The executioner of Alcaraz at Roland Garros 2019 takes refuge in the NCAA at 23 years old

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The case of Toby Kodat serves as a magnificent example of how tremendously difficult it is to translate the expectations generated in the junior category into professionalism. The American, who reached 4th place in the junior world rankings and was a finalist at Roland Garros 2019 after defeating Carlos Alcaraz, has decided to make a radical turn in his career at the age of 23: he will play college tennis with NC State.

The decision is particularly striking due to his age. Recent rule changes have opened new possibilities for experienced professional players to join NCAA, and Kodat aims to take advantage of them to find a different environment from which to rebuild himself after many challenging years.

A final resort to reconcile with tennis

His professional career has been completely conditioned by injuries and the inability to compete consistently. Kodat managed to reach around the 340th position in the rankings during the last season, but his inactivity has caused him to plummet to approximately 1200th in the world, far from being able to pursue a sustainable career on the circuit.

At 23, Toby Kodat is heading to college tennis. He signed with NC State.

He could never compete regularly. A career plagued by injuries. He was 340th last year and now around 1200th.

He defeated Alcaraz at Roland Garros Junior 2019 (a tournament where he made the final). pic.twitter.com/vjRmTSickl

— Ariel Fernández (@AFD7L) July 25, 2026

The contrast with his youth is significant. In Roland Garros junior 2019, he reached the final after defeating Alcaraz during the tournament, who would later change the history of tennis. Kodat also reached the fourth position in the junior world rankings, credentials that allowed envisioning a much more successful transition to professionalism.

However, each career follows different paths. His enrollment at NC State at 23 years of age can be seen as a final attempt to reconnect with tennis as a way of life, but also as an opportunity to relieve pressure, regain consistency, and rediscover the joy of competing.

He is still young to definitively close any doors. The talent he displayed remains part of him, but now he needs something much more basic: health, matches, and confidence. NCAA offers Kodat a different context to try to find them.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El verdugo de Alcaraz en Roland Garros 2019 se refugia en la NCAA a los 23 años