A new country, a new team, and so far from home for the first time. Rohan Chitanand found the move to America exciting, but decided to go for it. After four years of college tennis in Buffalo, New York, he looks back on a period during which he grew both as a tennis player and as a person. In our video interview, he talks about life as a student-athlete, the challenges he faced along the way, and the memories he brought back with him to the Netherlands.
From Interest to Departure
Rohan has been playing tennis since he was five. His interest in college tennis grew when Slamstox visited his tennis academy to talk about opportunities in the United States. They also got in touch through social media: his profile seemed like a good fit for college tennis.
The stories from older players in his training group made him even more curious. They had already taken the plunge and were sharing their experiences. Rohan looked into the possibilities further and ultimately decided to embark on the adventure himself.
That also meant saying goodbye to his familiar surroundings. His parents, friends, and tennis court remained in the Netherlands, while he had to start over on the other side of the world. The first semester, in particular, took some getting used to. As he got to know more people and found his footing, America began to feel more and more like home.
Tennis as a Team Sport
For Rohan, one of the biggest differences compared to the Netherlands was the team spirit. Whereas back home he played a lot of individual tournaments, in the U.S. it was all about the team’s collective performance. The lineup, doubles pairings, and practices were all geared toward what the team needed.
The atmosphere along the court was different, too. Teammates and fans were cheering loudly. It took some getting used to at first, but eventually it became a part of college tennis that he came to appreciate.
Rohan developed his skills primarily in doubles. That hadn’t been his favorite event before he left, but he focused on it a lot in the United States. He also switched from the familiar clay courts to hard courts.
Exercising, studying, and working on campus
Rohan’s week was quite packed. In addition to his studies and tennis practice, he worked on campus at sports events and in the gym. On some days, he started early with strength training and ended with a tennis practice from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.
On weekends, matches or tournaments were regularly on the schedule. Away games meant traveling with the team; Sundays often provided time for recovery and schoolwork.
So planning was important. Rohan explains that his university worked with him when matches conflicted with exams. That coordination helped him balance his sports and studies.
Becoming More Independent, Even When Things Get Tough
Rohan found being far from his parents to be one of his biggest challenges. After a tough game or a difficult moment, he couldn’t just go home. He had to learn to deal with setbacks on his own, with the support of the friends he made in America.
He learned an important lesson from that: you can’t control everything. You can’t always change a coach’s decisions or someone else’s opinion. But you can decide how you react and how much effort you put in yourself.
It was precisely those experiences that made him more independent. That growth continues to help him now that he’s back in the Netherlands.
A Birthday in Times Square
In addition to the practices and matches, college tennis allowed Rohan to make friends with people from different countries and cultures. Traveling together and sharing special moments made the adventure complete.
One memory stands out: his 20th birthday. His team traveled to New York for the ECC Playoffs and celebrated his birthday in Times Square the night before. It was an experience he probably wouldn’t have had in that way if it weren’t for tennis.
Finding Your Footing Again in the Netherlands
After four years in the U.S., Rohan had to adjust once again, this time to life in the Netherlands. The familiar college bubble gave way to a new phase.
He is now pursuing a Master’s in Finance in Amsterdam and plays tennis at Chip & Charge. The hard courts and the atmosphere help him hold on to a piece of his American experience.
His advice to tennis players who are on the fence about college tennis? “Don’t be afraid to take that step.” For Rohan, it marked the beginning of a special adventure outside his comfort zone.
Watch the full video interview with Rohan below and hear about his experience as a student-athlete over the past four years.