Home

The following is an excerpt from Paul Bauman's article "Waiting for a big break" (first printed Sunday, July 1, 2007)

The Phenom

Michael McClune eventually could follow Roddick and Blake into the top 10 and win Grand Slam titles.

McClune, a 17-year-old Irvine resident, turned pro last month and signed an endorsement contract with Nike. He is contractually forbidden to disclose the amount but said it allows him to travel to tournaments for "quite a few years."

No one around McClune wants to put pressure on him and predict stardom. However, he is keeping some fast company.

One of McClune's coaches is Fresno's Brad Stine, who coached Jim Courier to No. 1 in the world in 1992 and 1993. McClune's agent is Olivier Van Lindonk, who also handles top-10 player and former Capital Nicole Vaidisova for sports management giant IMG. In April, McClune practiced with Pete Sampras at the tennis legend's Beverly Hills mansion.

 McClune, 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds, has a prototypical modern game with a blistering serve and forehand. He's working on his volley.

"His serve and forehand are both big weapons more than capable of doing damage at the top levels of the game," Stine said.

That, however, is probably two or three years away. McClune lost in the second round in Loomis and first round in Natomas, each time to fellow American prospect Scoville Jenkins, 20.

"He should have beaten me in Loomis," Jenkins said, referring to the 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 decision. "I've seen him for the past year, and his game has gotten better and better."

When asked how high McClune could go in the rankings, Jenkins said "really, really high" but wouldn't be more specific.

McClune, who took last week off, is ranked No. 613. Stine said McClune tends to be shy, but the teenager was adamant about his goal.

"Obviously, to make it to No. 1," he said during the $15,000 Trius Technologies Futures at the Natomas Racquet Club. "In the near future, I hope to reach the top 300 by the end of the year and play in Australian Open qualifying (in January). I'm taking it one step at a time, trying to work my way up the rankings and improve my game."

Like Vaidisova, a leggy, 18-year-old blonde, McClune could be a marketing force. He has striking blue eyes.

"We feel Michael has the attributes to make an impact on the international tennis scene both on and off the court," Van Lindonk wrote in an e-mail.

for the full story, see the sacbee.com article here