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Tempe, AZ – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA), in collaboration with the International Tennis Federation (ITF), is delighted to announce today the ten (10) male student-athletes who have qualified for professional playing opportunities through the ITF College Accelerator Program.
As an extension of the ATP Next Gen Accelerator which awards players ranked 1-20 in the ITA Year-End Singles Rankings playing opportunities on the ATP Challenger Tour, the ITF Men’s College Accelerator Program honors players ranked 21-30 in the ITA Year-End Rankings, giving them opportunities on the ITF World Tennis Tour (WTT).
Awarding any non-returning student-athletes eight (8) main draw places into M25 or lower level tournaments, these can be used beginning June 30 up to the week of June 22, 2026. Meanwhile, returning student-athletes will receive six (6) main draw places into M25 or lower level tournaments beginning June 30 up to tournaments beginning in March 2026.
Cementing the college tennis pathway as a viable route for high-level juniors looking to have a professional tennis career, the top 30 men’s collegians now have opportunities to get a jumpstart on their professional careers through both the ATP Next Gen Accelerator as well as the ITF Men’s College Accelerator Program.
With many familiar names to college tennis fans everywhere, players ranked in the 21-30 range who will be receiving these additional opportunities include 2024 NCAA Singles Champion, Filip Planinsek (Alabama), former ITF No. 11 ranked junior, Theo Papamalamis (Texas A&M), as well as one of the top freshman in the country this past season in Rudy Quan (UCLA).
Listed below are the ten players who qualified for the 2025 ITF Men’s College Accelerator Program through ITA Year-End Singles Ranking.
Qualified Players
21. Alex Kotzen | University of Tennessee22. Filip Planinsek | University of Alabama23. Benito Sanchez Martinez | Mississippi State University24. Sebastian Gorzny | University of Texas25. Shunsuke Mitsui | University of Tennessee26. Rudy Quan | UCLA 27. Braden Shick | NC State University28. Martin Katz | University of Miami (FL)29. Pedro Rodenas | Duke University30. Theo Papamalamis | Texas A&M University
About the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The ITF is the world governing body of tennis. Founded in 1913, its purpose is to ensure the long-term growth and sustainability of the sport, delivering tennis for future generations in association with its 213 member nations. The ITF oversees the rules and regulations that govern international and national competition. The ITF is responsible for the worldwide development of tennis through its highly regarded Development Programme, its Science and Technical department which monitors equipment and technology, and its Officiating department which oversees the education and advancement of officials. The ITF is the owner and co-owner of the two largest annual international team competitions in tennis, the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup (BJKC) by Gainbridge and manages the Olympic and Paralympic Tennis Events on behalf of the IOC and IPC. The ITF organises over 1,500 weeks of men’s, women’s and junior tournaments on the ITF World Tennis Tour, ITF Beach Tennis Tour, UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour and the ITF Masters Tour. The ITF upholds the highest standards of integrity and is a partner in the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
About the ITA – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) is the governing body and coaches association of college tennis, both an advocate and an authority for the sport and its members. Comprised of 1,260 colleges and universities, 20,000 student-athletes, 1,700 varsity programs, 3,000 coaches, and 1,350 college tennis officials, the ITA empowers college tennis coaches at all levels to deliver vibrant tennis programs that are vital to their college communities and transformational to their student-athletes. Follow the college tennis season on the ITA website and ITA social channels on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
