Making It to the AO – What’s Your Ten-Year Plan?

Each January, Melbourne Park becomes the centre of the tennis world. The Australian Open showcases extraordinary athleticism, belief and resilience, but behind every player walking onto Rod Laver Arena is something far less visible: a long-term plan.

For aspiring Australian tennis players and their families, it is easy to focus on the next tournament, ranking or selection. But the reality is this:

Very few tennis careers are decided at 18.
Most are decided by what happens in the ten years after high school.

So… the real question isn’t “Can I go pro?”

It’s “What’s my ten-year plan to give myself a realistic chance of earning money from tennis?”

When Tennis Players Actually Start Earning

Across professional tennis, the data paints a very clear picture:

• The average age of players inside the ATP Top 100 is around 26–27
• On the WTA Tour, the average Top 100 player is in their mid-20s
• Only a small percentage of players earn sustainable income immediately after juniors

In simple terms, most players who earn meaningful money from tennis don’t do so until well into their 20s.

Statistically, athletes have around ten years from the end of high school to establish themselves as players who can genuinely earn from the sport.

So, here is the obvious but often overlooked question:

👉 Why not use four of those ten years playing elite tennis in the US college system?

College Tennis: A Smarter First Four Years

One of the best modern examples is Ben Shelton.

Shelton didn’t rush straight onto the Tour. He chose to develop through the University of Florida, competing weekly in one of the most intense tennis environments in the world. When he turned professional, he wasn’t guessing whether he was ready, he knew.

College tennis gave him:

• World-class coaching and facilities
• A demanding competitive schedule
• Time for physical maturity
• Confidence under pressure
• And a degree behind him

By the time Shelton arrived on Tour, he wasn’t surviving — he was competing.

The Advantage No One Talks About: Pressure Relief

One of the biggest differences we see in players who come through college tennis.

They play with less fear.

Imagine stepping onto the Tour knowing:

• Your body is four years more mature
• You have played 400+ high-level matches
• You understand your game deeply
• You have lived independently, travelled, studied and grown up
• You have an education and future options behind you

Suddenly, every loss doesn’t feel like your entire future is on the line.

That freedom allows players to swing more freely, compete more calmly, and perform closer to their potential.

The Financial Reality: “Pro” vs Professional

This is where the conversation often gets uncomfortable, but it matters.

There is a HUGE difference between:

• “Pro” — the players you are watching deep in the draw at the Australian Open
• And “pro” — players outside the Top 100 whose income is uncertain and expenses are relentless

Chasing the Tour full-time can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars before a player ever becomes financially secure. Flights, accommodation, coaching, physios, tournament fees. It adds up fast.

College tennis can mean:

• Four years of elite competition
• Hundreds of thousands of dollars saved
• No HECS debt
• A globally recognised degree
• A stronger launch onto the professional Tour

That is not playing it safe, that is playing the long game.

Don’t Get Sucked into the Lifestyle of Being “A Pro”

There is a dangerous romance around the idea of being a professional tennis player.

But the goal is not to call yourself a pro. It is to become a professional who is actually earning enough to build a future.

AO fortnight celebrates the finished product. What it doesn’t show is how many players rushed too early, burned through money, or never had the runway to fully develop.

College gives you that runway.

So… What’s Your Ten-Year Plan?

Very few careers are won or lost at 18. Most are shaped by the decisions made between 18 and 28.

The US college pathway doesn’t close doors, it keeps them open longer, while producing athletes who are more mature, more battle-hardened, and better prepared for the realities of professional tennis.

That is the power of college.

These themes are explored in greater depth in Game Changer, written by Chris Bates, Director at Study & Play USA, drawing on his own junior, college and professional tennis experience.

If you would like a clearer understanding of where your tennis currently sits and how the US college pathway could fit into your long-term plan, Chris and the SPUSA team offer a complimentary college tennis assessment.

To arrange a free assessment, simply reach out via hello@studyandplayusa.com.au.