Canadian Liam Draxl performed tennis as quickly as he may stroll. His father Brian is the top professional on the Newmarket Neighborhood Tennis Membership, the place Liam recollects his mother and father needed to drag him off the court docket at evening as a result of their son couldn’t get sufficient of the game.
Now aged 21, Draxl resides his childhood dream, having simply turned professional this summer time following a standout profession on the College of Kentucky.
“I at all times return to that little child with blonde hair on the Newmarket Tennis Membership and loving it,” Draxl informed ATPTour.com on the Calgary Nationwide Financial institution Challenger. “That was my dream and now I get the chance to meet my dream.”
Being the son of a educating professional, Draxl’s upbringing meant he would hang around on the membership and hit with anyone who was round.
“I used to play with an 80 yr outdated yearly, there was this little match we had on the membership. I’d play with women doubles and juniors,” Draxl mentioned. “I’d simply be all over and I believe that was a very cool method of doing it, hopping in classes left and proper. I bought such a mix and expertise of all completely different ages and ranges of tennis.”
Draxl was named the ITA Nationwide Participant of the 12 months in 2021 and completed his time in Lexington, Kentucky as a three-time ITA All-American. In June, he determined to forego his last yr of eligibility and switch professional. He immediately discovered success on the ITF World Tennis Tour, the place he’s gained 14 of his previous 15 matches. Draxl now seems to construct upon his momentum at this week’s ATP Challenger Tour occasion in Calgary, Canada, simply his second match at that stage this season.
Draxl will not be the one former College of Kentucky star competing in Calgary. Gabriel Diallo, Alafia Ayeni and Enzo Wallart are additionally among the many subject. Diallo, who turned professional this previous December is a two-time ATP Challenger Tour champion and is the World No. 133 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. The 6’8” Montreal native is someone that Draxl seems as much as, actually and figuratively.
“I’ve identified Gab since beneath 12s, enjoying all these Canadian tournaments and we ended up going to the identical faculty principally enjoying on the court docket proper beside him at primary and two,” Draxl mentioned. “I’ve had so many nice reminiscences with Gab.
“When he exploded and gained the Granby Challenger final yr, it was loopy. All of us knew he was actually good and gifted, however for him to come out and win a Challenger like that, it was loopy and he’s nonetheless doing very properly. It’s good for me to know that I used to be practising with him all through our school years and I do know I’m near his stage or so, so it offers me perception that I can have Challenger success as properly.”
Underneath the tutelage of head coach Cedric Kauffmann at Kentucky, Draxl helped the Wildcats declare their first SEC title since 1992. Draxl is one in all 21 gamers to learn from the all-new ATP/ITA Accelerator Programme, which goals to extend the event pathway for prime gamers within the American Collegiate system.
Liam Draxl was a three-time ITA All-American on the College of Kentucky.” />
Liam Draxl was a three-time ITA All-American on the College of Kentucky. Credit score: UK Athletics
“Liam [was] our captain for a couple of years. He [was] right here for 4 years, he was ranked primary in school, participant of the yr,” Kaufmann mentioned. “He is a rock, he is a pacesetter. He is a fighter. I take into account him a bit bit like Lleyton Hewitt. That is his type. He likes to compete.”
After ending eleventh within the 2022-’23 Intercollegiate Tennis Affiliation Rankings, Draxl will obtain as much as eight qualifying spots at choose ATP Challenger Tour occasions within the subsequent yr, because of the Accelerator Programme. The aim of the programme is to turn out to be a launching pad for the highest gamers throughout the American collegiate system and speed up their journey to the professional stage.
“I believe the partnership that we’ve now with school and people Accelerator spots are fantastic,” Kaufmann mentioned. “I believe these guys can pace up the method to stand up the rankings. They’re adequate to do it on their very own, however I believe it creates a bit bit quicker path for them.”
