Recent College Players That Turned Pro

Nate took his first singles in Illinois.

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andfor said:
Peniston def. Tomic 7-6, 1-0 retired. Probably plays Hoang tomorrow.
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Great to see Peniston winning at a Challenger-he had to grind his way through some Future Qualis in spring and early summer of 2018 before going deep later in MDs. Now he has challenger wins. Heard he was a really nice guy from someone who warmed up with him last summer.

@andfor, will Memphis be able to bring in good recruits again or will the loss of the racquet club and the spring Futures relegate Memphis to a top 50/60 MM like this year. That last year with Peniston and Watson, Memphis was almost high enough to host NCAA site. Unfortunate that Memphis lost the club and Future while Little Rock that followed Memphis in Futures upgraded to a Challenger this year. Seems to be a lot of tennis $ in Little Rock. Tennis local organization paid for 2 nights hotel for all juniors playing Southern 16s Closed for several years to get tourney moved to Little Rock-didnt save parents $ as they either had to fly or drive over two days (esp the HIlton Head kids) and end up using 2 extra hotel nights on drive.
 
jcgatennismom said:
Great to see Peniston winning at a Challenger-he had to grind his way through some Future Qualis in spring and early summer of 2018 before going deep later in MDs. Now he has challenger wins. Heard he was a really nice guy from someone who warmed up with him last summer.

@andfor, will Memphis be able to bring in good recruits again or will the loss of the racquet club and the spring Futures relegate Memphis to a top 50/60 MM like this year. That last year with Peniston and Watson, Memphis was almost high enough to host NCAA site. Unfortunate that Memphis lost the club and Future while Little Rock that followed Memphis in Futures upgraded to a Challenger this year. Seems to be a lot of tennis $ in Little Rock. Tennis local organization paid for 2 nights hotel for all juniors playing Southern 16s Closed for several years to get tourney moved to Little Rock-didnt save parents $ as they either had to fly or drive over two days (esp the HIlton Head kids) and end up using 2 extra hotel nights on drive.
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Peniston often plays up to his opponents level. His talent is subtle to most who first watch him. What he does extremely well is move. Can’t hardly get a ball past him. Excellent hands and smart player, where his upside takes him will be fun to watch. All the Memphis players are great guys.

The $25K Future has been moved to Southaven, MS Snowden Grove Tennis center Aug. 12, just on the other side of the Memphis city/TN line.

Memphis returns all but 3 who graduated really only losing one starter. One may play as a grad student, another did not play last year and is transferring to Belmont as a Grad student. This years line up includes a very strong group of sophomores and three solid seniors. I'm aware of one highly ranked English kid coming this fall there may also be a signing this summer. The team will likely play at MUS and a couple other spots while the City and University expand Leftwich Tennis Center (that’s the plan) very near campus.

As long as the coaching staff remains and there's no signs of any change there, Memphis men will be top 64 or so. Last year the men and women lost a number of super close matches with top 50 teams. Look for both Memphis men and women to be much stronger this year.


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Jubb, Peniston and Watson all playing Ilkely Challenger with WC's. Peniston and Jubb main draw singles and playing doubles together. Watson n qualies as a WC. Of the 4 first round matches, one of them I have as an upset pick. Unlike Feddie I'm not going to post it to for the world to see, jinx the player and embarrass everyone involved most noteably myself.
 
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WOW,,, Jubb went 6-4 against A Rublev one of the most talented young guns. and Is 2-2 in the 2nd set ....... Maybe these D1 college guys aren't that bad ?? I thought they weren't very good.
 
Jubb up 4-1 on Rubelev in the 3rd set Eastborne qualifying.

3 Memphis players to play Wimbledon. Peniston Mens qualifying, Salisbury men’s doubles with Ram (Illinois), James Story boys.


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Wow. Jubb has qualified. He was very impressive during the NCAA and he beat quality competitors to qualify. He also has a wild card for Wimbledon. Is he going back to South Carolina if he does well?
 
Tcbtennis said:
Wow. Jubb has qualified. He was very impressive during the NCAA and he beat quality competitors to qualify. He also has a wild card for Wimbledon. Is he going back to South Carolina if he does well?
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He's very recently said he's going back to school. Things change we know. Many (me HAHA) thought Steve Johnson would not come back for his senior year, he came back that spring. I can see Jubb potentially doing the same. Jubb's game has certainly notched up significantly even since the NCAA's and he's likely positioned himself to do what he want to. I'll respect whatever he decides.
 
andfor said:
He's very recently said he's going back to school. Things change we know. Many (me HAHA) thought Steve Johnson would not come back for his senior year, he came back that spring. I can see Jubb potentially doing the same. Jubb's game has certainly notched up significantly even since the NCAA's and he's likely positioned himself to do what he want to. I'll respect whatever he decides.
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this Jubb fellow is not good. Fritz is kicking his butt
 
Who is this Gromley dude ? he plays #5 or #6 for Georgia tech yellow jackets and yet he just took one of the Hottest talents on tour,,, Humbert to 1st set tiebreaker...............WOW.

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Nostradamus said:
Who is this Gromley dude ? he plays #5 or #6 for Georgia tech yellow jackets and yet he just took one of the Hottest talents on tour,,, Humbert to 1st set tiebreaker...............WOW.

330626
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Believe it or not a few years ago he played #3 singles for a metro Atlanta high school team and later played #1 when they won state champs in 2018 (he also was a 5 star playing USTA) . NIce kid, good family-smart too-could have gone to an Ivy. Never played a junior ITF! Only played 1 pro Future his sr year-lost in 1st rd of Qualis in fall '2017. 3 years of regular public high school! Kudos to the GT coaches for developing talent!

