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Arnav Bhandari (WTN: 16.3) felt like he was underperforming and not getting the results he believed he was capable of achieving. Things finally came together this past summer for the five-star senior from San Ramon, California.

“I knew that this summer was super important and when it really mattered because of the college stuff and it being my last chance to show what I can do,” Bhandari said. “I felt like it was only a matter of time before the results started to come, because I felt like I was really consistently showing up every day and working hard for years.”

Bhandari’s play caught the attention of the coaches at the University of Michigan. They first connected around Orange Bowl in 2023 before watching him play in person multiple times at Kalamazoo in August. Bhandari committed to the Wolverines this fall.

“From the beginning, Michigan was always up there for me; just the brand, its reputation, and being a big sports school,” he said. “When I visited, I loved every part of it. I really liked the coaches and the guys and just the culture there. There's just so much that comes along with Michigan, so many resources. Playing for a school and a brand like that is something special to be a part of.”

Bhandari was born in Virginia, but grew up in Northern California. He got into tennis because his dad played recreationally and introduced the sport to Bhandari’s two older brothers

“I was the youngest so he eventually got me into it as well when I was about 5 or 6,” Bhandari said. “I really just loved it from the beginning. I wanted to be a pro player and wanted to play as much as possible.”

Bhandari eventually started training at Eagle Fustar Tennis Academy, which is about an hour from his home. The idea of playing college tennis surfaced around high school.

“I started learning and following a little bit more about college tennis. What the good teams were, the good players and stuff like that,” he said. “As time went on, I was learning more about it. It was something that I wanted to do and be a part of. Being a part of the team is something obviously rare in tennis. I'm really excited and looking forward to just being a part of something different like that.”

Bhandari’s recruiting process developed later than some other top junior players.

“I hadn't really gone on a visit, or had any serious talks with schools, before this summer,” he said. “Clay courts and Kalamazoo are kind of when I really started to have an idea what schools I wanted to visit.”

Bhandari developed an interest in golf last year and spends time at the course when he’s not on the tennis courts. He also enjoys playing the FIFA video game.

Bhandari plans to enter Michigan with an undeclared major and try to get into the Ross School of Business, which is ranked No. 4 among undergraduate business programs by US News & World Report.

Bhandari is happy to have committed to a university that was high on his radar from the very start.

“It's an awesome feeling. There was definitely a lot of stress. It's a big decision. So now having it behind me, it’s a weight off my shoulders for sure,” he said. “It’s just super exciting. Anytime I think, ‘dang, I'm going to Michigan, I'll be playing at Michigan,’ it just puts a big smile on my face.”

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About Rhiannon Potkey

Rhiannon Potkey is a veteran sportswriter with more than two decades of experience in journalism. Potkey has covered many sports at many levels and has a passion for finding great stories. Potkey has covered the U.S. Open, junior sectional and national events, college conference championships and Davis Cup matches. Potkey is currently Content Strategist for Tennis Recruiting. You can reach Rhiannon by email at [email protected].