College vs Pro Pathway: Training for Tennis Success

Key Points

• Junior players should be coached the same way, regardless of whether they are aiming to play college or pro tennis
• Training and periodization plans should be based on following “The Pro Pathway”
• Players should compare themselves to the best young players in their state or country so they don’t limit themselves mentally in terms of what they can achieve
• When deciding what path to follow at the age of 16/17, you should first look at your structure and resources - following the pro pathway can cost between 100 and 150k per year
• Are you prepared to lose a lot more than you are used to while you make the transition from juniors to the pro tour
• A ranking inside the top 500 at 17/18 where you are regularly beating players ranked 200 and 300, provides a good benchmark for making the decision to follow the pro pathway
• Both the college and pro tour can help players mature
• While the college system can provide a great structure for matches and training with no expenses, there can also be less 1 on 1 coaching
• The time it takes to breakthrough to the top 100 on the pro pathway can sometimes take 7 to 8 years and players have to be prepared for this