This is one of twelve excerpts from an exclusive interview with Nick Chappell at the 2022 Columbus Fall Challenger.
They will be posted over time in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Tennis Acumen: Now, making the transition from college to the tour. What was that transition like ?
Nick Chappell: It took me a little while before I made a little breakthrough. It took me about a year, I guess, on tour before I made it to the finals in a couple of Futures tournaments. That got me into a few more Challengers. But it took about a year for that to happen. And I am trying to think of what really made the difference, coming out of college. Maybe I put a little too much pressure on myself right away. It took me a little while to get out of my own way on the tour. I actually played better in the team environment than coming out and going solo. Now it doesn't matter. I can't even remember what that felt like because it's so long ago. But immediately out of college, it was weird going from a team environment with a lot of people supporting you and playing for something bigger than yourself, and then coming out on and playing individual matches. That was a little bit of a letdown. The atmosphere isn't quite the same. Even at these tournaments, there are matches where you play with fans. But, on average, it's not quite the same environment as a team college atmosphere.
Tennis Acumen: Bigger crowds at college. as opposed to, say, breaking into Futures.
Nick Chappell: Yes. Oh, Futures especially. Yes. Yes.
Tennis Acumen: And do crowds affect you when you're on court?
Nick Chappell: Yes. I wish I could play in front of a huge crowd every time. I love playing in front of people.
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