Two articles on Sam Querrey today in what I assume must be his hometown paper. The first is on his so-called normal teenage life and the second on the decision he'll have to make soon between turning pro or going to college.
From the Venture County Star: Budding tennis star leads a normal teen life
...Swinging through the Taco Bell drive-through, Sam Querrey loaded up on chalupas and double-decker tacos for a ping-pong showdown with his buddies.
Two weeks removed from traveling with the United States Davis Cup team and two days away from flying to Texas to visit Andy Roddick, Querrey is soaking up life as a normal teenager...
As the tennis player being labeled "The Next Great American," Querrey doesn't fit the stereotypical mold. The 18-year-old shunned attending an academy because he valued time spent with family and friends...
"I still work just as hard as the other kids at the academies, I just go about it a different way," Querrey said. "I think it's been better because my life is not all about tennis. I go to a regular high school and can have fun doing pointless stuff with my friends."...
As his game improves, Querrey has been spending more time on the road playing tournaments. He was invited to be a practice partner with the Davis Cup team, and accompanied Roddick, James Blake and Camarillo's Bob and Mike Bryan to Belgium and Rancho Mirage.
"I never thought I would be friends with these guys," Querrey said. "It's cool to tell your friends at school you are going to Andy Roddick's house to hit for the weekend."
Being a rookie, Querrey was treated to some Davis Cup hazing. The team made him sing karaoke in front of 200 people in a hotel lobby. He belted out the lyrics to "As Long As You Love Me" by the Backstreet Boys and "She Bangs" by Ricky Martin.
"We call him Napoleon Dynamite because he reminds us of that guy," Bob Bryan said. "He is such a likable guy and a good sport. Any kind of crap we make him do, he takes it on the chin with a smile on his face."
Before Querrey joined the Davis Cup team in Belgium, Bob Bryan "couldn't pick him out of a one-man lineup," he said. "But now I am pretty impressed with his skills. He has already shown he can compete at the highest level at 18 and taken sets off guys out here. There hasn't been an American like that since Andy. It's good to see for American tennis."
From the Ventura County Star: The college conundrum
...Will Querrey put off attending college and begin life on the road as a touring professional, or will he take up residence in the University of Southern California dorms and attend classes like a typical college freshman? The private decision may have a larger effect on American tennis...
The pro-versus-college debate has been a long-standing and sometimes contentious issue in tennis. Many college coaches believe too many of the top American juniors are being pressured to bypass college and feel a perception exists that playing college tennis hinders a player's development...
USC men's coach Peter Smith, who has a highly vested interest in Querrey's decision, fears the USTA is pushing top American juniors to turn pro prematurely in its quest to produce a Grand Slam champion.
"These kids are practically threatened. The USTA is doing everything possible to get them to turn pro, and they aren't going to give them wild cards into events if they say they're going to college," Smith said. "The USTA is running a business, and their goal is to fill Arthur Ashe Stadium at the U.S. Open. I truly believe if they burn 10 or 20 kids along the way to get that done, they will do it."
Sam Querrey is a remarkable guy. He is exceeding in tennis as well in school. Winning the Easter Bowl ITF is not an easy thing to do. I think he will be the next Rising American Star!!!
Posted by: Doglas Mo | May 08, 2006 at 07:53 PM
Winning the Easter Bowl is nothing. A different guy does it every year, and almost none of them winds up making any mark on the ATP Tour. Also, I happen to know Peter Smith from his days at Fresno State. I can assure you that he's every bit as self-interested as the USTA. And I'm not sure it's such a good idea for a budding young tennis phenom to waste a year playing college tennis-- taking classes studying, practicing and competing against guys who aren't that great. But I don't know that Querrey is a phenom. I've simply never seen him play. I have noticed his name on several Challenger draws over the past year or so, but I don't think he's accomplished much. College would probably be a good idea for him. At least one player I know quit college a year early to turn pro. Now he's 27 with no college degree and 300 world ranking. Not an enviable position to be in.
Posted by: Rick | May 09, 2006 at 03:02 AM