Growing up in Moscow, Russia, a young Anna Blinkova never had aspirations of studying at a university or playing college tennis. Her dreams were solely focused on becoming a professional tennis player.
“No, I never thought about it,” said the 21-year-old who has advanced to the quarterfinals of the US Open in doubles. “It was only pro tennis for me.”
Gabriela Dabrowski was a junior tennis prodigy from Ottawa, Canada, who became the first Canadian to win the prestigious Les Petits As and also won the Junior Orange Bowl. Just like Blinkova, she had her sights set on the WTA Tour and the life of a professional tennis player as a teenager, knowing college would always be there for her to return to.
“Playing college tennis, no, but going to university after tennis, yes, that was always the plan,” Dabrowski said. “When I was coming up, the years between 18 and 22, there were a lot of girls who were breaking into the Top 100, Top 50, and Top 10, so I knew those were kind of the peak years. School will always be there, and tennis won’t.”
Blinkova and Dabrowski are currently taking advantage of WTA University, a unique online educational platform built through tour partner SAP's Litmos solutions that launched back in March and is aimed at enhancing the lives and careers of players by offering resources for physical and mental health, as well personal and professional growth.
And it couldn’t have come at a better time. Amid the tour shutdown because of the COVID-19 virus, players tried to stay busy, both on and off the practice courts—and it became a time for self-awareness and self-discovery. Available to approximately 500 active WTA players, many used the shutdown time to participate in practical WTA University online courses in professional development, such as: “COVID-19 Rule Changes” and “The Return to Play Guidelines.”
Blinkova said she read all of the safety rules concerning the COVID-19 virus and watched a couple of the videos. “It was all very informative and interesting,” Blinkova said. “These things are very important and just that the WTA is sharing this specific information, I think the players really appreciate it.”
In addition, Blinkova said the psychological courses have helped her mental game and has translated into results on the court. She is especially interested in seminars regarding pensions, international tax law, and wealth management. “The financial courses seem practical and I want to put the time into them and see if I can learn from them,” she said.
Dabrowski is one of 21 players currently enrolled in the Indiana University East Bachelor’s degree partnership program that has been in place since 2014. Ten players have graduated with a degree during that time and have taken advantage of discounted tuition rates of up to 75 percent.
“I’m just starting out, but took a public speaking course over the summer and a drawing course,” said Dabrowski, a Wimbledon finalist in doubles last year who has advanced to the US Open quarterfinals. “Right now I’m working on an assignment for argumentative writing.”
Drabrowski knows it will take time, but ultimately would like to get her degree in psychology. She didn’t realize she wasn’t required to take a full course load to graduate. “That put me at ease because I didn’t know I could take one class at a time,” she said. “I don’t need to be overwhelmed and I can go at my own pace and take my time. Knowing that I could take one or two courses per semester was one of the things that kind of sealed the deal for me to get the degree.”
Additionally, three players are enrolled in the University of Florida’s Master’s Degree partnership program that has been in place since Spring 2020.
Forty-five players have been enrolled in the Athlete Development Academy Program at the University of Florida, which debuted in April. The program is useful for transitioning to other jobs once a player’s career is over, such as coaching, becoming an agent, or working in corporate leadership roles.
Players such as Caroline Wozniacki, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Andrea Petkovic, Monica Puig, and Vania King have all in the past taken advantage of WTA University’s association with the Harvard Business School’s crossover program.
Still a teenager, Amanada Anisimova is enrolled in WTA University and has expressed her plans of going into medicine once her playing days are over. “If I didn’t play tennis, I’d want to be a surgeon,” she told NBC News during the 2019 French Open which saw the 19-year-old reach the semifinals. “Actually what I want to do is go to online college while I’m in my pro career and then go to med school after I finish.”
The same is the case for other young Americans like Caroline Dolehide and CiCi Bellis.
“I’ve been enrolled in college at Indiana East University ever since I graduated high school, so I’ve been used to studying,” said Dolehide, who took advantage of the COVID-19 shutdown to take more classes. “I finished those before the Western & Southern Open. It was a bit stressful picking up my course load, but I’m happy to be back on a good schedule now so that I can put all my effort and focus into both my schooling and my tennis.”
READ MORE: US Open Interview: Caroline Dolehide
Bellis added, “It’s been incredible to have WTA University launch during this time. It’s given us new tools that allow us to focus our minds on something outside of tennis and improve our knowledge. It’s vital information, along with a variety of health resources too.”
Both Bellis and Dabrowski said they have participated in weekly online “Mindful and Meditation” seminars, as well as yoga, pilates, and crossfit classes.
On the men’s side, the ATP has a similarly named ATP University, but does not customize a complete educational plan like WTA University does for its players. Established in 1990 as an initiative from the Player Council, the ATP University is a mandatory, three-day seminar open to those ranked inside the top 200.
The sessions are held twice a year and taught by a combination of ATP executives, industry insiders and outside sources to inform the players about ATP World Tour operations. It offers a range of presentations covering topics including savings and investments, media training, social media and anti-doping. Players “graduate” from the program following a short quiz on the topics.
But the WTA University isn’t for all players. On Sunday, former UCLA Bruin Jennifer Brady became the first former college tennis player to reach the US Open women's singles quarterfinals since Gigi Fernandez (Clemson) in 1994. During one of her post-match press conferences, Brady said she is focusing all her time and energy on her tennis, and not on college at this time.
“I’m so far away from getting my degree, that’s the last thing on my mind,” said Brady, who helped UCLA win an NCAA Championship in 2014 before leaving school after her sophomore year to pursue her professional tennis dream. “That’s something I’ll think about later and down the line.”
Dabrowski said it feels great to have options to pursue a nine-to-five job once her playing days are over. “The WTA is trying to make sure that you have more than just tennis, and that is something really important post-career to think about and when you retire from the sport,” she said. “Just that you feel that you have a backup plan. For me, I have so many other interests than tennis, I’m really grateful to have this opportunity to further my studies.”
