Rick Macci opens up about the rise of Darwin Blanch

Earlier this week, top American player Darwin Blanch (17; Boca Raton, FL) won the USTA Boys’ 18s National Championships, earning a main draw wild card into the US Open.

In an exclusive interview with Florida Tennis, legendary coach Rick Macci provided his thoughts on the rise of Darwin Blanch.

Photo courtesy of Rick Macci.

Macci explains, “One of my favorite students of all time... I started working with him at age 6. He would eat, breathe and sleep tennis 24/7. As a kid, he was so bio mechanically connected — in the optimal way from the ground up.

Darwin was taught the ATP forehand at six years old. His muscle memory is ‘baking extra crispy’ and I have no doubt he’ll have one of the best forehands in pro tennis. He was a human sponge on the court now he he’s gonna soak [it all] up the U.S. Open," according to Macci. 

Above: Darwin Blanch hitting a big forehand a few years ago at the Junior French Open. Photo courtesy of the Blanch Family.

Blanch, who was the tournament’s top seed, did not drop a set en route to the final, where he defeated No. 8 seed Jack Satterfield (18; Tampa, FL), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, Sunday in Kalamazoo, Mich.

The Florida native has predominantly been playing on the ITF World Tennis Tour recently, winning his first professional singles title at a M15 event in Spain in February. Blanch also became only the second player this century to win both the boys’ 16s and 18s titles in Kalamazoo, having won the 16-and-under title in 2022 at the age of 14.

Looking ahead to the US Open, "There may be a new sheriff in town and there will be Darwin’s Law,” according to Macci. 

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Source: USTA. Quote courtesy of Rick Macci. Top photo courtesy of Rick Macci. Photos courtesy of Rick Macci and the Blanch family.