Jared Donaldson: A young renaissance guy climbing his own ladder to success
by GALE MOORMAN | VIEW 10454
Jared knew that his lucky number was 4, the age when he started discovering the fun times of playing tennis in his hometown of Providence, Rhode Island. He was head strong and his parents just had to listen to this happy-go-lucky little guy whose fascination for a sport that most 4 year olds in the town, had no interest.
Courtney, his father owned a construction company and his mom, Rebecca was a social worker when their son turned the family's life into a whirlwind. It was just a coincidence that they were living in a state that houses The International Tennis Hall of Fame, but this smallest New England State wasn't the ideal place to have warm, sunny tennis playing weather all year round.
Jared had even tried his hand in the stock market when he was in the 4th grade, quite uncanny for a 9 year old to want to discover. He says of him plunging in was that "I didn't really get into it because I was that greedy.
It was because of my desire to always do things bigger and better...I eventually realized I was kind of an amateur...so I got out". He utilized the indoor courts in Rhode Island until he and his family did their research and found Buenos Aires, Argentina the place to be for training on the red clay courts of the region to develop his tennis skills and techniques.
He was introduced to an Argentinian coach, Pablo Biachi, once he was there who guided him. Jared's parents took turns being with him in this Latin American country, where many tennis players call home. He spent over 2 years there and when back in the States, Donaldson chose Taylor Dent to become his coach.
Taylor, an accomplished former tennis player who retired in 2010 but was known for his blasting serve and volley game that was well known throughout his tennis career. The Dent Tennis Academy, an acknowledge stepping stone for beginning pros, Dent and his family run the center and says that "Jared has a very balanced game, and that's how modern tennis is going".
He didn't play much junior tennis but did hit the Challengers, a trek necessary for all beginning pro tennis players. He entered the USTA Boys 18 National Championship and made it to the finals gathering more technique and talents on being a pro tennis player.
In 2013, he made the US Open final qualifying rounds and then went to Turkey and US Futures, gathering 3 straight Future titles in June 2014. Jared also received wildcards into the Singles and Doubles at the US Open but lost in straight sets to the more accomplished Gael Monfils.
The experience boosted up his confidence that he could play a top ranked ATP player and from there went on the following year of 2015 to win his 1st title at a Challenger level winning the 2015 Royal Lahaina Challenger in Maui, Hawaii.
This title not only gave his confidence a great rise but also his ranking which was not propelled into the top 200 ATP rankings. He also won his 1st doubles titles at the same tournament with a comrade Stefan Kozlov. Donaldson was on a roll and the next month, February 2015 he entered and won his 1st ATP title at the 2015 Memphis Open, over Kozlov, who he'd last month won doubles with.
Jared also won matches in Newport, Atlanta and his 1st Masters 1000 level in Cincinnati. The Grand Slams serve as a springboard to gathering his skills and techniques and the French he go to the 3rd round of qualifying, Wimbledon he went to the 1st round of qualifying and The US Open up to the 1st round in the main draw.
This year (2016) have proven to be very busy for Donaldson who had decided to play much of what he can qualify for. He went to the 1st of the qualifying at the Australian Open where he lost to another young hopeful, Frances Tiafoe.
At Indian Wells he went up against Vasek Pospisil to lose in the 1st round of a 3 setter. The Miami Open he'd gotten into the 2nd qualifying round and at that point are cooling his heels in Challengers to gather ground with his confidence and to tone up his game to prepare for the next ATP tournament.
Jared is geared to dig his feet deeply into acquiring better tennis strategies, meeting up with other comrades and to continue climbing his game up to a higher better ranking for future events. Also Read: What's Roger Federer's best shot?
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