Mackenzie McDonald is paying the college tennis experience forward with a new fund

INDIAN WELLS, Calif.—Mackenzie McDonald is healthy again. Happy again, too. Two weeks ago, at the BNP Paribas Open, the soon-to-be 30-year-old won his first main-draw match at a Masters 1000 tournament in more than a year. Today, he moved one match closer to a spot in the main draw of the Miami Open, advancing in qualifying.

Once as high as No. 37, the currently 101^st-ranked Northern Californian exudes a quiet confidence as we sit down to chat on chairs overlooking Stadium 7 at Indian Wells.

“If I’m healthy,” McDonald says, “I think I’m doing pretty good, because I think my results are gonna speak for myself. I’m grateful to be healthy again right now.

“Once your ranking falls out, it makes it tougher to get back in there, but I’m doing all the little steps I can to get back to where I want to be.”

McDonald’s attitude is relatable to anyone who strives to be their best. His journey, from college tennis star to ATP professional, is an example any aspiring player can connect with.

It’s only fitting, then, that McDonald’s name is part of new initiative from the USTA Foundation: the Mackie McDonald College Fund. The fund provide support for high schoolers looking to continue their academic and athletic pursuits in college, and whose own journeys began through the USTA Foundation’s extensive National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network.

NJTLs began nearly 60 years ago, in part through the work of Arthur Ashe, and today reach over 168,000 young people in underserved communities through educational access, social and emotional learning programs and, of course, tennis.

McDonald, who proudly represents UCLA on tour, has given some of his time to local NJTLs, and quickly became a role model. About a dozen students from East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring, an NJTL in the Bay Area, met McDonald at Indian Wells, asked him questions and snapped selfies. When one asked Mackie who inspired him on this sunny day, he cited the legendary Bruins basketball coach John Wooden.

“[The College Fund] touched on what maybe I could do in the future,” McDonald says. “But I think now with my age and some of the success I’ve had with my career, the timing is perfect. I think it's a strong partnership.”

McDonald estimates that he talks to a fellow Bruin, active or alum, at least once a day. A text chain with over 100 UCLA players keeps his phone buzzing. He’s received plenty of digital congratulations over the years—most notably when he swept the NCAA Division I singles and doubles titles in 2016, and seven years later, when he stunned Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open (in what would be Rafa’s last match in Melbourne Park).

“Sharing stories or talking about, you know, recent stuff with the team keeps it close,” McDonald says of his enduring college ties. “I still think my best friends are from college, teammates.”

The more opportunities we can give to young adults to pursue paths that will set them up for success in the future, the better off our world will be. Mackenzie McDonald

A staunch advocate of the college game, McDonald sees the continued success of grads-turned-pros as evidence for added support. In an open letter he wrote for the announcement the fund last week, McDonald explained why staying in school, when he could have likely turned pro, was one of his best decisions. Working as a team, gathering skills for on and off the court, building relationships and having a safe space to learn from mistakes are qualities inherent to the collegiate experience, and are perhaps non-existent at the cutthroat levels of the sport.

Not that McDonald, or other underclassmen and women, are or should shy away from experiencing tennis’ pinnacle. But as Mackie puts it, preparing for the pros in college might be the best study session of all.

“I think it’s a great avenue for myself, someone that wants to help kids with going to college and opportunities,” McDonald says. “It fits perfectly, so I’m super excited to get it started and really help kids get to college.”

McDonald scaled some impressive heights in his 20s, but believes some of his best is yet to come. Regardless of where his journey leads, part of his legacy is secure, with his name on a program that will help more individuals that he could possibly know.

“I think it’ll be around for a long time and something that’ll just keep growing and growing,” McDonald says of his eponymous college fund. “I think it’s a great opportunity.”