Ryan Shane and his one-handed backhand are ready to take on the pro tour

NEW YORK—Steve Johnson is only 26, but there’s already a younger version of him in his rearview mirror (albeit still off in the distance). University of Virginia graduate Ryan Shane just competed in his second U.S. Open, and won a qualifying match to score his first win at a major.

The 22-year-old won the 2015 NCAA Men’s Singles Championship, the same year he helped Virginia win the team title. His singles title earned him a wild card into that year’s U.S. Open, where he fell in the first round to Jeremy Chardy.

“I feel like last year was a little out of place for me, a college kid coming to a Slam like this,” Shane told TENNIS.com. “You’re not sure how to act. You’re not sure if you can scream in between points like you do in college tennis. I think, last year, I didn’t really understand you can act like that and the crowd will get behind you.”

Now he’s got a second Slam under his belt, as well as a college diploma. With those in hand, the goal of playing on the pro tour full-time is taking center stage.

“It’s a complicated transition, I’m not going to lie,” the Virginia native said. “You’re used to playing for a team and [having] everything provided for you. You have a trainer and everything.”

Shane has already been testing the waters on the International Tennis Federation Pro Circuit, and he won two $10,000 titles in 2015—one in singles and one in doubles (with his older brother, Justin).

Justin Shane, two years Ryan’s elder, also played at Virginia before taking a shot at going pro.

“He definitely gave me some pointers,” Ryan Shane said. “He started off alone, with no one. He struggled for a few months and he wasn’t enjoying it, but he got himself a team.”

Building up a team is one of the most critical keys to success after stepping out of the safety bubble that is college. Danielle Collins, Shane’s fellow UVA standout and a recent graduate herself, understands that. She’s taking her time picking the right coach to travel with her.

“It’s a little bit more stressful doing things, like being in charge of your own finances and booking your own flights,” Collins said. “[I’m] doing things I never thought about when I was in school.”

Ryan Shane is lucky that he gets to learn from a family member who’s been through it before. Justin Shane recently retired at just 24 years old, but he’s helped his younger brother by leading the way—both in college and at the next level.

“He actually just quit because he had a pretty bad injury,” Ryan Shane said, “but he was doing a lot better by surrounding himself with the right people, like playing for a team. You can’t just do it on your own. It’s not what you’re used to.”

Ranked a career-high No. 569 after the U.S. Open, Ryan has surpassed his brother’s highest ranking of No. 806. But he still has a long way to go if he wants to be likened to Johnson one day, especially with the wave of American talent ranked ahead of him right now.

“I talk to [Johnson] a lot, actually,” Ryan said. “A coach at UVA, Dustin Taylor, was one of his old coaches, and I told Dustin that Stevie was an idol of mine. A guy came to college and didn’t have a lot of expectations, and just took off right away.”

At the University of Southern California, Johnson won two NCAA singles titles and four team titles.

“I’ll never second-guess my four years in college,” Johnson said at Wimbledon this year. “Everybody’s path is different. You just got to do what’s best for you. If anybody asks me, I’d definitely say college is an option. It’s a very good tool to use.”

It remains to be seen if Shane’s path will lead him to more U.S. Open appearances.

“I talked to [Johnson] a lot my senior year because I struggled a little bit,” Ryan said. “I asked him what to do to transition, so he’s helped me a lot. He’s someone I look up to.”

At 6’4”, Ryan has a huge game, led by a powerful serve and a booming one-handed backhand that he’s been honing most of his life.

“I started playing tournaments when I was about 6,” Ryan said. “From 6 to 10 years old, all I would do is hit a ball and run to the net. So my coach and my dad thought, ‘Maybe he’ll be an all-court player, and we’ll switch him to a one-hander.’”

Ryan has plenty of one-handed champions to look to for inspiration, in case he needs it.

“I had Pete Sampras back when I was really young,” Ryan said. “I started tennis when I was 2 with a little balloon … So Sampras was the player to look up to: one-handed backhand, massive serve, all-court player, winning most Slams at that time.”

The young American is also quick to note Roger Federer’s “unbelievable” backhand and, of course, U.S. Open champion Stan Wawrinka’s signature stroke.

“I love Wawrinka’s, too,” Ryan said. “I think it’s one of the best. He has no fear in it. It’s like a strength. I try to take a little bit from him because he uses it really well.”

The path from college to professional life will be treacherous, but if Ryan can build the right team—and surpass his collegiate success on the pro tour—there’s hope that, some day, his one-hander will become just as famous as Wawrinka’s.