by Marcia Frost
Q: Brett, I can't seem to find much information on your junior tennis career, where have you been hiding?!
A: "I didn't play the Nationals, I did play the 16s Easter Bowl and I got third in singles and second in doubles. Other than that, I've been playing some Texas tournaments and ATPs and I played at a couple of ITFs this year. My ITF ranking has kind of dropped, though. (Brett was not ranked by the ITF in singles before the US Open.)"
"I haven't been playing a whole bunch of juniors like all these other guys. I haven't been traveling and going to a lot of ITF tournaments -- it's too much money. I just play what I have to play to meet my requirements. I played doubles at Kalamazoo with Brendan and we won, but I didn't meet my requirements to play singles. I had played too many 18s tournaments and not enough 16s.
Q: What are your goals? Are you considering college?
Brett: "I played the Futures this Summer and I didn't get any points so I don't have an ATP ranking. There's no point in going pro if I can't get enough points. At least, right now, unless I make a big jump, I will go play college for at least a couple of years and see how I'm doing. My dad played on the tour and then he coached the Jensens (Luke & Murphy). He knows what you've got to play like to make it."
Q: Is there any college in particular you are looking at?
Brett: "I like (Texas) A&M. I know the coach real well and I like there. That's really the only visit I took because I'm real close to there."
Q: Brendan, What are your plans? I know you've had agents on top of you this week (at the US Open). Are you thinking of turning pro?
Brendan: "No, No! I'm no where near that. I want to be a pro in the future, definitely. I've got a long way to go until then."
Q: I guess you are not thinking too much about college since you are only 15?
Brendan: "No."
Q: So how do the two of you feel about the US Open Boys Doubles Finals?
Brett: "Fired Up!"
Brendan: "Very, very excited!
Though they lost in the finals, Brendan & Brett not only stayed "Fired Up" throughout the match, but they smiled and appreciated their second place trophy more than any other finalists I have ever seen..
For more about Brett Joelson & Brendan Evans' matches at the US Open, see our 2001 US Open page
