Macababbad Signs with Grand Canyon University
Diordan Macababbad on his US college pathway:
"The biggest factor in my decision to choose Grand Canyon University (GCU) was my initial conversation with Coach Derek Siddiqui. He made me feel welcome to the college program and took a genuine interest in me and my athletic attributes, which led me to want to know more.
GCU’s campus looks appealing, and with the team being inclusive and energetic, I knew I wanted to be a part of it, so that’s where I decided to go.
Attending a U.S. college has been one of my biggest goals for the past few years, and signing with GCU feels like a significant achievement.
Deciding what to do after high school is always the hardest part. Since I wanted to take my tennis career to the next level, the college pathway was something I kept my eye on. I am eager to explore the levels of tennis available in college.
College challenges your independence, exposes you to pressure, and provides the opportunity to work with a variety of professionals, such as S&C coaches, psychologists, nutritionists, tennis coaches, and teammates you spend time with every day.
My ultimate dream is to start competing on pro tours, and I believe that college will help open a path for meto achieve this goal. With the challenges ahead and the support of those around me, I am confident that I will be able to accomplish what I aim to achieve.
My deepest gratitude goes to my parents; without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Their continuous support has been invaluable, as has the support of my sister, who has been there since I started playing tennis.
I also want to extend a huge thank you to my coach, Marc Sophoulis, who has guided me from the end of primary school to the present and beyond. Growing up in his environment has positively impacted me both in tennis and in my personal life. I am grateful to Maribyrnong Sports Academy for providing me the opportunity to travel abroad to play in tournaments during school terms. Additionally, I appreciate MITS for supporting my physical development and future tennis career, and I’m thankful to the Yonex team for providing me with their excellent equipment.
Finally, thank you to the Kooyong Foundation for supporting my tennis journey. I take great pride in representing Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club."
We wish Diordan all the best on his college journey at Grand Canyon University.
