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From Atlanta to New York and back
The rise and fall of Scoville Jenkins
richardkent@blackathlete.com •
View all articles by Richard Kent, BASN Staff Reporter
POSTED: Jul 26, 2010
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Scoville Jenkins is now the former tennis pro from Atlanta. He showed so much promise in the tennis world at the age of 17. He captured the Boys' National Hard Court title and was ticketed for bigger things by the USTA.
Jenkins is an amazing athlete. At age 19, he played a very strong match against now world No. 1 Rafael Nadal at the U.S. Open. He was a big crowd favorite in New York.
This year, Jenkins won't even be attempting to qualify for the Open in August. Instead, he will be on the campus of Kennesaw State as an assistant tennis coach under T.J. Greggs.
Jenkins was once ranked as high as No. 187 in the word, but fell to 535 in 2010. Many in the tennis world felt that he was oh so close, but just couldn't get over the hump in matches against higher ranked players.
Jenkins seemed very enthused this Summer playing for the New York Buzz of World Team Tennis. He was often the featured men's tennis player for the Buzz in the unique format of World Team Tennis and his game -- especially his volley -- seemed strong.
At one point in time, many felt that Jenkins and
Donald Young would be the future of U.S. tennis, replacing James Blake and Andy
Roddick.
Not so.
Blake is near retirement, Roddick is still the No. 1
American, Young is floundering and Jenkins just recently announced his
retirement. John Isner is on his way to the top of American tennis.
Hopefully Jenkins will find more success in the
world of college coaching and maybe will get the desire again to attempt a
comeback on the ATP Tour.
After the Buzz season ended, Jenkins' career came
to an end at the age of 24.
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richardkent@blackathlete.com
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