Former British junior tennis No 1 Matt Rankin returned to a University of Kentucky base this week after a festive break in his native Edinburgh determined to build on a strong start to the third of his four year stint.
“Clinching three matches for the University team (known as the Wildcats) was definitely a highlight (of ‘25-‘26) and as well as helping the team has hopefully kept me on course to fulfil an ambition to play more on the pro circuit.”
Matt, now 21, has already dipped his toe into the Futures and Challenger tours with some success and seeing another ex-Merchiston Castle tennis academy alumini, Jacob Fearnley, ascend the full ATP rankings has certainly been a source of inspiration.
A maiden tournament victory came in a doubles tournament in Monastir and back in the states he wib matches in qualifying for a Challenger event in Lexington.
“Jacob, who was at college in the US before me, has shown what can be done with that kind of background and hopefully I will benefit from pretty much 12 hour days either on court receiving the benefit of three expert coaches’ knowledge and weight training” said Matt.
It’s a measure of Matt’s dedication that during his 10 day stint back home he was a regular practising at both Craiglockhart and with a Scotland squad at Stirling University.
And as the grand slam season gets underway next week Matt will surely be justified in casting a keen eye on the Australian Open hoping that one day he will aspire to competing in Melbourne just as he did in the tournament’s junior event.
