Three former Griz get a taste of pro tennis

Video: Nacho Tejerina hitting with world No. 4 Juan Martin del Potro (click photo above to play)

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No matter where you grow up and no matter what sport, it seems like every kid's dream is to one day go pro playing the sport they love.

Following one of the most historic seasons in Montana Tennis history, three former Griz from that 2017-18 Big Sky runner-up squad are chasing the professional dream, and like their college careers, the dream has taken them to different corners of the globe.

This week, former first team All-Big Sky and ITA regional award recipients Yannick Schmidl and Victor Casadevall are in Florida, competing in a pair of ATP Tour futures tournaments, seeking to build enough ranking points to work their way into the world rankings.

Taking a different route to play professional tennis is Ignacio Tejerina who traveled to Beijing earlier in October to serve as a hitting partner with some of the world's top players at the China Open, one of the premier events on the ATP and WTA tours.

All three are spending the fall semester in Missoula as they finish their respective studies, and all three have been keeping their skills sharp with the current crop of Grizzles, helping guide the team and its six freshmen through the fall season.

Now they're each hoping that extra work translates into a shot at the bright lights of the pro tour.

18732 — Tejerina with Juan Martin del Potro

"The help these guys have provided our young team this fall has been invaluable. Having some of the best players in our program's history return to campus and help pass on the tradition they helped build will no doubt pay off for us in the future," said head coach Jason Brown.

"We wish them luck as they head off into the world of pro tennis. I know their work ethic and attitude will take them far."

"Nacho" Tejerina got his first foray into pro tennis when a childhood friend connected him with an opportunity to be an official hitting partner at the China Open.

What does an official hitting partner do? They take the practice court with the world's best players like world No. 4 Juan Martin del Potro and No. 38 Nick Kyrgios and help them prepare for one of the top tournaments on the planet by providing them shots to work on.

"My job was practicing with the pros whenever they request a hitting partner or when they specifically request a lefty hitting partner," he says. "You realize you can keep up with their pace, their rhythm, but they have that extra gear where they can turn it on whenever they want, and it's over."

As part of the gig, Tejerina says he got a taste of the glitz and glamor the pros get too: the hotels, the car service, and the meals. Not a bad opportunity for a guy finishing up three degrees at UM.

"China is a completely different country, and the culture was way different, but once you get to know the people, they're really nice. They give you what they have and make everything easy for you and help you. Even though I wasn't playing there, they made me feel like a player."

And that feeling is the one he's been chasing since he first picked up a tennis racquet in Spain at the age of three.

"I used to go every year to watch the Master 1000 in Madrid, and when I was a kid I always went to the practice courts to watch my favorite players, dreaming about how cool it'd be if one day I could be on the other side of the fence," Tejerina added.

"Now it feels like this is some kind of reward after all these years dedicating a big part of my life playing tennis."

18723 — Casadevall in action at ATP Tournament

Chasing that same dream in a different way this week are Schmidl and Casadevall, who started play at the Bluewater Bay Men's $15,000 Pro Circuit Championships tournament outside of Pensacola, Florida, on Friday.

As the ITA Mountain Region's most improved senior and All-Big Sky selection in the spring, Schmidl has the credentials to take a shot on the pro tour. Casadevall also showed he has the chops to compete at the next level during his time at UM, capping a stellar career with a No. 19 ranking in the ITA's Mountain Region, just the second Grizzly to ever earn that honor.

The pair will have to start from the ground up, however, needing five points in the ATP world ranking before they move into a higher class of tournaments where they can earn more points and prize money.

In Florida, they will need to win four qualifying matches to get to advance. But even then, the only way to earn points toward their ATP world ranking is to win rounds in the main draw.

Despite an uphill battle to reach the pro circuit, while at the same time trying to finish school and prepare for the working world, Schmidl says now is the time to take their shot.

"This has always been my dream. I always wanted to play on the professional tour for a while, compete with the best of the best there and see how far I can make it. Due to my job starting January my time is limited, so Victor and I took a chance," said Schmidl.

"I am excited, and I have been looking forward to these tournaments for a long time. I hope we can get some victories or even make it into the main draw, but that will be very hard since many of the top schools in the country send players there. We will enjoy the opportunity to play here no matter what outcome, but obviously we are here to win."

Each will return to Missoula to finish their degrees. Tejerina will earn diplomas in marketing, international business and management. Schmidl will begin a job in the Bay Area once he finishes work on a management and information systems degree, while Casadevall will complete degrees in mathematics and economics.

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Players Mentioned

Victor Casadevall

Yannick Schmidl

Ignacio Tejerina

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