Up and coming NorCal player Rudy Quan has made quite a few headlines this year, but he is not done yet. The 12 year old Sacramento resident had the privilege of being invited to represent the U.S.A. at the Longines Future Tennis Aces Tournament in Paris, France. Taking place during the French Open back in May, USTA NorCal caught up with Rudy to talk about his experience.
All the players with their Longines watches in Paris, France.
How did you hear that you were part of the tournament?
“For winning the 2018 Boys 12 Easter Bowl, I was selected by the USTA to represent the USA in the Longines Future Tennis Aces Tournament in Paris, France.”
Was the trip sponsored?
“Longines sponsored the entire trip. They were so generous. It was an incredible experience.”
Can you explained what the Longines tournament is all about?
“Longines has this tournament every year during the French Open. 20 boys and 20 girls (age 12 and under) from 20 different countries came to Paris to participate in the tournament which is played on a red clay court under the Eiffel Tower!”
Rudy Quan in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
What was the experience like for you?
“It was an experience that I will never forget. I got to compete against some of the top junior players from around the world. I made some great friends from many different countries. It was a lot of fun being in Paris. I’m thankful to the USTA and Longines for the incredible experience.”
Which pro players did you meet?
“Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, and Alex Corretja”.
Did you play on red clay before?
“No, it was my first time.”
What was it like and how different was it for you?
“It was totally different than the hardcourt surface that I typically play on. It’s a lot slower than what I’m used to. But it was a great learning experience playing on red clay”.
How long were you in Paris for?
“One week”
Did you visit any other place?
“We visited different places around Paris. The highlight for me was going to Roland Garros to watch the French Open. It was amazing. We watched Rafael Nadal play against Richard Gasquet. We spent a lot of time around the Eiffel Tower. At the end of the week, we went on a cruise along the Seine River with all of the players. We had a great party. It was a blast!”
What people might not know is that Rudy Quan used this incredible experience and took it into the 2018 USTA National Clay Court Championships. The fierce 12 year old swept the singles and doubles draws, coming home with not one but two Gold Balls! Congratulations Rudy on your latest achievements and good luck for the rest of the year. NorCal is very proud of you!
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