Only a small percentage of college graduates will become professional tennis players, but for those who love tennis and want to stay close to the tennis court, there are many other career options.

• Teaching professionals or coaches—You can become a certified teaching professional, tennis director, or high school, college, or private tennis coach. Two organizations provide professional-level teaching certification: the Professional Tennis Registry (go to www.ptrtennis.org) and the United States Professional Tennis Association (go to www.uspta.org).
• Athletic trainers are integral members of the tennis player’s support team and necessary for maintaining the player’s health and well-being on the tour (see the National Athletic Trainers Association at www.nata.org).
• Sports science consultants and other health professionals are increasingly sought by the pro tours and individual players as well.
• Sports journalists—This career will get you as close to the tennis court as possible without actually being on it. If you love tennis and writing, there are many opportunities to write for a newspaper, magazine, or television.
• Sports photographers—The same opportunities exist for sports photographers as for journalists. What could be cooler than capturing the quintessential shot of the game-winning stroke or the exciting aftermath at a tournament final?
• Managers or owners of tennis entities, for example, as a tennis club or facility manager, tennis camp director, pro shop manager, or builder of tennis courts.