Chatting with Adam Walton, the Aussie underdog that wouldn't be denied his pro tennis dream

Adam Walton didn't exactly have a concrete plan.

After a standout career for the Tennessee Volunteers in college, the Australian wasn't sure what the future held for him. All Walton knew was that he wasn't ready to give up the game, and he figured he had some more of himself to give to tennis.

That was back in 2022. Now, Walton's story has become one of perserverance, dedication, a refusual to accept the limitations people put on others. Walton started his journey with zero ranking points, and in two short years has broken into the Top 100.

He joined the Inside-In Podcast to discuss his unlikely path from undesireable to undeniable, and why he's staying level headed in his pursuit of tennis excellence.

Walton played college tennis at the University of Tennessee, where he started his career on the fourth doubles pairing. Just a few years later he was an NCAA doubles national champion, and an All-American several times over. Still, the pro game was a distant pipe dream, especially since he had zero ranking points to speak of.

"I was chatting to Woody (Tennessee head tennis coach Chris Woodruff), whether I should actually go and play pro tennis. And he's like, 'If you don't at least try, you're gonna regret it the rest of your life,'" Walton recalls. "And so I was like alright, I'll give it the summer and see how it goes."

He tried to sign into tournaments unsuccessfully, before finally getting an alternate spot into qualifying at a Futures event in Waco, Texas. It was the piece of good fortune Walton needed.

"I ended up winnning that draw, which then because I made the final, got me a special exemption into Cancun, Mexico. That night I was on a flight to Mexico, never been to Mexico in my life, and played another future there and was able to win that."

He's like, 'If you don't at least try, you're gonna regret it the rest of your life.' And so I was like alright, I'll give it the summer and see how it goes. Walton on the decision to play pro tennis

It takes relentless dedication and more personal sacrifices than most people can fathom to succeed in pro tennis, but Walton has been up for the task, traveling all around the globe in search of victories and opportunities that will enhance and improve his standing in tennis. He has competed in 90 matches in the last year alone, winning 60 of them. Both totals are the most by any player on the Challenger tour, and proof his commitment to the cause.

Tennis is full of highs and lows, but Walton's shown tremendous maturity in rolling with the punches and not getting too high or low based on a result.

"There's a saying in tennis that goes, winning is contagious but so is losing. Unfortunately when you have a few losses in a row, you perhaps become a bit more desparate on the court to try and get that winning feeling again," the Aussie said. "But when it's winning, everything is flowing. You don't even have to think, it's almost cognitive how it's happening."

Walton understands that only one winner will be crowned at each event, so he's able to process a defeat and continue his development as a player. "I'm pretty good with my losses, and it's straight back to work to try and prepare for the next one."

Walton had been knocking on the door of several career milestones when everything came together in one enormous and pressure-filled opportunity this year. He faced veteran Illya Marchenko in the final of the Taipei Challenger with a chance to reach the Top 100 of the ATP rankings for the first time—while also needing the win to secure direct entry into his first Wimbledon main draw. The stakes were as high as ever, but Walton rose to meet them.

"I talked to the tennis psychologist at Tennis Australia, and we went through how to stay calm during a match and trying to focus on the match as much as possible, rather than the outcome." Walton explained. He weathered his opponent's best stuff early, and got to a decisive third set tiebreaker with everything on the line. "I just played a really disciplined tiebreak and he missed a couple of shots by very close margins."

As Marchenko's final shot sailed wide, Walton fell to the court in full jubliation, having checked off several professional goals in the same euphoric moment. "When he hit that final ball out, it's probably the most satisfying feeling I've had on a tennis court thus far."

Walton took the road less traveled in professional tennis. He decided to pursue a dream with a high degree of difficulty, and he never stopped working until he got there.

In this episode of the Inside-In Podcast, Walton discusses how he's adjusted to life on the road, why working with a sports pyschologist is a real resource, and why he does not set goals that are based on results. There's no rest for the weary, and the grind continues for Walton each week there is tennis to be played. A Top 100 ranking is a tremendous achievement, but it's not the Australian's destination.

Stay tuned to see where tennis takes Adam Walton, and keep doubting him at your own peril.