This is Colton Smith, the next big college talent

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The epicenter of tennis falls primarily on the ATP circuit, but always keeping an eye on the Challenger Tour. Today, we talk about Colton Smith, a 21-year-old American who has just achieved the best ranking of his career (#262) after winning his first Challenger title in Cleveland. Born in Washington, Smith is emerging as one of the players to watch in the near future, a player who opted for college tennis.

Colton is currently in his final year at the University of Arizona, and with the Arizona Wildcats, he is gaining incredible recognition in tennis. Thanks to his great performance in Cleveland, Smith now holds the third position in the ITA ranking (college ranking), with a record of 14 wins and 2 losses. Before that, the American started competing in ITF tournaments in the United States back in 2023 until his breakthrough in the Challengers in August 2024 in Lincoln.

His first final came two months later in the Challenger 75 in Sioux Falls, where he showed his great abilities. And he proved himself right, as in his first tournament of 2025, Smith ended up victorious, defeating players like J.J Wolf, who was once world No. 39. It only took him seven participations in these tournaments to reach that glory, which also hints at him being a future name to reckon with on the ATP circuit. Step by step, but this 21-year-old right-hander already boasts a great record of 15-6 in the Challenger Tour, motivating him to keep breaking into the main draws.

The American quickly fell in love with tennis since he first picked up a racket at the age of 5, as his parents are big tennis fans. They instilled in Colton that love for tennis, and he soon went from a hobby to taking lessons at just 8 years old. And how does the American play? He is a well-rounded player who combines his athletic explosiveness with his court intelligence. He has proven to be a great strategist who doesn't rely solely on the power of his shots. In addition, his two-handed backhand is a deadly weapon, and coupled with his powerful serve, he becomes a very challenging opponent. His agility and endurance from the baseline complete a very promising package.

Rural upbringing, key to his character

On the other hand, one of the main traits of his personality is humility. Colton grew up on a farm in Washington, surrounded by nature, which is vital to his focus. Colton is a big fishing enthusiast, and wherever he goes, he tries to escape for some time outdoors: "It's a great reset for me. I have been fishing all my life, and I started hunting when I was about nine years old. I don't know what's so special about hunting or fishing, I think a big part of it is just being able to reconnect with nature. If I'm traveling a lot, and if I can get out and be in touch with nature and feel good again, that's something that has always been very important to me. As long as I keep that balance, I'll have no problem on the Tour," he told ATP.

The young player emerges as one of the names to watch in college tennis and someone who could make the leap to professionalism sooner rather than later. Players like Tommy Paul have already expressed their amazement at the talent of Smith, who stands out not only for his on-court demeanor but also for his calmness and values off the court.

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