July 2009 Archives
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After becoming the youngest NCAA Champion in collegiate history (18 years of age), Mississippi native, Devin Britton, has chosen the ATP Tour, and is a strong candidate to make an unsung run at the US Open.
CICMA What led to your decision to finally choose the ATP Tour?
BRITTON: I have always wanted to become a professional tennis player and this was a great opportunity for me to go after it following my winning the NCAA title. I felt like I did what I had to do in school and it was time to make the move.
CICMA Of all the colleges in the country, what led to your decision to attend Ole Miss?
BRITTON I am originally from Jackson, Mississippi, so I am familiar with the school. They always seemed to be a Top 10 school in tennis and for the past five or so years have been Top 5. They have a great coaching staff and great facilities. Also, the SEC is a great conference for sports in general and I wanted to stay in the south so it all made sense and worked out.
CICMA Do you feel that the competition in college was tougher than you had expected?
BRITTON The competition in college was very tough. I pretty much expected it to be that way because I knew a lot of the guys in school already. I saw how challenging it was for them and I wasn't expecting it to be easy for me - and it definitely wasn't easy. There are so many strong players in college and I think it is only getting tougher by the year.
CICMA What are you most looking forward to on the professional tour?
BRITTON I am looking forward to the challenge of getting to the top. It is not an easy thing to do. There are great players coming and competing from all over the world, but I will be working hard on and off the court and will hopefully keep improving over the years in order to give myself the best chance to make it to the top.
CICMA What do you feel will be the biggest challenge on tour?
BRITTON I think the biggest challenge on tour is probably to get started and get going - establishing myself and proving that I belong as much as any other teenager starting out. It is tough for me to say because I am just beginning, and have a lot to figure out regarding my schedule but my management company, Octagon, will help me sort it out. I think it is always tough getting a ranking going on a new system...I have to earn points to keep having the chance to play, yet I know I have to keep training hard before and after tournaments in order to give myself the best chance to succeed when I am chasing those points. I know it'll take a lot of hard work and sacrifice, that's for sure, but that's the sacrifice I'm prepared to now make.
CICMA Are you setting ranking goals, or just playing ATP events and seeing where the chips fall?
BRITTON I am just playing events and trying to do the best I can and we will see where the ranking is come the end of the year. I really haven't set an exact ranking goal yet, and of course the 2009 pro season is just going to be a partial one for me, but I am sure that I will do that eventually. For now I am just training, like my time with the Davis Cup team in Croatia, playing a few tournaments of different levels, and seeing how it goes.
CICMA Elaborate on the dream of qualifying for the main draw at the US Open?
BRITTON It is an unbelievable thing because I have been watching the U.S. Open on TV since I was 5 and I have always wanted to play the mens tournament there. I have had the opportunity to play the juniors for the past two years and have been able to watch some mens matches during that time and just wondered how long it would be before I would be out there. To have earned the opportunity to play this year is amazing. I am looking forward to it as much as anything.
CICMA: What's your best memory that you'll take away from NCAA tennis?
BRITTON I would have to say winning the SEC tournament with the team and being able to clinch the finals was an unbelievable experience. I had a lot of fun being a part of a team and that is something I will probably miss the most. I would have to say that was my best memory of NCAA tennis, but it was full of good memories. Could not have enjoyed it more.
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2009 NCAA Tennis Champion Devin Britton Makes Pro Debut in Indianapolis
Youngest Ever Singles Champion Signs with Octagon
McLean, VA (July 20, 2009) - Octagon has today announced the signing of American teen tennis sensation Devin Britton who recently turned professional. A freshman standout at Ole Miss this past season, the 18-year-old Britton became the youngest player ever to win a NCAA singles championship when he captured the title in May. Britton recently advanced to the semifinals of the Wimbledon Junior Championships and then immediately traveled to Croatia to join the United States Davis Cup team as a practice partner in preparation for their tie last weekend. Britton made his pro debut this week at the ATP Tour event in Indianapolis and will also compete in several ATP Tour and USTA events leading into his first U.S. Open.
