A grad among the pros

By Max J. Dickstein, amNewYork Sports Editor | mdickstein@am-ny.com

August 25, 2008

Sam Warburg, one of just two men in the U.S. Open singles field of 128 who has a four-year college degree. (Max Dickstein)

Sam Warburg reckons he is one of just two men in the U.S. Open singles field of 128 who has a four-year college degree.

"I think it's trending towards not going to college, which personally I think is a mistake," the 24-year-old said Monday; he graduated from Stanford in 2005. The wild-card entrant, ranked 15th in the U.S. and 169th in the world, faces Serbian counterpuncher Janko Tipsarevic in the first round tomorrow.

"Being in college -- and having to cram for a test and fulfill your fraternity obligations and be at practice at 6 a.m. and give it your all -- are life lessons that can relate definitely over to a 30-40 break point in the fifth set," said Warburg, the 2004 NCAA doubles champion. "It's just going to make you a little tougher."

American juniors, both boys and girls, face a crossroads at age 18 -- whether to turn professional, get sponsored and make some money (if they haven't already) or take advantage of a scholarship, weaker NCAA competition and the life of a student.

Players such as 20-year-old Californian Sam Querrey, now ranked 55th, take their precocious skills straight to the pros.

Others, such as two-year Harvard man James Blake (the ninth seed here), dip into college NBA player-style, then join the elite.

Only a few, such as Warburg, Illinois' Ryler DeHeart and Georgia's John Isner, stay all four years (of those three U.S. Open entries, only Warburg and DeHeart earned diplomas).

Warburg majored in communications and will likely pursue an on-air broadcasting career after he¹s done playing.

Zach Dailey, a Vanderbilt graduate who met Warburg in college, is coaching Warburg this week; his day job is at a Memphis, Tenn. brokerage. 'I think you¹re a much more mature person and player when you come out of college than if you come out at as a 17-year-old kid," Dailey said.

"OLD COLLEGE TRIES"

How the three U.S. Open men's singles entrants who spent four years in a U.S. college have fared so far:

John Isner (Georgia) lost 7-6, 6-4, 7-6 yesterday to Andreas Beck

Ryler DeHeart (Illinois) beat Olivier Rochus 7-6, 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Sam Warburg (Stanford) plays 45th-ranked Janko Tipsarevic tomorrow

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