It is not often that a Division III tennis player goes pro. It is even less likely that they win a professional title within their first 10 or even 20 matches. But for James Hopper, who played four years of DIII tennis before transferring to Virginia, the path has never been conventional.
Just weeks after graduating from Virginia, the former Cavalier standout secured his first professional tennis title in the doubles bracket July 20 at the M15 Monastir in Tunisia — a major milestone and early validation of his decision to go pro.
“I think it was a bit of a relief, definitely off my shoulders knowing that I've helped myself for the next few months, helped myself get into some other tournaments down the road,” Hopper said in an interview.
In his usual easygoing manner, Hopper downplays the significance of the moment. But for those who have followed his career — from his days at Case Western Reserve to his backbone role at Virginia — it was proof that the hours spent preparing were beginning to pay off.
Before landing in Charlottesville, Hopper became one of the most accomplished players in Division III tennis history — winning back-to-back NCAA doubles titles and earning All-American honors in both singles and doubles four years in a row. His record-breaking success there set the stage for his graduate transfer in 2023 to Virginia, where he proved he could thrive at the highest levels of college tennis.
“Everything you experience in college tennis sets you up to be in great physical [shape], but also great mental condition for the professional tour,” Hopper said. “You see things and experience things and play in crowds in college tennis that have hundreds of people cheering against you.”
After graduation, Hopper dove headfirst into the professional circuit, playing his first few tournaments with minimal ranking points. Navigating the transition from college to professional life can be daunting — suddenly, there is no team bus, no trainer on standby, no guaranteed practice courts. Now it is just you, your racquets and a calendar full of tournaments.
It was just his third pro tournament this summer when his win came at Monastir.
Teaming up with partner Ben Jones, Hopper navigated a draw that grew tougher as the week went on. The early rounds brought solid but beatable opposition, but the final pitted them against the most experienced team they had faced all week. The match was tighter, the pace faster, and the pressure higher — but Hopper’s college-honed composure and sharp net play made the difference, helping them clinch the title.
“Preparing for this tournament, it was pretty similar to our college tournaments,” Hopper said. “I think just making sure I was checking every box, taking care of every detail was the biggest thing. And to just get ready on court for all the matches.”
The win was more than a trophy. It not only awarded Hopper valuable ATP ranking points that unlocked entry into future tournaments, but it also gave Hopper something intangible but more invaluable — belief.
“I think it's definitely helped my confidence,” Hopper said. “So I think just knowing that I'm at that level and can continue playing well, hopefully is the goal. And use this confidence and momentum to kind of keep going throughout the rest of the summer.”
Before his Monastir triumph, Hopper traveled to the Republic of Korea for a pair of tournaments — M25 Changwon and M15 Daegu — joining Virginia sophomore Jangjun Kim. It was Hopper’s first time in Asia, and he said he had an amazing time, with Kim acting as a translator throughout the two-and-a-half week trip.
Together they experienced both the modern pulse of Seoul and the quieter, more customarily traditional regions of southern Korea. On court, he faced stiff competition and suffered some early exits. But those losses, he says, were crucial.
“I think it puts it all in the perspective that this is the start of, hopefully a long journey for me, and sometimes it's not going to go your way, sometimes it will go your way, but all you can do is kind of keep at it.”
And off the court? Hopper said Seoul was one of his favorite places he has ever visited.
Still the road is far from glamorous. Tennis and travel are exhausting. But Hopper is committed to remaining grounded. What keeps him humble is his hunger to continue climbing the ladder.
What also keeps him anchored is his connection to the programs that shaped him. Hopper stays in close contact with former teammates like Kim and maintains strong ties with Virginia Coach Andres Pedroso and Case Western Coach Todd Wojtkowski.
“They’ve been nothing but helpful,” Hopper said. “Whenever I want to reach out or them being there to support me, I'm very, very grateful for all of that.”
Right now, doubles is where Hopper feels most confident and sees the most immediate opportunity. He knows that his doubles level is at a point where he can comfortably say he has the level to be top 100, top 50 in the world. But he is not sidelining singles.
“I know that I have that level in doubles, and I think I can definitely get to that point in singles as well,” Hopper said. “It might take a little bit longer and it might be tougher, but I'm not closing my mind and expectations to that.”
In terms of what comes next, Hopper’s short-term goals are clear — stay healthy, stay consistent and keep improving. His long-term goals? Loftier.
“Top 10, top five, number one in the world. I think that's a very realistic goal for me,” Hopper said, without hesitation.
That mindset has served him well — and so far he is making that transition look seamless.
“There are a lot of levels I have to climb through to get to the top,” Hopper said. “It motivates me every day, knowing that I have the potential to get to the highest level, but that I'm not there right now.”
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