Graduation Year
2024
Date of Submission
4-2024
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Economics
Reader 1
Professor Ricardo Fernholz
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2024 Ian J Freer
Abstract
Our study examines the influence of college attendance on the professional tennis careers of the 502 American male players who earned a ranking point between 2014 and 2023. Initial analysis suggests that attending college may lower a player’s career-high ranking by 159 spots. However, after controlling for career length, we observe a significant improvement of 214 spots among players with similar junior rankings. Our analysis of career trajectories reveals that college players often start their professional careers at higher rankings and achieve their career-high rankings earlier than non-college players. Additionally, the career-high rankings of the most promising juniors tend to improve by forgoing college, but worsen for those with lower junior rankings. These findings underscore the complex relationship between college attendance and professional tennis success, providing valuable insights for aspiring professional tennis players and the tennis community.
Recommended Citation
Freer, Ian, "The Collegiate Tennis Effect: Measuring the Impact of College Attendance on a Tennis Player’s Professional Career" (2024). CMC Senior Theses. 3600.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/3600
