After First-Round U.S. Open Loss, Jack Kennedy Speaks About Skipping The Upcoming Fall College Season At Virginia

By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

Following his first round straight-set main draw loss at the U.S. Open Sunday, top U.S. junior Jack Kennedy talked about his decision to skip the fall season of his freshman year at the University of Virginia to continue to play pro events.

“I finalized the decision after Kalamazoo,” said Kennedy of his decision made after winning the USTA National Boys’ 18s championship at Kalamazoo, Michigan, which earned him the main draw U.S. Open wild card entry. “We were thinking about it, talking about it before and during Kalamazoo. But ultimately, I just decided with the chances that I have with these wild cards from the (ATP) NextGen Accelerator program, I think it’s a good chance to kind of prove my level, take it where who knows where I’ll end up in these next couple of months, but I just want to give myself the best chance possible just to do the best I can.”

Kennedy earned 102 of his current total of 129 ATP ranking points (that earn him a No. 389 ATP singles ranking) during the January to May season this year. When he plays college tennis for Virginia during the team match season during this time frame in 2027, he would not have the opportunity to defend these points and thus his ATP ranking would severely suffer. But by having the opportunity to play pro tennis in the fall he can do his best to collect more ATP points – also with the help of wild card entries – and maintain this ranking that would allow him to play bigger tournaments after his freshman season.

Kennedy said prize money and financials did not factor into his decision to take the fall college season off and he is not even sure about how he is to properly handle the $140,000 paycheck he will receive for losing in the first round of the U.S. Open. “”The rules have been changing every day (with regard to college player prize money compensation.”

The eighteen-year-old Kennedy also said a goal for the rest of the year is to try to qualify for the ATP Tour Next Gen Finals in Saudi Arabia, an event for the eight highest ATP ranked players under the age of 20. Rafael Jodar, who played one year for the University Virginia and who played in the NextGen Finals last year, helped plant the seed for that goal for Kennedy.

“I’ve heard from Rafa Jodar how amazing that event is and he just could go on and on about it,” said Kennedy. “I think I have maybe a pretty decent chance. I’m 14 out of eight people that get selected so who knows maybe a tournament or two go how we want it to and we can kind of be in that mix, but I think we’re just gonna try to do as best as we possibly can.”

In the first set, the 5-foot 7-inch Kennedy stayed fairly close to the 29-year-old Harris, who is 6’4″ and 11 years Kennedy’s senior. But the South African just had too much firepower and consistency for the Huntington, Long Island native in his 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory. Harris, ranked down at No. 139 mainly due to injuries, advanced into the main draw by winning three qualifying matches but has now won 13 out his last 14 matches, including the challenger-level title in Brownsburg, Indiana. Speaking after the match to a gaggle of reporters, Harris was upbeat on the game and potential for Kennedy.

“He plays really well. I think he has a lot of positive things. I think he plays a very positive game,” said Harris, a U.S. Open quarterfinalist in 2021. “He goes after the ball. He’s very aggressive, he’s very good from the baseline. He moves well. He’s obviously still young. I feel like I could play the important points a little bit smarter, a little bit better than him, and obviously I had a bigger advantage serving. So I think there was a big difference there. But he’s got a lot of potential, a lot of upside in the future. If he gets developed correctly, he’s got the game.”

Said Kennedy of his U.S. Open debut, “It was a dream come true. It’s an experience that I’ll remember forever, but not the result we wanted, but just kind of happy to be out there competing,”

Kennedy, who received tremendous fan support from local Long Island fans, said he will play in the U.S. Open junior singles and doubles competition next week. He and Keaton Hance will be defending their junior doubles title that they won last year.