More promising Arab players than ever before are turning to college tennis in the
United States as a lifeline with limited pathways to the pros back home
![How US college tennis is becoming an essential pathway for Arab players](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/ce21f94135f6501e0b3a979f10b25608a736fbc1/0_188_5568_3341/master/5568.jpg?width=1200&height=630&quality=85&auto=format&fit=crop&overlay-align=bottom%2Cleft&overlay-width=100p&overlay-base64=L2ltZy9zdGF0aWMvb3ZlcmxheXMvdGctZGVmYXVsdC5wbmc&enable=upscale&s=61febd24f33744f3daad174537bdf0ec)
There was a time when opting to play college tennis in the US was perceived as giving up on a professional career in the sport, recalls Tunisian Skander Mansouri, who captained Wake Forest to the NCAA team title last year.
But now, the college tennis route is becoming a lifeline for many promising Arab players with limited pathways to the pros back home.