Alabama Coach Active in Advancing Collegiate Tennis
7/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Tennis
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Alabama men’s tennis coach Billy Pate and eight of the best American collegiate tennis players in the country are on the road this summer with a mission to enhance the reputation of collegiate tennis.
The United States Tennis Association supports the players in their travels and helps them gain wild card entry into professional tour events in order to provide experience for the future pros.
“For me, this is an opportunity to experience the bright future of American tennis,” Pate said. “It is a special time for young tennis talent in this country and I'm gratified to be able to work with this talented group of players - all of whom have a real shot at making the big time.”
With quite possibly the deepest talent base ever, individuals on this year's summer team are beginning to experience some of the success that has been predicted of them. This week, after receiving an invite to an ATP event, Illinois’ Amer Delic won a first round match at the RCA Championships in Indianapolis. He then followed up with a near upset of the world's 26th best player, Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand, but lost after failing to convert on two match points for the win.
The eight-man summer roster includes Delic (Illinois), Brian Wilson (Illinois), Bobby Reynolds (Vanderbilt), Chad Harris (Vanderbilt), Jesse Witten (Kentucky), Hamid Mirzadeh (Florida), Bo Hodge (Georgia) and Todd Widom (Miami). Each summer the USTA picks one college coach to travel with a group of the top-ranked American collegiate players. By virtue of winning the NCAA singles title, Delic received a wild card to the US Open in New York next month. Delic's Illinois teammates, Wilson and Rajeev Ram received a doubles wild card to the Open after winning the NCAA doubles title.
“Amer Delic has the ability to be a top ATP player very soon and is a perfect example of how a college tennis program can develop a tour player,” Pate said. “Amer beat a top tour veteran and came extremely close to upsetting one of the world's best players in the second round.”
Pate said his own involvement in the summer tour helps him by allowing him a chance to learn by observing some of the best collegiate tennis players, and to see up and coming American talent. In his first year as head coach, Pate led the Alabama Crimson Tide to a 15th-ranked finish nationally in 2003, and his team advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA team tournament.
“The ATP rankings are covered with former top collegiate players who have made their way up the ranks,” he said. More and more people are beginning to see that college tennis is a viable route to earn success on the professional tour. What the average spectator doesn't realize about tennis is that there are so many great players around the world.
“In baseball, if you're one of the top 400 players you're in the major leagues - and considered a star. If you're top-400 in tennis the public just doesn't perceive that you are exceptional. That's unfortunate, because the players in college tennis are definitely at that level.”
Players are allowed to participate and remain in college, but to maintain their amateur status they cannot accept prize money. They are reimbursed for their expenses, however. The players gain ATP points based on their success at Futures ($10-15K events), Challengers ($50-75K events) and ATP (highest level) events held in the U.S. This summer program has been an extremely successful development tool as it boasts many ATP standouts including American hopefuls James Blake (Harvard) and Brian Vahaly (Virginia), former members of the team.
