LONDON: As one of the most well-known female players to emerge from the college tennis circuit in recent years, Danielle Collins was surprised when told about the current situation facing NCAA players at Wimbledon.
The former University of Pennsylvania student won two NCAA titles during her college years as both a sophomore and senior in 2014 and 2016. She also received the Honda Sport Award for women’s tennis in her senior season. Collins didn’t turn professional until after graduating from college.
“I feel like there are so many players now that are kind of going through the college tennis system and are doing really well,” Collins said after her first round win at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
“I feel like college gives you a little bit more time to kind of grow and develop. Not necessarily physically, but I think mentally, and that’s the most important thing.
“I don’t think a lot of people are equipped to deal with the stress and pressure that comes along with playing a professional sport, especially an individual one.”
Collins is not alone in going through the college circuit before embarking upon the professional Tour. Others to do so include Diana Shnaider, Emma Navarro and Ben Shelton.
Meanwhile, in this year’s tournament, Britain’s Oliver Tarvet is currently studying at the University of San Diego and is on the NCAA circuit. The 21-year-old has defied expectations by coming through qualifying and reaching the second round, where he will face Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday. It is a fairytale run for Tarvet, who does have one big problem when it comes to his earnings.
In order to meet the NCAA criteria, Tarvet can’t earn any more than £10,000 in profit during a calendar year. The earnings are calculated by subtracting expenses from prize money. Should an athlete break these rules, they face being kicked out of the system.
“I thought that there was going to be some type of change, or maybe it was just my assumption,” Collins replied when told about the rule.
“It’s kind of interesting that you can’t accept (prize money). I wish that there was some type of solution.”
Maybe there is a solution with the world No.54 wondering why the money earned by college players in professional events can’t be put into a system that will help them in the future.
“If the concern is that the player is accepting money as a professional athlete and therefore they are professional athletes, maybe there’s a way that there can be a fair portion that goes towards a 401K or some type of retirement fund that you’re not able to touch until you’re 65,” she commented.
“Any athlete should be put in a position to get set up for success.
“I feel like there’s a solution to these kinds of things. I think sometimes it just requires people to think a little bit outside of the box.
“That would be kind of cool if they could put it into something like a retirement fund.
“Then that way it’s not being spent irresponsibly but helps a college athlete that’s worked really hard to look out for their future.”
Collins will return to action at Wimbledon on Thursday when she plays Veronika Erjavec.
