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With racquet clinched tight, Shuon Madden hopes to climb into the professional tennis rankings over the next year. Madden has recently begun training for his quest, which will include many trips to Europe.

Pro aspirations

Shuon Madden quits regular day job to pursue career in professional tennis

By: Nikki Knight

Posted: 6/21/04

He was practically born with a tennis racquet in his hand. After moving to the United States from Venezuela as a child, he took up tennis. Ever since he started taking tennis seriously at the age of 15, Shuon Madden knew he wanted to go pro.

Madden, four-time All-American Aggie tennis player and two-year assistant coach, will be stepping down from the A&M men's assistant coach position to pursue his goal.

Before his eligibility expired in 2001, Madden collected two Big 12 Conference Player of the Year awards, All-Big 12 recognition during all four of his years playing for Texas A&M, a national singles ranking of No. 2, four NCAA Doubles Championship showings and three NCAA Singles Championship showings.

As a team member, Madden led the Aggies to four consecutive NCAA Championship appearances and three visits to the round of 16, as well as to three Big 12 Tournament titles and a regular season Big 12 Championship. In 2001, A&M reached the round of eight in NCAA team championships and achieved a national ranking of No. 4. Madden helped keep the team in the top 10 for the entire season.

After his eligibility expired, Madden decided to stay in school and finish his degree, and then he took the assistant coaching position for the men's tennis team at A&M.

"It's been a great ride as a player and as a coach. My mind and body are telling me to go on and take the next venture," Madden said.

Madden's biggest influence at A&M in his playing and coaching careers has been his teammates. He said they developed a close bond and shared incredible experiences together.

Cody Hubbell, former teammate, co-captain and good friend of Madden's shared the same sentiment.

"One of our best moments and times I had was our freshman year when we beat t.u. in the finals of the Big 12 tournament," Hubbell said. "It was the first time we won a championship together. We had no idea what was going on; we were all like little kids."

Hubbell said he can vividly remember every player's reaction, but most importantly he remembers Madden and his confidence.

"The thing that I remember most is that the guy had no fear. Even when he was a freshman, he didn't fear guys who were older; he had this killer instinct."

Off the court, Madden said the biggest influence would have to be his parents. Having moved from a foreign country, his parents sacrificed much for the family and never showed signs that things weren't always running smoothly.

A&M men's head tennis coach Tim Cass wishes Madden well and will be closely following his results.

"I can't say enough about the job that Shuon has done for our program," Cass said. "His standard of excellence and work ethic on and off the court is extraordinary. He has done a tremendous amount for A&M both as a player and as a coach."

Madden said he will focus on his conditioning and training before going to Eastern Europe in August to begin playing six weeks of future-level tournaments.

In October, Madden hopes to return home to the United States to play future-level tournaments in Texas and Louisiana. He will use November and December for training to help prepare for the spring and summer season. He will then go to Central America in January and to India in February. He then hopes to return to Eastern Europe by the second half of next year.

Madden said he plans to advance through the three levels of professional tennis: Futures, Challengers and the ATP Tour. He will accomplish this by accumulating award points, and he hopes it will happen after about 16 months of Futures play.

Madden's ultimate goal is to become one of the top 120 to 150 players in the world consistently, which is the elite. He said the level of play doesn't change much from there on up.

"I plan to put it in God's hands and see how high I can go from there," Madden said.

Madden said it was no single moment, but a series of events that led him to believe he could excel at the sport.

"Now it's time to put that dream to the test. I think at some point later in my life I'll end up back in College Station, but I think right now it's time for me to take this challenge head on."