University of San Diego Magazine - Fall 2025

TORERO SPOTLIGHT

WITH COACHES AND TEAMMATES BY HIS SIDE, OLIVER TARVET TURNS DEDICATION INTO A WIMBLEDON BREAKTHROUGH CENTRE COURT

FRONT AND

Tarvet internalized that and then some. Ranked No. 719 in the world entering the tournament, he rattled off wins against pros ranked hundreds of spots higher, clawing through qualifying before making the main draw. The run drew international headlines, and a lot of buzz back in San Diego. Once he finally took the court against Alcaraz, Tarvet looked over his shoulder to see his USD coaches and teammates right there in the front row, cheering him on. Keckley, along with several teammates, had flown out for the big match. The support was all Tarvet could ask for. Competing at such a high level isn’t so much about skill — the world’s best players are a head above, but everyone at Wimbledon can count themselves among the world’s best. The difference, Tarvet said, is what playing at that level demands of you mentally and emotionally. With his training done and his support system in place, Tarvet battled Alcaraz. In one set, he took back the point multiple times. ESPN’s announcers marveled at how a student-athlete was performing in the sport’s premier event against one of the best players in the world. Ultimately, Alcaraz came out on top. But Tarvet won the adoration of the home crowd, which gave him a rousing applause, and the respect of his competitor. “I just love his game, to be honest,” Alcaraz said. “The level that he played in his first match on Centre Court, I know that’s really difficult, and he played great tennis.” When he returned to the United States, Tarvet’s run garnered extensive media coverage, and he even threw out the first pitch at a San Diego Padres game. The experience was a dream come true for Tarvet, but it’s only the beginning. He hopes to return to Wimbledon. First, though, he’ll return to USD for his senior season. There’s still work to be done, he says. Still room to grow. — Steven Covella

Oliver Tarvet is a two-time All-American, a two-time West Coast Conference Player of the Year and has competed in pressure cooker situations against college tennis’ elite. During the match of a lifetime, the court dimensions were the same, his racket was the same and even the locale was just an hour from where he grew up. But as he lined up to take his first serve on Wimbledon’s Centre Court, there was one big difference. The world was watching. Tarvet had an incredible junior season, leading the Toreros to a top-10 ranking and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. He hadn’t lost a match since November. And now, an underdog run through Wimbledon culminated with a main draw match against the world’s No. 2 player, Carlos Alcaraz. “I think it took a little bit of time until I realized the magnitude and how many people were watching it,” Tarvet said, after returning to San Diego. “And I feel like it was kind of a good thing that I was a little bit ignorant to that.” It’s a moment Tarvet had been preparing for his entire life, and one that became possible as he grew at USD. “It was definitely a lot of work that got put in before Wimbledon. I’m not only talking like a month out. I’m talking years out,” Tarvet said, on USD’s At the Edge of It All podcast. “It’s something I definitely credit to USD, because I feel like I was a

pretty average recruit and tennis player … but I’m a lot further along now than I was three years ago when I came here.” Tarvet was recruited by head coach Ryan Keckley and joined the Toreros in 2022. He had a strong first-year season and then took a big leap his second year, ranking as high as No. 3 in the country in singles and earning All-American honors. “In high school, I wasn’t ready with my tennis and mentally I was too immature to take on the pro tour. Going to college has been the greatest decision I’ve ever made with tennis. As long as you find the right teammates and the right school, you have 10 other guys who want the best for you. That’s really special,” Tarvet said. Tarvet is a workhorse — getting up early every morning to practice and to get workouts in — something that Keckley takes pride in. He and his coaches set a standard for the players, but they’re the ones who run with it, and that pays dividends during big moments. “We talk about it all the time. When it’s Friday and you’d rather be at the beach, and you’re working as hard as you are and getting extra reps in, that’s when the winning’s done,” Keckley said, with a smile. This summer, those same USD coaches were by Tarvet’s side as he competed at Wimbledon. Keckley was in constant communication, and Toreros assistant coach Alex Funkhouser flew to London to help Tarvet train. He helped keep Tarvet sharp physically, but also worked to get Tarvet’s mind right as he stepped onto the biggest stage of his career. “(Funkhouser) was like ‘I get you’re in front of a crowd. I get it’s Wimbledon. You’re still playing a tennis match,’” Tarvet recalled. It was valuable advice. “For me, I still hit a serve every other game and I still hit a return every other game — that part doesn’t change.”

Top clockwise: Oliver Tarvet pumps his fist while celebrating a victory. Tarvet fixes the grip on his racket handle. Tarvet celebrates a point against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain on day three of The Championships, Wimbledon 2025. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

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