Thanks! You’re almost done...
is being subscribed to the USTA National Campus newsletter. Help us personalize your experience even more.
Required
Required
Required
Want more? Add the following:
By clicking 'Sign Up' you agree that you have read and understood the terms of use and privacy policy  for usta.com
headerimage
Thank you and see you on the courts!
Follow USTA for exclusive tips, access and more.
scroll-top

Home of Champions

NCAA Champions Train at the Campus

Brian Ormiston  |  August 21, 2017
primary-article-image

"I knew what was on the line."

 

All of the work, pain and nerves from a grueling college season are wiped away in one unforgettable moment. Hoisting the NCAA trophy enables student-athletes to experience memories that will last a lifetime, yet their motivation to succeed and passion for the game never ends.

 

When the 2017 NCAA Division I Tournament concluded, the men’s and women’s singles champions converged on the USTA National Campus in Orlando. It was a much-needed trip for Thai-Son Kwiatkowski and Brienne Minor, who got to train with USTA Player Development coaches while also working to heal their bodies from the spring campaign.

 

Both earned prestigious main draw wild cards into the 2017 US Open.

 

The 2017 NCAA Men’s Singles Champion – Thai-Son Kwiatkowski

 

Kwiatkowski was already familiar with USTA Player Development thanks to three years working with PD coaches before heading to Virginia.

 

“It was a bit overwhelming the first time I (came to the National Campus),” said Kwiatkowski, who also helped Virginia claim its third straight team title as well in 2017. “It’s unbelievable. You can’t even compare it to what we had in Boca Raton when I was growing up. I think this gives any American player the best chance to be successful and I’m really grateful to be down here.

 

“The USTA was really instrumental in my high school years, giving me an opportunity to travel the world and experience the circuit. I think that was a great springboard for college, and hopefully a great springboard for my career because now I know how to travel. I made a lot of relationships with USTA before I left for college and I’m happy that most of the people I worked with are still here.”

 

A native of Charlotte, N.C., Kwiatkowski’s time with the Cavaliers was one that helped him grow in many ways.

 

“I matured a lot since I was 18 coming into school the fall of 2013,” Kwiatkowski said. “Not only going to college and going through that whole experience, but having Coach (Brian) Boland, Coach (Dustin) Taylor and Coach (Carlos) Benatzky there through my entire college career. They really stuck by me because there were some times where it was tough. I had some ups and downs in terms of my attitude and my experience with the sport, and I think the biggest thing is that I matured.”

 

While Kwiatkowski admits he thinks of his coaches and his teammates when reflecting on his college career, he was “incredibly nervous” going into the last match with Virginia.

 

“I knew what was on the line. I was a senior so it was going to be my last match no matter what,” Kwiatkowski said. “To play for a national championship is always special. I knew I had an incredibly tough match because I was playing (North Carolina freshman William Blumberg) who I had never beaten before. It was going to be the last match for the coaching staff before they moved on to the USTA, and with the US Open wild card on the line as well as calling yourself a national champion, that was pretty big. When it was over, it was a massive relief, happiness and sadness knowing it was my last match. A lot of mixed emotions.”

 

The 2017 NCAA Women’s Singles Champion – Brienne Minor

 

Minor experienced a slightly different NCAA tournament. The Mundelein, Ill., native was only a sophomore at the University of Michigan last season and still had two years ahead of her. Yet the unseeded Minor stunned the field and became the Wolverines’ first NCAA women’s singles champion.

 

“I was incredibly happy when I won NCAAs,” said Minor, the first African American woman to win the NCAA Division I singles title. “It was definitely a goal of mine to win it, but I never imagined I actually would. So achieving that goal was unbelievable for me. It made it even better to have my entire family, along with my best friends and both of my coaches, there to support me. I wouldn’t have ended up the NCAA champion without them.”

 

Not only does Minor credit her family and friends, she also acknowledges that the relationships she has created through tennis have inspired her even more, no matter how difficult it might be to follow a college student’s schedule.  

 

“What I have benefited from the most in playing college tennis is probably that it allowed me to connect to a lot of different people,” said Minor, whose Wolverines reached the round of 16 in the team finals. “From players to coaches, and to fans around the U.S., I’ve had the privilege in meeting so many people and befriending some of them as well. It has also allowed me to be in a position of leadership and to be able to influence and impact other tennis players and younger kids.

 

“Every season is long and the competition is tough. You’re playing matches every weekend, practicing and working out every day, and on top of that you have to balance your school work as well. And then going into the team tournament and individuals, it’s difficult sometimes depending on how (far your team goes).”

 

To help with training for summer USTA Pro Circuit events and the US Open, Minor made the trip to the National Campus for the first time.

 

“It was great training at the National Campus,” Minor said. “The site is so well-structured and the staff there is amazing. They provide so many resources for you; I really enjoyed my time there and I hope to go back soon. The USTA has impacted my career by providing me so much support and opportunities from the local district level all the way through to the professional level. The opportunities they have given me has allowed me to pursue my dreams and I can’t thank them enough for that.”

 

Americans on a Roll

 

Kwiatkowski and Minor continued an impressive streak with their trophies. American men have now won the D-I singles championship in each of the last four seasons, while American women have won in six consecutive years. That includes 2016 men’s champion Mackenzie McDonald from UCLA, who also has trained this summer at the National Campus.

 

While Kwiatkowski graduated from Virginia in May, Minor will be entering her junior year with the Wolverines. Both are now taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the USTA in order to grow their game to even greater heights.