Friday, February 27, 2009
Kansas tennis coach Amy Hall-Holt has a cousin who turned pro at the age of 16. Within three years her cousin had quit the professional tennis circuit and was headed back to school.
Junior tennis players have the option to exchange their college tennis eligibility to play professionally. Players such as Andy Roddick, who finished No. 1 in the world in 2003, have chosen this option. Others like three-time Wimbledon champion John McEnroe, chose to play in college before turning pro.
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Kansas vs UMKC Sunday, 9 a.m. First Serve Tennis Center Lawrence
College tennis has always been a valuable route for young players who have dreams of professional tennis glory and for players who wish to pursue careers outside of sports.
“College in general is important. I have talked to a lot of players who want to consider going pro right out of their juniors, but they’re giving up a great opportunity,” Hall-Holt said. “In college they’re getting their education plus they’re getting a high level of competition. They can always go pro after college.”
The Jayhawks will be delivering the KU experience to UMKC on Sunday at 9 a.m. at First Serve tennis center, 5200 Clinton Parkway.
Kansas’ competition this season ranges from 2008 Big 12 champion No. 7 Baylor, on April 3, to 0-5 UMKC, this weekend. In its only two meetings with the Kangaroos, the Jayhawks have not lost a dual match point. KU freshman Erin Wilbert, Lafayette, La., is fully prepared though.
“Every team is supposed to be tough. We need to go in not taking them lightly because any team can be playing really good that day; we could be playing off,” Wilbert said. “We have been really concentrating on our doubles, so hopefully that will show in our play. It will be a big confidence booster to take the doubles point early. We’ll see how it goes.”
Hall-Holt said that her players love college tennis because they experience the excitement and energy of tennis, while knowing they will receive the proper rest after the physically demanding fall and spring seasons. Those important breaks that allow their bodies to recover do not exist in the professional ranks many times, which is why her cousin quit.
Her cousin was burned out, Hall-Holt said, and when she went back to school, it was difficult for her to adjust to not being in the spotlight.
“A lot of pros get burned out because they don’t have that time to recover and to be a normal person. They’re constantly training, training, training. The pros that are getting older and still performing are giving their bodies time to recover,” Hall-Holt said.
A lot of juniors need to see that the choice between college tennis and the professional circuit can be one and the same.
“For somebody that is just rocking the juniors, and is over and beyond — yeah, go pro. Usually they’re gonna make it pretty high in. But the ones that are almost there, I think it’s better for them to step back, and say, ‘Hey, let me start on my education, get the college experience, compete, continue getting better, and then go pro,’” Hall-Holt said.
— —Edited by Sam Speer
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