Sweeting Faces Choice....Again
After winning the US Open boys championship last year, Ryan Sweeting had to decide whether to begin college or embark on a pro career. He decided to go to the University of Florida in January, and was there less than two months when he was charged with DUI and drug possession, and suspended from school. Charlie Bricker of the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel has followed this saga closely, and he caught up up with Sweeting in New York, where he is preparing for his match against Guillermo Coria.
I don't have any inside information on which way Sweeting is leaning. The $5000 he earned for defeating Justin Gimelstob at the Legg Mason last month pales in comparison to the $16,500 that goes to a first round loser in the U.S. Open main draw. There's no question that Sweeting has had a great summer, but it's also true that he has some unfinished business at the University of Florida. It may depend on his match with Coria, a former world no. 3, who has fallen far enough to be unseeded, but was a US Open quarterfinalist last year. A win or a close loss could change his direction, but if Sweeting gets thumped as he did by Arnaud Clement at the Legg Mason, I suspect he'll be in Gainesville again.
6 comments:
Everyone has gotten on this kid since he was arrested. They think that since he drinks or does drugs that he is not serious enough to be a pro or that he should not be getting these wildcards into pro events for his behavior. The fact is that the kid has talent. Did anybody see the new Inside Tennis magazine that had a page with a bunch of Andre Agassi quotes? "I could drink Jack Daniels without stopping. In the Bollettieri Academy, it was tougher to get away with, but I enjoyed it just because you weren't supposed to. I smoked pot, oh sure." And that was followed by Nick Bollettieri saying, "When I had Andre for six and one-half years, my main job was to keep him out of jail." I don't think anyone can argue with how his career turned out. I have seen drinking at tournaments before, even from top USTA players. The reality is that junior tennis players are teenagers too. Partying is a huge part of american culture today. You cannot blame Ryan Sweeting for one mistake that he made. He has proven that he was the game to succeed by beating Gimelstob a couple weeks ago. I hope he puts up a good showing against Coria and can prove to all of his doubters that he is legit.
He was arrested with prescription adderal that some people take to help them study. Barely a drug.
As a parent of one of ryan's compatriots iknow this young man - he most definitely is a great kid and has learned immensely from the mistake earlier this year - and I credit him for learning from misjudgements and working hard. Life's all about learning and how you bounce back from setbacks - in tennis and in life. I think this kid's a winner in every way - on and off the court
I would investigate your claims before you make such bold statements Austin. Adderal is a serious drug. It has caused deaths and can seriously affect your heart. It is not simply a pill to help you study.
-Manuel
I've taken it for over a decade, I know what it does.
this kid is really talented and probably good enough to make it.the atmosphere at the universities is clearly not condusive to him making it, as it is a constant party atmosphere esp at u of f. its just whether he really wants to try or compromise by going back to school. hes prob 5 years from getting a degree and by that time will be over the hill for tennis. tough choice.
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