GoPro: On turning pro, and Frances Tiafoe

If there is anything American tennis fans are sick of hearing about, it’s the lack of American tennis talent on the men’s side. Can teenage prodigy Frances Tiafoe finally solve the problem?

In 2013 at age 15, Tiafoe became the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious Orange Bowl and was the No. 2-ranked junior in the world. On the USTA Pro Circuit this year, he shot up to No. 292 in the world rankings after starting at No. 1,136. The 17-year-old’s recent results on the Pro Circuit (three finals and one title) have earned him a main-draw wildcard into this year's French Open.

Last month, the Maryland native decided to turn pro, and became the first tennis player to sign with Roc Nation, the agency headed by music icon Jay-Z. Last spring, when I interviewed Tiafoe for Tennis Tuesday, he wasn’t looking for an agency “unless something big comes up,” and would decide on going pro at 18.

What changed? To be fair, Jay-Z is pretty big, and Tiafoe’s potential could be the Holy Grail for U.S. tennis.

But at a time when just three teenagers reside in the ATP Top 100, should Tiafoe have turned pro at such a young age? Right now, everything is going smoothly for him, and the temptation to roll the dice on becoming a millionaire that lifts both Grand Slam trophies and America’s hopes was surely huge. The hype will only intensify if Tiafoe continues his upward path.

A teenager is susceptible to immeasurable pressures and influences, especially in tennis’ lonely environment. Who’s really calling the shots here? Parents, coaches, peers and friends could have all played a role in his decision-making process. Tiafoe surely knew he would have been the hottest commodity in the nation come senior signing week.

But he also knew that choosing the college route hasn’t proven to be the most promising choice for aspiring pros. Although there are a number of alums in the ATP ranks, the only current college-educated players boasting solid singles careers are John Isner and Kevin Anderson. That said, there are a lot of prodigies that turned pro early and fizzled. Look at Donald Young, who was touted as the next great American when he was just 15, and Ryan Harrison, whose promising career has been dampened by injuries.

When I was 16, the professional route was very loudly calling my name. From the age of four, I was filled with a single-minded, stubborn belief that I would be a professional tennis player. Yet, instead of pulling the trigger, I held off.

As the prospect of turning pro got closer, the realities set in—the financial commitment, the hours of practice, the numerous sacrifices and the travel schedule. By the time I turned 18, I was tired of the grind and frustrated with failing to put together the right formula and the right team for success. I ended up at UCLA and I’ve had no regrets, for the most part. Maybe if I had whole-heartedly gone for the tour by eliminating any other option, things would have been different.

Will Tiafoe regret making the decision so soon? Maybe, maybe not. This we know: He’s taken single-mindedness to the max by pulling the trigger at 17. Making the leap so early will only add to his expectations, especially in U.S. tennis’ time of need. He has Jay-Z in his corner, but it’s another new ally, USTA coach Jose Higueras, who will be even more critical to his future. Tiafoe has nothing to fall back on now, but the pressure of that could help zone him in on his lifelong dream.

*This story has been edited to include Kevin Anderson, who attended the University of Illinois.