From the time of the team competition at the NCAA Championships through Wimbledon, Britton has recorded an impressive 21-4 singles record. A native of Jackson, MS, Britton was the first Rebel in school history to win a NCAA singles title and also the first freshman in school history to earn All-American honors. Following his dramatic run at the NCAA's, Britton left the United States to compete in the French Open Junior Championships before traveling to the United Kingdom where he won both the singles and doubles titles at the AEGON International Junior Tennis Championships in Roehampton, England, a tune up event for Wimbledon.
"We are extremely pleased to welcome Devin into the Octagon family," said Tom Ross, an Octagon Senior Vice President, "We look forward to providing him with a solid support system and sponsorship base as he makes the transition to full time professional tennis. It is evident by his success at Ole Miss and in other international junior events that Devin has unlimited potential and is on the way to becoming one of the next great American tennis players."
Britton won the International Grass Courts Championships in Philadelphia, PA last year and was also a finalist at the 2008 U.S. Open Junior Championships.
"Devin's increasingly impressive results over the past year have proven that he is a real competitor and rising star. And it's particularly refreshing to see the return of the serve and volley style of play in a top young American," said U.S. Davis Cup captain, Patrick McEnroe. "He joined our team last week at the Davis Cup tie in Croatia and impressed all with his work ethic and drive - he's a great kid and definitely one who we will do all we can to support."
While at Ole Miss, Britton was a two-time SEC Player of the Week and selected to the SEC All-Freshman team. He also was named the Southeast Region Rookie of the Year by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.
"The team had an outstanding year, and Devin was at the heart of our success," said Ole Miss Men's Tennis Head Coach Billy Chadwick. "Devin enrolled at The University of Mississippi this past January and though only 17 years old, he quickly established himself as one of the top players in the nation. He led the team to a #2 national ranking and the overall SEC Championship, as well as the NCAA singles crown. A fan favorite, he is an outstanding person both on and off the court and we wish him the best of luck."
The NCAA summer offseason is upon us. Maybe you played #7 on your college team last year... or you just missed qualifying for the Regionals by one spot?
Don't consider it to be an off season
When I was at Rutgers, I remember that most of my teammates would "put their racquets away" for the summer. Whether it be for an internship, summer classes, or simply due to being burned out, a number of college players consider summer vacation to really mean... vacation.
Don't buy into that. Set up a summer tournament schedule - whether it's the ITA summer circuit, the USTA Futures tour or USTA men's opens. Try to compete in at least 5 tournaments throughout the three month summer. Stay sharp, keep the competitive juices flowing, and maintain tournament toughness.
Some of my best memories were raking up wins over "better" college tennis players in August USTA men's opens after I had been training all summer and they had their racquets in storage.
Maintain a solid workout schedule
While it is healthy to give your mind and body adequate rest after a long NCAA season, after taking approximately 2-3 weeks off, you should be ready to get back to the grind.
Maintaining a strong gym weightlifting and running schedule will make your game jump leaps and bounds by the fall. I don't recommend going crazy by running ten miles a day or lifting seven days a week in the summer. But a solid 2-3 days of running and lifting should perfectly complement your tournament and on-court training schedule this summer.
My secret weapon during the summers was hitting "cross court drills" every day on the court. I'd sit there for hours, hitting cross-court and down-the-line forehands, backhands, and serves. That made all the difference.
Keep your coach's advice in mind
So often, succeeding in college tennis comes down to good chemistry with your coach. At Rutgers, my old coaches Bob Stanicki, Mickey Cook and Ralph Fusco all insisted that I come to net, pick the ball off the rise, and shorten my backswing on ground strokes. They always said, "If you work on those things, you will move up in the line-up and get results."
So each summer workout was dedicated to perfecting those things. I made the coaches proud and surprised them with my improvement in those areas - which gave them little choice but to give me a shot at the top Fall Invitational tournaments.
Don't make excuses
Often times interns at my TV station, or tennis students will say, "I couldn't train this summer because I was doing an internship." Or they might say, "I couldn't do an internship because I play a college sport."
For me, that excuse is unacceptable. While at Rutgers, I interned at NBC every single summer, taught tennis, took summer courses, had fun with friends, and trained on the courts for 2-3 hours a day. Where there's a will, there's a way!
I strongly recommend doing an internship and taking summer courses. Academics come first, and if that means playing tennis and lifting during the morning or at night, so be it. Never forget, you only live once. Give as much passion and heart as possible during those four years, because they go by quickly.
