From Down Under to top of his class

From the junior circuit to collegiate courts, Harry Pugh is about to embark on a thrilling new chapter as he gets ready to move to the United States.

At just 18, Harry has already made a significant mark in the tennis world and is eager to take his next step in his career, studying and playing at Lander University in South Carolina.

Fresh from a string of impressive performances, Harry has been reflecting on his recent successes as he wraps up playing in the junior circuit.

“Six doubles titles and one singles titles but I had a lot more finals in there.”

As he transitions out of junior tennis, Harry reflects on his accomplishments and future goals. His ambition is to crack the top 100 in men's tennis by the end of his career, and he knows that journey starts now.

Next on Harry's schedule is the J200 Oceanias tournament in Sydney, his last appearance as a junior if he does not qualify for the Junior US Open, which is “a big maybe”.

Harry’s journey to America is a major milestone on his career pathway, traveling straight from Australia.

In August, he will start his studies at Lander University, which has a top-ranked tennis program in the country, with a dozen national titles.

He will be pursuing a joint degree in sports management and business management, having already completed a semester online.

Harry had Initially planned to join in January, but stayed in New Zealand to compete in junior tournaments, including the Junior Australian Open, where he narrowly missed the cut for other junior Grand Slam events.

“I wanted to give them a crack. It just comes down to a few tournaments that I was in finals in that could have changed it, it’s small margins.

“It’s still pretty good, especially coming from New Zealand where there’s not that many people close to it.”

The transition to college life and competitive tennis in the U.S. presents new challenges. Lander's tennis roster includes eight players, with only six competing in team matches from January to August, with Harry told he will likely be in the top three.

Balancing academics and sports has always been a priority for Harry, who managed his studies while competing internationally with strong support from Garin College.

Among his accolades, Harry has been named Sport Tasman's Emerging Talent and New Zealand Junior Male Player of the Year, recognizing his outstanding achievements in both singles and doubles on the junior circuit.