BBT Atlanta gives a shot to a current GT or UGA player from GA each year. With Gromley just a soph and GT having one of the best recruiting classes next year, GT should have a better season next year and get to NCAAs-barely missed NCAAs this past year. Inconsistent season-beat UNC but lost to lesser teams.

Cole is a great example of a player who balanced academics and tennis, He took 8 games off a top 50 player rated almost 2 UTR points higher (13.35 vs 15.15) with an extremely close first set. Home court advantage helped plus Humbert had to adjust from grass to hard, but it was unbelievable to see that level of play and few unforced errors (in 1st set) from a 19yo without pro experience.

However, even better than Gromley's close 1st set, is GT alumni Kevin King's win vs Dimitrov. Kevin King got a WC into the Qualis, won his 2 Qualis matches, and then beat the former #3. King recently has lost in the 1st rd of Challengers and even played $25Ks. He was ranked as high as 162 last year but was 405 before this match. Ironic that Tiafoe, Sandgren, and Sock lost today, but Kevin King won to advance to 2nd round. He and Reilly were the only US singles winners today.
 
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jcgatennismom said:
Believe it or not a few years ago he played #3 singles for a metro Atlanta high school team and later played #1 when they won state champs in 2018 (he also was a 5 star playing USTA) . NIce kid, good family-smart too-could have gone to an Ivy. Never played a junior ITF! Only played 1 pro Future his sr year-lost in 1st rd of Qualis in fall '2017. 3 years of regular public high school! Kudos to the GT coaches for developing talent!

BBT Atlanta gives a shot to a current GT or UGA player from GA each year. With Gromley just a soph and GT having one of the best recruiting classes next year, GT should have a better season next year and get to NCAAs-barely missed NCAAs this past year. Inconsistent season-beat UNC but lost to lesser teams.

Cole is a great example of a player who balanced academics and tennis, He took 8 games off a top 50 player rated almost 2 UTR points higher (13.35 vs 15.15) with an extremely close first set. Home court advantage helped plus Humbert had to adjust from grass to hard, but it was unbelievable to see that level of play and few unforced errors (in 1st set) from a 19yo without pro experience.

However, even better than Gromley's close 1st set, is GT alumni Kevin King's win vs Dimitrov. Kevin King got a WC into the Qualis, won his 2 Qualis matches, and then beat the former #3. King recently has lost in the 1st rd of Challengers and even played $25Ks. He was ranked as high as 162 last year but was 405 before this match. Ironic that Tiafoe, Sandgren, and Sock lost today, but Kevin King won to advance to 2nd round. He and Reilly were the only US singles winners today.
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Easy there, Dimitrov was injured pretty bad, bad shoulder injury. King didn't win that match
 
Nostradamus said:
Easy there, Dimitrov was injured pretty bad, bad shoulder injury. King didn't win that match
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I question just how injured Dimitrov was when I saw him practicing Saturday and Sunday on both the BB&T practice courts and the Georgia Tech courts. He seemed to be stroking the ball VERY well. King deserves every bit of the credit for holding Dimitrov accountable.
 
Gemini said:
I question just how injured Dimitrov was when I saw him practicing Saturday and Sunday on both the BB&T practice courts and the Georgia Tech courts. He seemed to be stroking the ball VERY well. King deserves every bit of the credit for holding Dimitrov accountable.
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not really. Grigor could hit groundies ok but his serve and overhead was non-existant. So take away your top 2 guns then even the formal #3 player in the world can lose to nobody. Grigor is YEF champion, that is like winning a Major. Some pros say, it is even more difficult than winning a major cause you have to play all the top best 8 players in the world in round robin format to do it.
 
Nostradamus said:
not really. Grigor could hit groundies ok but his serve and overhead was non-existant. So take away your top 2 guns then even the formal #3 player in the world can lose to nobody. Grigor is YEF champion, that is like winning a Major. Some pros say, it is even more difficult than winning a major cause you have to play all the top best 8 players in the world in round robin format to do it.
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I take issue with that. In YEF, they only play best of three in one week whereas in GS you have to play best of 5 in two weeks. I can't see how YEF is more difficult than GS.

I am not sure where you get "play all the top best 8 players". If that is the case, you would have to play 7 matches in the RR but you do NOT. You only play 3 matches in the RR of players on your side of the bracket.
 
bobleenov1963 said:
I take issue with that. In YEF, they only play best of three in one week whereas in GS you have to play best of 5 in two weeks. I can't see how YEF is more difficult than GS.

I am not sure where you get "play all the top best 8 players". If that is the case, you would have to play 7 matches in the RR but you do NOT. You only play 3 matches in the RR of players on your side of the bracket.
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lets just admit it. Grigor is the best player in the world. he is currently doing poorly cause he is losing his hair.

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Nostradamus said:
not really. Grigor could hit groundies ok but his serve and overhead was non-existant. So take away your top 2 guns then even the formal #3 player in the world can lose to nobody. Grigor is YEF champion, that is like winning a Major. Some pros say, it is even more difficult than winning a major cause you have to play all the top best 8 players in the world in round robin format to do it.
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Nice try..but no. Every time you step on the court, injured or not, you deem yourself fit enough to do battle. And the YEF is in no way on the same level as winning a major title. And no...no pro says that it's more difficult than winning a major title.
 
Gemini said:
Nice try..but no. Every time you step on the court, injured or not, you deem yourself fit enough to do battle. And the YEF is in no way on the same level as winning a major title. And no...no pro says that it's more difficult than winning a major title.
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I can't resist

 
Way to go Kristi Ahn, huge upset over French open champion Ostepanko, moving into 4th round for the first time in a major. Go CARD.

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