Rebel Tennis Player Turning Pro

Lutjen plans on attacking the pro circuit with full force.

Jonas Lutjen (Right) congratulating his doubles partner Nik Scholtz after winning a set against Alabama in the 2013 SEC Tournament. Lutjen graduates from Ole Miss this year and is going on to play professionally in Europe. Photo by Brock Thrift.

For a typical student, graduating from college can be a frightening thing. Expectations are through the roof, debt looms and beginning a career in one’s field of study can be frustrating.

For Jonas Lutjen, graduating with his degree in business is secondary. That’s only because his true field of study isn’t a field at all: It’s a tennis court. When he graduates, Lutjen plans to move back home to Germany to pursue a professional tennis career.

As a teenager, Lutjen was ranked No. 4 on the junior circuit before coming to Ole Miss for the 2009-10 school year.  Lutjen says delaying his career in professional tennis was a good move.

I’ve learned a lot from my college experience here,” Lutjen said.

Ole Miss Tennis Coach Billy Chadwick agrees the All-American has grown a lot.

“He is much better prepared to play the pro circuit today than he was four years ago,” said Chadwick. “He’s very professional, very self-disciplined.”

This year, Lutjen reached a singles ranking of No. 5, his highest as a Rebel, in a season in which he won 28 of 42 matches. Along with his partner, sophomore Nik Scholtz, the pair posted a 17-5 doubles record, finishing the season near the very top of the doubles rankings and earning a No. 3 seed in the NCAA men’s doubles tournament, which takes place in Oxford, starting May 10.

Lutjen says he’s looking forward to the upcoming NCAA tournament matchup against Lehigh, but he’s keeping his last college playoffs in perspective.

“By preparing for the end of my college career, I’m preparing for my life afterwards,” he said.

Coach Chadwick says the future looks good right now for Lutjen.

“There’s a direct correlation between players that are highly-ranked college players and the players that make it on the pro tour,” Chadwick said.

One major difference between collegiate and professional athletics is the lifestyle. While college tennis provides student athletes with a very structured environment, a rigorous and exhausting travel and training schedule can take a lot out of even the most disciplined professional players. Chadwick doesn’t expect that to faze Lutjen one bit.

“He’s planning on attacking his career full force, as he should,” said Chadwick.

Lutjen sees the rigorous professional lifestyle as a challenge, and he relishes the opportunity.

“I’m really looking forward to doing this week after week. You have to play a lot of matches, travel around a lot, it’s going to be really tough, but I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

With friends already in the professional ranks back home, Lutjen also sees a career in tennis as a chance to reconnect with old friends and peers.

Scholtz, who intends to play professionally after his college career as well, looks forward to keeping in touch with Lutjen after he leaves Ole Miss.

“We became good friends and play well together. I am sure we will play a couple of pro events together at some point.”

Coach Chadwick is confident Lutjen will succeed.

“He has a lot of talent, and I feel like his best tennis is in front of him.”

Regardless of what happens on the pro circuit, Chadwick says Lutjen is already ahead.

“He has an advantage that many other players don’t have. He has a degree under his belt.”

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ArF_O8vsryQ

Jonas Lutjen explains what he looks forward to in the coming weeks after graduation.

— Brock Thrift, bjschwar@go.olemiss.edu

Brock is a journalism major in the Meek School of Journalism and New  Media at Ole Miss.