Donovan Tennis Strategies

08/20/2026

Time management. Team travel. The jump in practice intensity. The shift from playing for yourself to playing for a team.

These are the challenges that first-year college tennis players consistently said caught them off guard, even the ones who thought they were prepared.

In Part 2 of our series on the college tennis transition, DTS digs into the specific practical challenges that freshmen faced in their first semester: how to manage a schedule that looks nothing like high school, how to handle the physical demands of college training, and how the doubles dynamic changes in ways most juniors don't anticipate.

The good news: every challenge has a solution. And most of them can be prepared for before you ever step on campus. Read the full post at DonovanTennis.com/Features

Time management, team travel, and the intensity jump: first-year college tennis players share the biggest challenges they faced and how to handle them.

08/18/2026

Signing day feels like the finish line. But for most college tennis recruits, it's actually the starting line of the hardest transition they'll face.

DTS surveyed first-year college tennis players across all three NCAA divisions about their experience going from recruit to college athlete. What they shared was honest, detailed, and genuinely useful for any family with a player heading to campus in the coming months.

A few things that stood out: the players who struggled least were the ones who made connections with coaches and teammates before they arrived. Those who carried strong study habits from high school felt significantly more prepared academically. And almost universally, the nervousness that felt overwhelming before move-in day faded within the first week of practice.

Part 1 of our 3-part series covers the general academic, social, and tennis adjustments first-year players face, and what recruits can do right now to get ahead of them. Read the full post at DonovanTennis.com/Features

What do first-year college tennis players actually experience when they arrive on campus? DTS surveyed student-athletes across all NCAA divisions to find out.

08/13/2026

The NCAA’s new 5-year eligibility rule is changing the game for college tennis recruiting.

Find out what this means for:
• Your recruiting timeline
• Roster spots and competition
• Gap years and post-grad decisions

Don't let the rule changes catch you off guard. Read our full breakdown at DonovanTennis.com/Features

This is a big change for college tennis. Find out what it means for your college tennis recruiting timeline and process. Read our full breakdown.

07/01/2026

The talent at the DTS College Prospects Showcase last weekend was unreal. 🔥 Want to be next?

We’re expecting about 50 coaches from both men and women’s college programs to come out for our last showcase of the summer. Today (July 1st) is the LAST DAY to register for our final showcase of the season!

Get on the court. Get noticed. Get closer to the next level.
• When: July 18-19
• Where: Weymouth Club in Boston, MA
• Registration Deadline: TONIGHT!

Register at DonovanTennis.com/Tennis-Showcases

06/30/2026

The 25th Edition of the DTS College Prospects Showcase in New Jersey wrapped up on Thursday at the Mercer County Park Tennis Center. One hundred and fifty players from 19 states and 12 countries competed in front of coaches from 88 colleges and universities on the women's side and 76 on the men's side.

Top schools such as Princeton, Columbia, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Chicago, Amherst, Williams, Tufts, Emory, Colgate, Villanova, Rutgers and many, many more, were on hand to evaluate potential recruits for their programs. The level of players on the boys side went up to 12 on UTR on the boys' side and 9.5 on the girls' side.

The third and final event in the DTS College Exposure Series takes place July 18-19 at Weymouth Club just outside of Boston. The deadline to register is tomorrow, July 1st. Register at DonovanTennis.com/tennis-showcases/

06/17/2026

Congratulations to all past Donovan Tennis Strategies clients and showcase participants who made major contributions throughout this year’s NCAA Championships.

🏆 NCAA Team Champions
• University of Chicago — Men’s Division III Champions
• Wesleyan University — Women’s Division III Champions

🎾 DTS athletes also helped lead:
• Case Western — Men’s Semifinalist
• CMS — Men’s Semifinalist
• Babson — Women’s Semifinalist
• Washington University — Women’s Semifinalist

💥 Division I Spotlight
Columbia University advanced to the NCAA Round of 16 and pushed eventual national champion Virginia in one of the tournament’s toughest matches.
Featuring:
• Nicolas Kotzen (13.32 UTR) — #1 Doubles / #2 Singles
• Sachin Palta (13.05 UTR) — #2 Doubles / #3 Singles

Special congratulations to:
• Eliana Hanna — NCAA Singles Quarterfinalist
• Santiago Salazar Garza — #1 Singles at Case Western
• Kael Shah & Ethan Green — NCAA Doubles Champions

We are proud of all these student-athletes for their hard work, leadership, and success competing at the highest levels of college tennis. Read more about these amazing achievements here: https://bit.ly/DTSNCAA

05/31/2026

Checking your UTR every week won't make it go up.

But it's a completely understandable habit. UTR and tournament rankings feel like the scoreboard for the recruiting process. But obsessing over outcomes you can't directly control is one of the biggest obstacles to actually improving them.

The players who make the most progress, on the court and in recruiting, are the ones who shift their focus to the process: the daily habits, the quality of training, the mental approach to competition. The ranking tends to follow.

DTS Senior Consultant David Donn breaks down exactly what that process-focused approach looks like in practice, including a concrete action plan players can start using right now. Read the full post!

What’s the best way to increase UTR and TRN ratings? At DTS, we hear this question constantly. Learn what we focus on with all our college tennis clients.

05/23/2026

What does the college tennis recruiting process actually feel like from the player's side?

We asked a former DTS client (now playing NESCAC tennis) to reflect on what worked, what they'd do differently, and what they wish they'd known going in. What they shared is some of the most honest and practical recruiting advice you'll come across.

Five takeaways that stood out:
• Cast a wide net
• Compete as much as possible
• Think beyond tennis
• Talk to current players
• Have fun!

Full the full post for even more helpful insights!

A former 4-star recruit now playing NESCAC tennis shares five honest pieces of advice for players just beginning the tennis recruiting process.

05/14/2026

Most families go through tennis recruiting once. Coaches do it every year.

That gap in experience is where things often go wrong - misreading interest as an offer, targeting the wrong programs, or facing a high-pressure deadline without knowing where you actually stand with your higher priority options.

We break down why having an experienced advisor changes the outcome. Read the full post.

The college tennis recruiting process can feel straightforward, but it rarely is. We break down some reasons a family needs an experienced advisor like DTS.

04/29/2026

College coaches all say the same thing:
they want players to own their recruitment.

When parents send the emails, make the calls, or lead the conversations… it stands out—and not in a good way.

Here’s what coaches actually want to see (and what raises red flags) 👀

One thing we hear from college tennis coaches about the recruitment process is they wish student-athletes would take more ownership of their own recruitment.