NCAA men’s singles their highest UTR in February will look for character references titles (2011 and 2012) and or March after high school, from their school and credible featuring in four consecutive which is around the deadline ursuing tennis at an of the victorious US Davis Cup After graduating with a major universities and all looked very coaches. Any charitable work, NCAA Championship team titles for US college coaches to recruit elite level can be one of team in 2007, describes his time in economics and a minor similar to my employer on paper,” leadership roles or past activities for the University of Southern players for the upcoming season. the most exciting and at Stanford as the best two years in business management, explains Bourgeois. “My student that may show a good character California. rewarding journeys a of his life. Bourgeois moved back to athlete experiences in the United Academic requirements can help. Pperson can take. The buzz of A US college education can Sydney to start developing his States was very different to US colleges have three key DANIELLE COLLINS competing against the best can either be used a launchpad for career. He immediately landed anybody else and contributed academic requirements A REWARDING PATH The Australian Open 2019 be immense, but even more the professional tours or to propel a job at Macquarie Bank, one enormously to me landing the alongside tennis achievements: The complex considerations semifinalist thrived at the important are the human qualities an individual into a successful of Australia’s largest financial job with Macquarie. in pursuing this rewarding University of Virginia, winning that the sport can provide to career in tennis or beyond. institutions, and believes his “As a result, I now have an 1. Students need to sit a one-off path are well worth the effort. two NCAA titles in a three-year JOHN PEERS players through their experiences Over many years Australian successful US college career set incredible opportunity to move SAT exam – generally during or The opportunity to play tennis period. Rising to become the The Australian Open 2017 both on and off the court. juniors have travelled to the US, him apart from more than 100 my way up one of Australia’s after Year 12. Most division one and study at a US college is an top-ranked collegiate female men’s doubles champion (with Players who strive to reach benefitted from scholarships other applicants. biggest and most successful and two schools seek an SAT incredible experience that can set player in 2016, Collins (pictured Finland’s Henri Kontinen) world-class levels of the game and enjoyed a life-changing “Most of the other applicants financial institutions.” score of 1000 or higher. a student up for life – regardless below) also gained a degree in gained a solid tennis education often develop an incredibly experience. Astra Sharma, who that I was up against graduated of the career path that the player media studies. through the US college system. strong work ethic, and the has cracked the world’s top 100 in from Australian STEPS TO US COLLEGE eventually chooses. SUCCESS 2. A student requires a sufficient Peers (above) attended Middle personal characteristics needed a breakthrough 2019 season, John Grade Point Average, averaging Tennessee State University The pathway to a US college to be successful in any area of life. Peers and John-Patrick Smith are at least B’s and C’s in all of their More information on the US from 2008 to 2010, and Baylor education is achievable for many Perhaps the biggest life- among many who’ve flourished core courses in Australia to be college pathway can be found at University in 2011. Australian juniors – but it’s a enhancing opportunity that elite through the US college system. eligible for most division one voyagertennis.com goal that requires, purpose and players have is the ability to gain and division two programs. JOHN-PATRICK SMITH A RICH OPPORTUNITY achieving the right balance of a higher education via US college This equates to an Australian Smith, runner-up in the From a nationally-ranked junior tennis and academics is critical. tennis scholarships, which can be grade point average of 3.5+ Ryan Henry is a former Australian Open 2019 mixed growing up in Sydney, Jeremy There are three key requirements worth up to $500,000 at some of (converts to a 2.5 US GPA). professional tennis player and doubles with Sharma, became Bourgeois earned acceptance that a player needs to satisfy: the world’s best universities. co-founder of Voyager Tennis one of the University into Brigham Young University in Top professional players Tennis requirements 3. Students will need to undertake Academy which specialises in of Tennessee’s most Utah. BYU has one of America’s who competed in college The first aspect college and pass 16 core courses from the development of elite junior prolific athletes in the top-10 finance programs, tennis include John McEnroe, coaches assess when deciding Year 9 onwards, including players. He is also the four years he attended which also provided a strong James Blake, John Isner, Kevin who to recruit into their team subjects such as English, Maths, co-author of the book from 2007. A four-time foundation for a successful Anderson, Mike and Bob Bryan is a player's Universal Tennis Science, Social Science, plus ‘Winning on and off the All-American, Smith also career beyond tennis. and more recently, surprise Rating (UTR). The UTR is four additional courses. court’ which is a newly- achieved the college No.1 Australian Open 2019 semifinalist worldwide and is currently the released parents guide ranking in both singles Astra Sharma and Danielle Collins. SMART MOVES: most accurate measuring tool to Balancing sufficient hours on to creating world- John-Patrick Smith (above), plus and doubles. Bob Bryan, a winner of 23 major finalist Kevin Anderson all assess a player’s ability to perform the court and in the classroom class players Grand Slam titles and a member took the US college route. in competitive matches. As a is a key challenge for many and people. 60 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE 61.