Johns to Participate in Inaugural ATP Accelerator Program

DURHAM – Senior Garrett Johns of Duke men’s tennis has been selected to participate in the inaugural accelerator program, which is a collaboration between ATP and Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).
 
The initiative sees ATP Challenger Tour playing opportunities allocated to the highest-ranked ITA college players for the first time.
 
Players ranked in the Top 20 of the ITA final singles rankings who have finished their education are granted up to eight accelerator spots at Challenger 50 and 75 tournaments, with opportunities split between main draw (Top 10) and qualifying (11-20). Players who reach the quarterfinal or better of the individual NCAA Division I Tennis Championship also qualify for the accelerator program if not already eligible via their ITA ranking.
 
Players who remain in education and qualify for the program receive six opportunities over six months (July–December), enabling them to benefit from the program during their college off-season and parts of their individual fall season.
 
Johns, who secured the No. 18 position in the final ITA rankings, concluded the year with a 20-15 overall ledger to earn All-America honors. The Atlanta, Ga., native posted a 14-11 dual record to go along with his 8-11 mark against nationally ranked players. He ranked in the top 20 for the entire dual match season and climbed as high as No. 4 in the ITA rankings. In addition, he was a unanimous first team All-ACC selection.
 
Listed below are the 21 players who qualified for the 2023 ATP Accelerator Program through either ITA year-end rankings or by reaching the NCAA Division I Tennis Singles Championship quarterfinals.
 
PLAYER                    SCHOOL           QUALIFICATION

Eliot Spizzirri           Texas            ITA Rank/NCAA Quarterfinalist

Ethan Quinn               Georgia          ITA Rank/NCAA Quarterfinalist

Arthur Fery               Stanford         ITA Rank/NCAA Quarterfinalist

Ondrej Styler             Michigan         ITA Rank/NCAA Quarterfinalist

Chris Rodesch             Virginia         ITA Rank/NCAA Quarterfinalist

Johannus Monday           Tennessee        ITA Rank

Melios Efstathiou         Wake Forest      ITA Rank

Antoine Cornut-Chauvinc   Florida State    ITA…