College Tennis: How an American System Became a Launchpad for International Talent

If one were to enter “Matej Dodig” into their web browser of choice, a well-manicured online profile would appear that any tennis fan would recognize. His name in bold, a Wikipedia summary, clean action shots at big tournaments, and a bar containing his recent results—not unlike the outline of any other professional player. And perhaps the key word to describe Dodig is “professional,” as the 21-year-old is embarking on a full schedule of top-tier events that include recent Challenger-level stops, an ATP 250, and even a second round appearance in the Wimbledon qualifying draw. After all, the Croatian has been ranked as high as no. 199 in the PIF ATP Rankings, and is currently the fifth-ranked player from his country. That sounds like the standard image of an up-and-coming star who is pushing his way into the life of a professional tennis player. And yet, the bar of results will soon disappear as Dodig will head to Austin, Texas, to play for the University of Texas Longhorns starting this fall. You may be wondering: why?

“College tennis buys a little more time as they (players) continue their developmental process,” Longhorn leader Bruce Berque told me. He’s been at the helm of the program, serving as head coach since 2019. He believes that college tennis molds any player who has the level to compete on the pro tour into a different specimen. “By the time you’re going out full time on the pro tour, you have a much higher chance of being able to rise through the rankings and not get stuck,” he said. While he describes pro-ready players as a “rare” find in college tennis, he’ll take Dodig under his wing for at least one season where the clay-court specialist will not only find a place to develop, but a place with too many benefits to count on one’s hands. 

College tennis has changed. Bigtime. Gone are the days where a roster was primarily built on home-grown talent—hotshots hailing from academies, mostly in Florida and California, who weren’t quite at the level to jump right to the pros. That was a factor that has shifted over      the past twenty years, as eager international contenders now make up more than half of all collegiate players demographically. This change was well underway by the time a groundbreaking rule was introduced in 2021 that has completely altered the landscape of collegiate tennis—Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies. If you’re unfamiliar, NIL collectives have turned these elite programs into pseudo-professional training grounds; a new world where your average D1 player can get sponsored and engage in localized brand deals. But the cash doesn’t just flow in from self-promotion. 

Top prospects have become auction items as programs fight for talent with funds, offering highly-sought after players six-figure deals. They don’t have to pay to go to college and compete on the team. They’re paid to do so. For a player like Matej Dodig—promising but not a sure-fire fixture on the ATP Tour—a deal like this is revolutionary. In the most critical stage of a career, it offers a guaranteed salary, not unlike the first round of investments for an auspicious startup business. But the perks don’t end there. 

Coach Jamie Hunt at a similarly successful program, the University of Georgia, shares Berque’s positive perspective. “I only see positives that come from college tennis, just because the resources we have, the coaching, the support system—it’s a platform for them to continue to develop, get better, and mature.” And he touches on the golden nugget of collegiate tennis that is hidden in plain sight. Top tier coaching. A medical team and physical trainers. A free-access gym. These elements, which would normally be inconvenient expenses for a new pro learning how to budget, are waiting for them when they arrive. And if you’re good enough to secure a massive NIL package, you’ll be earning a salary on top of it all. But for a star like Dodig, wouldn’t it be more effective to head out on tour and mess with players his own size?

Baylor University head coach Michael Woodson told me, “If you’re playing at the top of your lineup, you're effectively playing a Challenger level schedule, and maybe sometimes even better than that.” While Dodig may be a rare exception when it comes to professional experience, he’ll enter an environment where you find a level nearly equivalent to Challengers. Considering that most professional players are even lucky if they reach that point, with very few reaching the pinnacle tier of the ATP Tour, this is also a big benefit—pro tennis right on one’s doorstep. No lonely schedule, delayed flights, and unnecessary expenses. As long as players put in the work and produce the expected level, this is a perfect setup. But we haven’t even gotten to the best part.

While it may sound cheesy, the community aspect is something every coach I spoke to talked fondly of. Instead of having to fend for oneself, traveling to new continents while attempting to make a living, one has a rigid support system, made up of not just coaches and staff, but the other five to ten players on the roster. Coaches emphasized that team camaraderie and chemistry is a natural phenomenon, something that their players quickly build as a new season sets it. After all, these are the players one lives next to, takes long road trips with, eats meals across from, and more. That builds a very specific character, and every ex-college player out there has a different kind of blood running through their veins.

Horned Frog head Dave Roditi of TCU talks endearingly of a time where future no. 8 Cam Norrie was under his tutelage. “He just wanted to be a teenager. He knew that once you go on tour, that’s it. You’re there, and there’s no looking back. It allowed him to go through those 18, 19-year-old experiences,” he told me. While yes, college tennis is now starting to look more like an office rather than a classroom, it seems that coaches feel that it hasn’t lost the shiny coating of community that it has been boasting since conception. Whether you support these new systems or not, it’s hard to ignore the plain fact that collegiate tennis is ever-evolving. But as little components stay static, that’s the icing on the cake that is sure to remain in years to come. After all, there’s no better way to kickstart a career than having some good cash in your pocket and seven best friends to be there with you.