2. Should tennis players take the college route towards professional tennis?

For those who are unfamiliar with the basics of College Tennis, refer to my previous blog. In this, I am going to give some insight into the College Tennis route. At the end of it, I am sure that you would have a clear opinion than before- either for or against.

For a long time now, the college athletics system has existed in the United States, and over time it has produced some legends and a lot of Olympic athletes. However, college tennis has not garnered enough attention. College tennis has often been looked upon as a third or fourth option, and also a safety net for decades. It has often been branded as the option for those who cannot turn pro or are not good enough. However, over the past decade or two, this bias has been changing. A lot of College players have found success on the professional tour and a lot of players who haven't been to college have also been successful. This disparity has often led to the question of whether one should attend college or not. 

Tennis players have to climb the ladder in order to participate in the Slams and other major tournaments. In other words, players have to play the lower-level tournaments, make good ranking points to get themselves into the higher-level tournaments (Grand Slams and others). Now, there might be some who climb this ladder fast, whereas some might take longer. The players who find instant success and develop a good ranking, might not need to go to college to improve and develop their games. If not, college tennis might just be the next step for you. 

Tennis, as a professional sport, is an expensive affair. Professional tennis players travel for a minimum of 30 weeks around the globe, trying to make it into the top 150 in order to make ends meet. Sometimes you can pocket a good amount of prize money, whereas sometimes you'd return with nothing. However, the expenses of having a coach, traveling for other tournaments, and other miscellaneous expenses are constant. 

For those, who feel unprepared for the professional circuit, and have the potential, colleges shell out a good number of scholarships. You do not want to risk running out of funds before reaching your prime. That would be the recipe for absolute disaster. These colleges provide you with world-class facilities, in return for higher education. You don't even need to commit for all four years. Many top-ranked collegiate players often decide to turn pro after one, two, or three years, and oftentimes with the flexibility of returning back in the future and completing the degree.  

College Tennis can also be a breath of fresh air for young players who have been mentally and physically exhausted. A new kind of approach towards the sport and gaining maturity can rekindle their love for the game and make them reach new heights. 

Obviously, there is not one conventional path to take for guaranteed success, but better to have proper knowledge about the paths in front of you so that the choice can be easier and better suited individually.