Status: ITA 2011 All American in singles at University of Tennessee. ATP #283. Has Challenger wins this year over Dudi Sela, Michael Yani, Alex Bogdanovich, Mitchell Frank, and Rik DeVoest.
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 177
DOB: March 21, 1991 In: Knoxville, TN
First Tennis Memory: “My grandfather (Mike DePalmer Sr.) and my mother (Michelle DePalmer Williams) feeding me balls down in Bollettieri in Bradenton, Florida. Both were coaches, they taught me tennis, they taught me everything I know.”
Tennis Inspirations: “My whole family. They’re all huge tennis people. Everyone grew up playing tennis, my sisters, my cousins. They’re my inspirations.”
Last Book Read: “Harry Potter, the last one.”
Current Car: “Dodge Durango.”
Nickname: “Rhyno.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “I would say getting to do the Davis Cup in Monte Carlo (2012), for hitting partner.”
Most Painful Moment: “Never had any injuries.”
Favorite Tournament: “U.S. Open.”
Closest Tennis Friend(s): “My cousin – he’s my coach and cousin – Christopher Williams.”
Funniest Players Encountered: “Marinko Matosevic – pretty goofy guy. I think Andy Murray is a great guy and funny guy as well. Dry humor [smiles].”
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: “French Open junior, first round, I was up 6-3 5-2 with about seven or eight match points on my serve. And I ended up losing. (To who?) Couldn’t tell you.”
Funny Tennis Memory: “College tennis, winning the SEC tournament and just having a great party in the locker room.”
First Famous Tennis Player You Ever Met Or Encountered: “Roger Federer. (Where?) In Cincinnati. That was five years ago. He actually needed a practice partner. So I was out there hitting with him. And he’s just a great guy. It was a blast.”
Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: “Baseball.”
Three Athletes You Like To Watch And Follow: “Roger. I love Roger. Chipper Jones. And Michael Phelps.”
People Qualities Most Admired: “I’m more of a laid-back guy. I like hanging out with people that are relaxed and low-strung.”
Scoop Malinowski · August 22, 2012 at 6:13 pm
Williams beat Vasek Pospisil in the first round of US Open qualies yesterday, also won a Futures in Spain earlier this year.
Dan Markowitz · August 22, 2012 at 7:20 pm
He doesn’t know who he lost to in the French Open Jrs. Kind of strange.
Scoop Malinowski · August 23, 2012 at 1:04 am
Think he totally blocked out that loss Dan. That’s a kind of loss you don’t want to remember, seven or eight match points on his own serve – that is one heckuva fightback.
Dan Markowitz · August 23, 2012 at 3:17 am
No, I think you’re right, Scoop. But is it really possible to block out who you lost to in a slam juniors? Maybe so, and maybe that’s the right tact to take, just forget everything about the match.
I looked up Rhyne Williams’s record this year and it’s okay, but at 21, and ranked No. 283, his chances of moving into the Top 50 are slim, I’d think. He won a Futures and got to a Challenger quarters. He beat Dudi Sela and Oliver Patience, can you believe that guy’s still playing at 32? But realistically, Williams has to pick it up else he’s going to be a Challenger player.
Patrick · August 24, 2012 at 2:27 am
Dan,
He does need to pick it up, but he has the game to be a top 50 player. He won a futures tourney at age 16. he had many battles with Ryan Harrison in Juniors with the general consensus being that Williams was the more gifted player but lacked the on-court savvy and smarts of Harrison.
Why his game didn’t continue in a steady upward progression from age 16 till now is a question I can’t answer. But he’s often shown flashes of top 50 game — he beat Raonic in a futures event a couple years back and really should have beaten Harrison in 2011 Aussie wildcard qualies (or whatever it was called) — but hasn’t been able to consistently produce his best game.
I’ve followed Rhyne because I’m a UT grad, and I’d like to see him do well. One thing I’ve noticed is the variance in his in-match play. What I mean by that is that it isn’t uncommon for him to lose a match in which he won one of the sets like 6-1. I just keep an eye on his results, and so I have no idea whether the thing preventing him from reaching his obviously high ceiling is mental or related to fitness. But I do think his ceiling is high.
