Recruiting 101
The Benefits of Playing the Backdraw
by Tim Donovan, 7 May 2025
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In tennis, it’s a common coaching tenet that regular tournament competition makes you a better player. What a player faces in tournament competition simply can’t be replicated in practice: handling your nerves early in a match, dealing with the adversity that often presents itself, keeping your composure when things aren’t going your way and closing out a close match are just some of the situations players must effectively handle in order to win.
We sometimes hear players say that there aren’t enough USTA tournaments at the proper level in their area. While the schedule of certain level USTA events is lighter than it was some years back, the majority of junior tennis tournaments do offer a consolation match or draw. Despite the benefit of tournament matches and despite fewer competitive opportunities on the schedule, players too often decide to skip consolation matches. Some players approach tournaments with the wrong mindset that only matches in the main draw are worth playing. Other players come off the court after a disappointing match and make a rash, emotional decision to not play the back draw.
With most junior players looking to play college tennis, how is defaulting consolation matches viewed by college coaches? A record with regular withdrawals/consolation defaults raises a red flag. Is this player someone who is easily discouraged, dwells on losses rather than turning the page, gets overly negative after losses, quits when the going gets tough or worries more about his or her ranking than about improving as a player? Will this be someone who can be relied upon in big moments in a college match?
Playing through adversity
In a college dual match, three doubles matches are played first. In order for the team losing the doubles point to win the match, they need to win four of the six singles matches. Imagine that you’re playing college tennis in a few years and the doubles point in a big match comes down to you and your partner. Despite your best efforts, you lose a close tie-break to give the opposing team the all-important doubles point. However disappointed and discouraged you might feel at that moment, your singles match starts in five minutes. Whether your school beats its rival could come down to your singles match. Will a college coach want a player in that position who has consistently played through adversity and demonstrated the ability to keep battling even after a tough loss, or someone who regularly taps out of a tournament after a disappointing match? The answer is obvious.
A Division 1 coach in the ACC conference said, “It’s not like I go out of my way looking for this, but there have definitely been times when it jumps out at me how many back-draw defaults are on someone’s record, and to me it speaks to an excuse-making mentality. I want someone who takes accountability, learns something from a loss and is anxious to go right back out on the court to correct it.”
A similar or stronger sentiment was expressed by a Division III NESCAC conference coach, who said, “When I’m looking at a player’s tournament results and there’s a recurring pattern of withdrawing from consolation matches, that’s a huge red flag for me. In my opinion it’s an indication that a player lacks the type of mental toughness we want.”
Resilient reputation
Junior players sometimes think, “I just had a bad loss, played poorly and now have to play someone I’m supposed to beat in the consolation. I am worried that another bad loss will really hurt my UTR. I can’t take that risk.” In situations like this, players should take a few minutes and a few deep breaths and realize how much playing again can help them. Developing resilience is important. That can’t happen when you choose to remove yourself from a challenging situation in a tournament and don’t face adversity.
Why bypass the opportunity to get what you need more than anything else as a tournament player: another match. Why risk establishing a reputation in the college coaching community that you’re a player who lacks the competitive drive and positive attitude required to get right back out there and put yourself on the line. Take pride in being the type of player and competitor who plays every consolation match. Even if you lose, you will show that you don’t back down from a challenge. The benefits of playing through adversity will more than outweigh the damaging effect a lack of resiliency will have in the long run. Not to mention the damage it may well do to your chance of getting an offer from a top choice school.
About Ethos School
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About Tim Donovan
Tim Donovan is founder of
Donovan Tennis Strategies.
On the court, Donovan was a standout at Brown, where he achieved a #6
national ranking and was recognized as two-time Ivy League and Eastern
Conference Player of the Year. After a stint on the ATP tour where he
achieved a Top-300 singles ranking, Donovan worked with the USTA on
player development and served as assistant coach at Harvard.
Most recently, Donovan founded DTS, where he hosts two college showcases
each year - and his consulting services have placed hundreds of
players at colleges of all levels throughout the country.