Senior tennis star seeded sixth in NCAA Championships this week, his final tournament for the Toreros
fifth-year senior, Holmgren asked his coach if he’d help him work on his serve for the next day’s match. And so well past 8 p.m., there was Holmgren, under the lights, pumping serves down the T and kicking them wide, plying his trade for 45 minutes.
“He’s a guy who knows what needs to get done and it doesn’t matter when, he’s going to do it,” said USD head coach Ryan Keckley. “He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever coached.” The NCAA Division I Men’s Tennis Championship begins Monday at the University of Illinois and Holmgren is playing the final tournament of his Toreros career. His first singles match is Monday afternoon and he will open doubles play Tuesday with Gui Osorio.The Denmark native has already left an indelible mark, on and off the court, at USD. In 2018, he was named West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year. In 2019, Holmgren and Joel Gamerov became the first USD men’s team to advance to the NCAA doubles quarterfinals, earning All-American honors.Last spring, Holmgren was named the WCC Player of the Year, reached the round of 16 in singles and again earned All-American honors. In the fall he climbed to No. 1 in the International Tennis Association’s college rankings when he won the ITA Fall National Championships at Barnes Tennis Center.“It’s been a very, very fortunate career for me,” said Holmgren. “I’ve accomplished almost every goal that I’ve had.”He longs to join a list that includes Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe by winning the NCAA singles title.The task will be more difficult in doubles, where Holmgren and Osorio are unseeded. Raised in Espergaerde, Denmark, Holmgren was recruited by Rice, Texas A&M, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Texas Tech and others. Keckley was the primary reason he headed to USD.Keckley, who was ranked as high as No. 7 in doubles at Notre Dame, has built a program that recently has dominated the WCC, winning seven straight WCC Tournament titles.“He’s got a world-class forehand,” said Keckley.Asked how good of a pro he thinks Holmgren will become, Keckley said, “That’s to be determined. What I do know about the pro circuit is you have to have a serve and you have to have a forehand. August has both of them.” Holmgren will begin his professional career in earnest after the NCAA Tournament. He has already played in 16 ATP futures events, tennis’ equivalent of single-A baseball. His record is 19-16. He’s ranked 780th in the world and has represented Denmark in three Davis Cup events, winning all five singles matches. Colleges players may play pro tournaments as long as their earnings don’t exceed expenses. Given that Holmgren has traveled to Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and throughout Europe for tournaments, his modest $10,699 in earnings hardly cover the travel costs. Of late, Holmgren and Keckley have been trying to secure financial sponsors. Keckley estimates it costs nearly $125,000 a year to play a full professional season. “It’s not comfortable to ask people for money,” said Holmgren. “It’s necessary, though. I’m not going to get help if I don’t ask for help.” Holmgren turned 24 last month. He’ll be getting a late start on playing professionally full time. By comparison, San Diegan Taylor Fritz, also 24, is ranked 14th in the world. Another San Diegan, 20-year-old Brandon Nakashima, is ranked 74th. Asked what draws him to tennis, Holmgren said, “I like the emotional roller coaster. I like the struggle that sometimes brings me so much joy and also so much anger. I really like that because I care about it.” Keckley likes talking about August Holmgren, the person, as much as the tennis player. He has been nominated for the Alcalá Award, presented to two seniors who have achieved the balanced development the university advocates. Holmgren is scheduled to graduate Sunday with a degree in theater arts and performance studies. He has acted in two school plays and directed another.Holmgren’s like “Where’s Waldo” at USD, turning up to at least one Toreros sport event in person except men’s golf, including an 8 a.m. date to cheer on the women’s crew team.Keckley said multiple people have approached him, saying they’re aware of the tennis program because Holmgren took the time to talk with their child. Thinking about what the past five years have been like with the young man from Denmark, Keckley said, “He’s easy an easy kid to cheer for. He’s got a strong work ethic and a big heart.”
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