Wimbledon University: College tennis pathway makes strongest case yet at All England Club

The collegiate tennis route continues to stake its claim as a viable pathway to the highest professional level, with several former NCAA stars making an impact on the biggest stages at Wimbledon.

This year’s singles draws began with a combined 35 competitors who played at least one season of college tennis. Twenty-six were among the men’s field, the most this century according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association.

Arthur Rinderknech pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets thus far Tuesday when he eliminated world No. 3 Alexander Zverev in a deciding set for his first Top 5 victory on Centre Court. The Frenchman suited up for Texas A&M from 2015-18.

Carson Branstine, who helped the Aggies win a maiden women’s team title in 2024, made her Grand Slam debut on No.1 Court Monday against Aryna Sabalenka after ousting Roland Garros semifinalist Lois Boisson en route to qualifying. The world No. 1 ultimately won, 6-1, 7-5, and noted that Branstine, “definitely has potential. Very big serving. Honestly in the second set, it was really tough to read her serve. The speed was unbelievable.”

The University of San Diego has also enjoyed its representation at the All England Club. On Wednesday, the sport’s most famous stadium welcomed rising senior Oliver Tarvet. A British qualifier ranked No. 733, Tarvet’s reward for winning his first tour-level match over Leandro Riedi was a chance to test his game against two-time reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz with John Cena, Olivia Rodrigo, Tom Daley, Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas watching on from the Royal Box.

“I told him just congratulations for the run, just keep it going, keep working hard. It seems like he's a really nice guy and really nice, hard worker,” Alcaraz said following a 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 scoreline that marked his 20th successive win. “It seems like he loves tennis. He played with such a good passion out there that is really important.”

Tarvet confirmed to press afterwards that despite his London run and appeal of turning professional now, there’s a job to finish in California that he wants to see through first.

“Nothing has changed based on the last 10 days. I still want to go back to the University of San Diego,” he declared. “The amount of dedication and passion and devotion that the coaches, the head coach, Ryan Keckley, the assistant coach, Alex Funkhouser, who has been with me this whole journey, and second assistant, Carlos Bracho. Not just them, my teammates and everybody working behind the scenes has been incredible.

“I have a lot of personal goals that I still haven't achieved as a team at USD. As much as I have professional goals, college has been such a big part of my career, part of my life. There's definitely some things that I want to achieve before I go (pro) full-time.”

There’s a Danish man seeking a third-round spot and it’s not Holger Rune. San Diego alum August Holmgren came through a fifth-set tiebreaker to punch his main-draw ticket, then defeated Quentin Halys for his most notable victory to date. Tomas Machac, the No. 21 seed, awaits the 27-year-old.

Like Holmgren, Portugal's Nuno Borges once made a run to the NCAA singles championship match. A year after two round-of-16 major appearances, the Mississippi State graduate has progressed to the third round at the first three Slams of 2025. Having eliminated No. 16 seed Francisco Cerundolo (who once played at South Carolina) in his opener, Borges followed up his first Wimbledon win by halting home hopeful Billy Harris in straight sets Wednesday.

Fellow SEC All-American Gabriel Diallo (Kentucky) recently picked up his first ATP title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and has now claimed his past four opening rounds at majors thanks to Monday’s dismissal of Daniel Atlmaier. After battling back from two sets down against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Taylor Fritz may feel a sense of big-serving déjà vu from a six-foot-eight opponent when he faces Diallo at The Championships.

Today, one cannot mention NCAA tennis on the ATP Tour without Texas Christian University. Cameron Norrie, of course, is the most experienced Horned Frog of the lot. The 29-year-old left-hander ousted No. 12 seed Frances Tiafoe, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5, on Wednesday to reach the third round of his home major for a fourth time in five years.

Jack Pinnington Jones looks to join Norrie in that stage when he takes on 22nd seed Flavio Cobolli. Pinnington Jones, a good friend of British No. 1 Jack Draper, has more parallel inspiration to draw from through former college roommate Jacob Fearnley (who lost in the first round to Joao Fonseca) following the Scot’s sensational 12-month period post-TCU life.

“He's been amazing. He's one of my best mates. I had a barbecue with him Saturday at his house,” said Pinnington Jones.

“I think that's pretty special to have those guys, especially Jack, Cam, and Jake just sort of being there for me and knowing that I can lean on them if I need anything and if I have any questions. This is all new for me.”

For years, players coming through the University of Virginia have delivered the goods in Grand Slam competition. On Thursday, former NCAA champions Emma Navarro (2021) and Danielle Collins (2014, 2016) return for second-round action, as does another Cavalier in Brandon Nakashima. Navarro, a 2024 quarterfinalist here, defeated Petra Kvitova Tuesday in the two-time winner’s farewell appearance.

Also back to work Thursday includes 2022 NCAA title holder Ben Shelton. Having played for his dad Bryan at the University of Florida, Shelton finds himself making his major Top 10 debut at SW19 three years later. His next opponent, Rinky Hijikata, is a former University of North Carolina standout.

Marcos Giron (UCLA), Yuliia Starodubtseva (Old Dominion) and Aleksandar Vukic (Illinois) are respective underdogs in their upcoming second-round contests, The 2014 NCAA champion Giron battles No. 15 seed Jakub Mensik, Starodubtseva meets No. 19 seed Liudmila Samsonova and Vukic goes up against top-ranked Jannik Sinner on Centre Court.