SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- This type of comeback was rare. Dominique Rolland took the second set 6-0 during the Quarterfinals of the ATP Challenger Battle in the Bay Classic. Rolland sealed the match with a 6-4 win in the third set and advanced to the semifinals, and to think this was only a wildcard opportunity for the Calabasas native.
After a competitive semifinal with Ozan Baris at the Battle in the Bay Classic, Rolland bounced back in the Battle in the Bay Shootout Challenge. He won a tiebreak rematch against Baris 10–4 and then defeated Duncan Chan 10–5 in another tiebreak, securing a spot in the ATP Fairfield Challenger—a clear sign he's ready for the next level.
He remembered being just seven years old when he first learned to play tennis. His father took him to the park every day, even though Rolland was initially reluctant to go. 14 years later, he couldn't even fathom what his life would be like if he weren't playing tennis.
His tennis journey wasn't always a straight path. Rolland originally committed to the University of Arizona and completed his freshman season there. When he went to Tucson, he felt this immense pressure that he had to be perfect, in every match, in every shot, in everything.
He wanted to accept this challenge, but he couldn't stop his mind from overplaying any mistakes he made. "There was this point that I knew I wasn't meant to be here," said Rolland. "I loved the coaches, my teammates, and I met some great people there. I just realized I wasn't meant to be there, and they completely understood that."
After his rookie season, Rolland transferred to UC Santa Barbara—a full circle moment, as he had always dreamed about going there when he was younger. UCSB had its pros: being on the beach and being closer to his hometown, Calabasas, which allowed his family to attend more of his matches.
Rolland added that playing for UCSB changed his mindset. "When I came here, that pressure was lifted off, and I just played free," he said. The love for tennis came back to him as he stepped on the courts of the Arnhold Tennis Center.
This renewed passion fueled his improvement at Santa Barbara and sharpened his focus on tennis. With every shot, every rally, and every point, his mind was constantly working and adapting with different goals in mind to be successful.
Beginning his second season at UCSB, Rolland would go on to record a 13-match winning streak and was later named an All-Big West Second Team singles selection. He also finished this season ranked No. 62 in the final ITA doubles rankings with former UCSB tennis player, Gianluca Brunkow.
Following his successful junior year with the Gauchos, he continues to accomplish his goals, just like when he reached the quarterfinals of the ATP Fairfield Challenger last October. Setting the tone for his senior season, Rolland also advanced from the quarterfinals to qualify for the NCAA Singles Championship at the ITA West Sectional Championships.
"It's taught me a lot about who I am as a person with the people around me and what I want to do in life," said Rolland, reflecting on his time as a Gaucho.
Currently, Rolland is finishing his senior season at UC Santa Barbara, and is currently ranked No. 32 nationally in ITA college men's tennis, with a UTR of 13.71 in singles and a UTR of 12.3 in doubles. He looks back at the time when he was forced to learn tennis by his parents, who were players themselves.
Looking back, the experiences and joy he's gained from tennis have made him grateful for his parents, who've been there with him every step of the way. "Over time, it made me love the game, so I'm really thankful for them teaching me tennis," said Rolland.
