Former University tennis standout Tom Chicoine is a hit single.
Since breaking into the ATP Tour rankings — at No. 1,093 — early last July, Chicoine’s ascent to his current position at No. 256 is the by-product of a player determined to take himself to new heights.
Not that he is an out-of-nowhere phenom. From 1995 to 1999, Chicoine compiled a 114-64 record for the Gophers, making him winningest singles player in school history.
“He may be the best tennis player Minnesota ever had,” Chicoine’s former coach David Geatz said.
Even so, how does a solid college player take himself from unranked status to one position behind the legendary Boris Becker (who comes in at 255)?
It started with a snub.
“Coming out of college I really received no money or support from the United States Tennis Organization,” Chicoine said.
Strapped financially, and with nothing else to do but win, Chicoine started doing just that. He made his way through the lower-ranked tournaments around the country, and his notoriety grew.
“I was really determined to do well,” Chicoine said. “No one gave me anything.”
Chicoine now enjoys some financial support from the USTA and is setting his sights on an even bigger prize — a berth in Wimbledon later this month.
If he wins his way through the tournament qualifier, a total of three matches held in England, Chicoine will find himself playing amongst the world’s best.
“It would be great,” Chicoine said. “I’ve never been to Wimbledon or London before.”
In preparation for his trip across the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday, Chicoine got back to the basics of his success.
While a back injury kept him out of a tournament in Denver recently, Chicoine is working out with Geatz locally.
The formula is a proven one.
Chicoine points to a period two summers ago when he sought the assistance of Geatz in the offseason as a key in his development.
Though Chicoine was fresh off a junior season in which he went undefeated in three matches at the NCAA Region IV tournament and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, Geatz encouraged him to ratchet his game up even more.
The persuasive coach got more than he bargained for.
“He came out and bugged me to work out every single day,” Geatz said. “The guy wore me out.”
“There’s no mystery as to why Tom got better, he just worked at it.”
The results of Chicoine’s dedication led to his second 30-win collegiate season, a second-straight All-Big Ten honor, and the installation of a sound mental approach to each match.
“People know when they play me they’re in for a tough match,” Chicoine said. “If I lose, the other guy’s going to have to fight the whole match.”
As he prepares to win the matches that will allow him to grace the grass courts of Wimbledon, Chicoine takes with him the hunger of an up-and-coming professional, coupled with a strong endorsement from the coach who knows him well.
“I don’t know how far the guy could go,” Geatz said. “He’s went a heck of a lot further than anybody ever thought he could go.”

David La Vaque welcomes comments at [email protected]