1. The WHAT/WHY/HOW of US College Tennis?

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What is College Tennis?

To be simply said- College tennis is an opportunity to continue to play competitive tennis while studying at a University in the United States. 

And, in another way, it is a journey to your next destination in your tennis career or your life after tennis career. A road-map that lasts up to 4 years in your life, mixed with all the necessary ingredients for the development of an individual. 

Why has College Tennis gotten so popular globally?

The American college system has integrated academics as well as athletics in an almost perfect manner. The success stories of college athletes are the proof of that, and not just in the sport of tennis. Tennis has always been an important sport in the American culture and thus, the passion to take it to the next level has always been in the system. The funding that the American Universities have paved the way for the world-class facilities that are needed to create world-class players. The access to excellent coaches, trainers, physios, training, and recovery facilities, the college tennis system gained popularity gradually. 

In addition, it is extremely expensive for every player to get access to these facilities in their hometown or at any specific place; and, American Universities provide compensation accordingly in the form of scholarships, thus, making it affordable and accessible. So, either your goal is to be on the professional tennis circuit or you want to use tennis as a stepping stone for any other career opportunity, the college tennis system is an exceptional pathway.  

How big is the college tennis system? How competitive is the level?

The college tennis system is divided into different divisions as per the availability of athletic funding and their eligibility rules; namely: the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association), the NAIA (National Association for Inter-collegiate Athletics), and the NJCAA (National Junior College Athletics Associations). There are approximately 1000+ member colleges in total that are a part of the above-mentioned divisions. Hence, plenty of scholarship opportunities for prospective athletes.

Also, when it comes to the level of play in colleges, there is a vast variety of competition. There are players who have been the best juniors in the world and won a few professional matches/tournaments whereas there are also players who are not even in the top 200 in their national junior rankings. Further, for those who are aware of the UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) system, the men's rating goes as high as 15 whereas for women's it is 12. 

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