Of course if you have to study 80 hours per week to pass the LSATS or MCATS, that comes before tennis, but on the whole, there is more than enough time to do an internship, take a summer class, teach tennis and train for the upcoming NCAA season if you want it badly enough - and most of you do.
Train with athletes from other sports
So much of college tennis revolves around school pride. It can be very beneficial to work out with players from other teams at your school. Those interactions build camaraderie on campus and a mutual respect for one another's sports. It could also give you a few more fans at your home dual matches.
Some of you may travel back home after the semester, but in the event you remain on campus for summer courses/camps, try to do some cross training with the soccer team, run suicides with basketball players, or hit the gym with the track team.
Have fun
The summer is a great time for all college students. For those of you taking summer courses, the campus is usually very peaceful, the athletic facilities are wide open, and morale is a little higher since the semester is over.
Try to make the most of these times. When the fall semester arrives, you will be fully recharged with positive energy - and ready to make it to the next level in the classroom and on the court. TennisRecruiting.net
Dear Fellow Tennis Fans and Tennis Talk Colleagues,
I just returned from a 3 day road trip with Advanta World Team Tennis. It was very exciting, as I went to the New York Randall's Island Complex, Philadelphia's King of Prussia Mall stadium and Albany's indoor facility. The highlight was working with my old friend Leif Shiras on the Tennis Channel, MSG and Comcast, which will be aired next week. I had the chance to catch up with my great friends, Billie Jean King and Ilana Kloss; they are doing a GREAT job with WTT, helping to promote USTA junior tennis, and give stars such as Venus and Serena a chance to stay sharp for the WTA summer schedule. Surprisingly, Venus lost both her singles matches, to Angela Haynes and Sloan Stevens, respectively.
Furthermore, it's Newport Tennis week at the Hall of Fame in my beloved Rhode Island. I spoke with Sam Querrey today, before he advanced to the semifinals with a straight set win over Kim; also Rajeev Ram is making a Cindarella story, after upsetting Jesse Levine to move on to the final four. The grass courts are very soft due to the rain, but it's leading to some exciting tennis. I love that tournament. GO TENNIS, -HC
Below is an article written by Leon Horne from BleacherReport.com I feel as though he perfectly described the significance of the Wimbledon finals. This tournament was very emotional for me, considering I grew up in the "Roddick era" of USTA tennis (in the juniors). So to hear people say "he's a veteran....he's getting old"....it makes me, and a lot of Andy's colleagues start to look in the mirror and say "wow, we are getting old".....then again, 27 years is only old in tennis terms! Here's Leon's great article:
"Tennis World is Bitter Sweet"
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/212571-roddick-and-federer-the-tennis-world-is-bitter-sweet
Not more then two months ago, Rafael Nadal was on top of the ATP sitting at world number 1 having won the 2008 French Open, Wimbledon, the Olympics and the 2009 Australian Open.
Nadal had himself a tremendous 2008 and was shaping up to have a great 2009.
Federer on the other hand had really come down a notch he was still showing up in almost every slam final, but his performances didn't have that superhuman aspect that fans were so used to seeing.
Seems like many fans and the media were living in a false reality prior to this year's French Open.
Most people were under the impression that Rafael Nadal would win the French Open for the fifth consecutive time.
Many people were probably also expecting Federer to tie Sampras' 14 slam record in Wimbledon, by beating Nadal in another marathon match for the ages.
To top it all off, many naysayers felt that although Roddick had a big serve and would always go deep in the slam draws, his game had ultimately topped out and he was unable to compete against with the top 5 in the sport.
Well with the French Open and Wimbledon gone and past, reality bites.
The self proclaimed "King of Clay" Rafael Nadal bowed out of the French Open in the fourth round to eventual finalist Robin Soderling.
Federer's fleeting invincibility is all of a sudden back and with a vengeance. Federer not only tied Sampras' 14 slam record and recorded his first French Open victory, but he broke the record just a few weeks later at Wimbledon 2009.
No surprise that Federer won Wimbledon though right?
True, but, it wasn't against who we thought it would be. Nadal was forced to withdraw from Wimbledon due to injury.
Nadal is down and out with tendinitis in both knees and hopefully it isn't for the count.
Federer broke Sampras' record against none other then Andy Roddick, no not Andy Murray.