I wish him luck in his next match.
Andrew Miller · August 24, 2012 at 3:33 am
Dan, I think some of the college players might have a chance at top 100, this kid possibly also. Steve Johnson will probably crack top 100. My question: who will do better in the next five years – solid college players that are more mature, or the juniors who skipped college? It used to be a no brainer: don’t go to college. But in an era where tennis is favoring knowledge and physicality, maybe some of the college players will break the top 100.
We have a few players to test the theory now. You have Isner, who serves out of a tree (he is awful special – there aren’t many Isners). Somdev Devvarmen, who has a clever game but has slipped significantly as of late. This kid. Steve Johnson. Bradley Klahn.
Who knows? Will Kudla and Sock ultimately be better? Maybe. Will Johnson and Klahn have their day sooner then fade sooner? Who knows. Point is – we have a few U.S. “tennis generations” since Roddick hit the tour that have washed out – and not for bad reasons. But despite the talent, they are no longer. The best new U.S. player? Brian Baker (an amazing story, but also a story that makes a fan look at the other U.S. players and say what the heck? If he can do it, why aren’t they?)
Call me crazy, but I think now’s the best time to see if the theory that college players can’t make it is true or false. I think the game favors knowledge and tennis maturity – college doesn’t guarantee it. But it’s debatable whether it is now a drawback for players’ careers.
Who knows. You have a crop of U.S. players in the 200s and 300s of the ATP rankings who are pretty young, 20 or so, and who have made some headway in one year on tour. So maybe they’ll get a crack at top 100 also.
Who knows. Who knows.
Scoop Malinowski · August 24, 2012 at 3:58 am
I saw Rhyne beat Golubev in the first set tiebreak. He looks like a top 50 player is right. Reminds me of a mix of Ginepri and Hewitt. Moves very well, very consistent, looks like he can trade shots all day, very nice smooth flowing form. Golubev looked like he expected to roll Rhyne. Williams impressed me a lot. He could be coming into his own now. One more to go. Jack Sock was there watching the first set BTW.
Dan Markowitz · August 24, 2012 at 9:45 am
Welcome to the site, Patrick. One of my favorite UT players around the Todd Martin college-era was Brice Karsh, a No. 1 from Tennessee. He had so much talent, and was a great-looking kid. His father badly wanted him to be a pro, he’d been to Bollettieri with the Agassi’s…He went out I remember to play Satellites, but he just didn’t have the desire. He didn’t want the life, but he was talented.
Of course, I believe Paul Annacone went to Tennessee. I like Williams, though. I didn’t know he had such a stellar background. I’ll be out to watch him play today.
Patrick · August 24, 2012 at 10:14 pm
Paul Annacone did go to Tennessee. Chris Woodruff as well. Woodruff is now an assistant coach for the Vols.
I’m looking forward to seeing Williams in the main draw. He had some nice results in qualies.
Andrew Miller · August 25, 2012 at 1:14 am
Brad Klahn, comin’ right back at ya – main draw. Kosakowski didn’t make it – he left UCLA after 1 year. In the clips on youtube I’ve watched, he stands just a step behind the baseline (in comparison to another UCLA player, who keeps moving left and right along the baseline and forward and back and is working way harder than Kosakowski).
Who knows. I like the efficiency of game. Some of these players hit a nice ball without making it look hard. I think that’s a good foundation for a player – being in the right spot because of footwork.
Gans · August 26, 2012 at 1:07 pm
What an interesting story…….These are hard-working individuals who wants to do their best…..true heroes regardless he wins in his first round match or not.
We met the Bakers at Cincinnati. Brian’s mom and aunt were so nice. Brian posed for a picture with my kid and signed autograph.
I hope Brian can make some noise at the Open.
Patrick · August 27, 2012 at 1:22 pm
I sometimes contribute to a Tennessee sports blog — http://www.rockytoptalk.com — and I was thinking about doing a little write-up on Williams. Would it be okay for me to use this image of Williams?