Camino A Jeddah 2024: Luca van Assche | ATP Tour

Luca van Assche: intellectual and mathematician

Get to know the French player better

December 10, 2024

Luca van Assche is forging a unique path on and off the court, combining the demands of professional tennis with his university mathematics studies. And the Frenchman, barely 20 years old, shines in both disciplines.

Although many players choose to rest in their free time, Van Assche chooses to advance his studies at the Paris-Dauphine University. It is common for his online classes to take place between his training sessions, as shown in the new episode of the serial ‘Road To Jeddah’.

“Even if I win 50 Grand Slams, I won’t be playing when I’m 60. That’s why I’ve decided to continue my studies, and I’m enjoying it,” Van Assche said. “It’s difficult to do both but, for now, I’m doing well.”

The #NextGenATP star is charting a career based on more than just rankings and trophies. It is a path to shape both your performance on the track and your skills off it.

“He’s a young man with great intellect,” said analyst Robbie Koenig. “The fact that he studied math in college. If your brain is wired that way, it’s only going to have benefits for solving problems in tennis. On his shoulders, he’s more gifted than most.”

One equation Van Assche could savor is the number of former participants in the Next Gen ATP Finals presented by PIF who are currently in the Top 20. A semi-finalist a year ago in Jeddah, the No. 128 in the PIF ATP Rankings will try to follow in their footsteps .

In fact, Van Assche, Arthur Fils and Alex Michelsen face their second consecutive presence in the Saudi tournament, a milestone only made up of six players. Four of them are currently members of the Top 20: Andrey Rublev, Alex de Miñaur, Lorenzo Musetti and Frances Tiafoe.

“I want to give everything to win this tournament, I hope I can do it,” said Van Assche, sixth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah.

“When I see the names of the players who have competed in the Next Gen ATP Finals, they are now famous and great tennis players. It’s motivating to say ‘okay, I’m on the right path.'”

The success of the Frenchman, who reached the third round of the Australian Open this year, has allowed him to set ambitious goals.

“My biggest goal is to have big dreams,” Van Assche said. “If you have no regrets and you know you gave it your all, that’s the most important thing.”