Roddick showed the media and fans up. Dispatching of Lleyton Hewitt in 5 sets and the Federer upset pick of the draw Andy Murray in 4 sets.
Of course Roddick only had 2 wins in 20 meetings with Roger Federer. For as good as Andy Roddick's serve is, Federer has always been able to read it and for the most part has never struggled with Andy Roddick's game.
With Nadal out, who would have thought this years Wimbledon final would be as epic as last years marathon 5 setter?
Roddick came out looking like he completely re-invented himself.
Most players and coaches would tell you that the touch required to volley at the level of the game's greatest volleyers is something that can't be learned or taught. There has to be a certain innate talent or ability.
However, Roddick came in volleying like he never had before, getting to balls that he would have never got before and making passing shots that normally would have gone long or wide.
On top of all that, Federer who usually reads Roddick's serves like an open book took 31 service games to break him, yes 31 service games.
Roddick took the first set 7-5. Federer won the second and third sets in a tie break.
Roddick was almost up 2-0, but he squandered a 6-2 lead in the tie break.
Roddick came back and won the fourth set 6-3, breaking Federer early. Roddick's confidence was unwavering and now more then ever it looked like he might be able to beat Roger on his best surface.
Alas, at 14-15 Federer in the fifth set with the players on serve, Federer got the ever so important break to beat Roddick 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 16-14.
Roddick could not have played a better game against the living legend, he threw everything but the kitchen sink at him. But, Federer statistically played one of his best games ever, hitting 50 aces and 107 winners to 38 unforced errors.
As a fan of tennis, this victory was bitter sweet and as Roger himself said in a post match interview, it's unfortunate that a draw can't happen in tennis.
Both players today were champions and as much as it hurt people to watch Roddick struggle with what just happened, it felt great to witness history in the making as Federer made Sampras' record fall.
In a post match press conference, Roddick made a statement that really defines who Federer is:
"He gets a lot of credit for a lot of things, but not a lot of the time is how many matches he kind of digs deep and toughs out. He doesn't get a lot of credit for that because it looks easy to him a lot of the times. But he definitely stuck in there today." - Andy Roddick (Wimbledon.org)
It is true, as much as Federer's fluid play makes the game look effortless and easy to the casual fan, it is his determination and unwaivering confidence that defines him.
When down double or even triple breaks he will pull out a couple of service aces. When about to lose a set point he hits an incredible cross court volley or an impossible passing shot.
When the pressure is on, Federer grits his teeth and weathers the storm until the sun shines on him once again. He really has become the definition of a true champion.
There you have it, Nadal lost the French Open, his number one ranking and he is out with injury. Roger Federer, won his first French Open, his sixth Wimbledon and cemented himself as the greatest of all time winning 15 slams.
Finally, Roddick has shown the world that you can re-invent yourself late in the game and has picked up a lot of fans in the process. Roddick isn't as washed up as people thought he was.
With Roddick's resurgence, Nadal's injuries and Federer's second wind, the rest of 2009 is shaping up to be a rather interesting season in the ATP.
One thing is for sure, the other top 10 players like Del Potro, Murray and Djokovic better not take Andy Roddick lightly in the upcoming tournaments.
Dear Fellow Tennis Fans, and Tennis Talk Colleagues. The women's final was a solid match, but didn't have as much drama as I believe tomorrow's men's final will. Expect to see Roger Federer bring his best tennis to the court, and give a masterful display of grass court excellence; knowing that he is just 3 sets away from finally breaking the epic record of 14 Grand Slam titles. On the other hand, Andy Roddick is the epitome of "tennis passion." The
Whether you like A-Rod, or not, you can't help but respect someone who truly loves his craft and can handle media insults with continued confidence. It will be a battle between two of the great ambassadors of our sport, a win by either player would truly help our game shine in the international spotlight; such as last year's emotional final between Rafa and Fed. I predicted Serena over Venus, and Roddick over Federer [one week ago]....let's see if I can go 100%.... We love tennis. take care, Harry
About this blog
Harry Cicma tackles the hot topics in tennis, sharing his insight on the favorites, tournament news and players to watch. Harry was ranked for three years on the ATP Tour doubles circuit and played four years of NCAA Division-I tennis at Rutgers University. He now covers all sports as a TV producer/anchor on NBC in Southern New England.