The euphoria of rising up the pro tennis ranks has been heartwarming for Pacific Beach’s Zach Svajda (above).

But as so often happens, real life has gotten in the way, painfully.

The 21-year-old Svajda has had a fantastic 2024 on the court; a former two-time U.S. National Boys champion, the cool competitor has boosted his pro ranking right up close to the elusive and special Top 100 in the world, as he entered the U.S. Open in New York ranked 102.

With a solid baseline game, an improved serve, and a cool demeanor on the court, Svadja has clawed his way through the minor leagues of pro tennis.

This year he has defeated Top 50 players like Francisco Cerundolo, Dan Evans, and Max Purcell, and for his efforts was granted a wild card into the Open, which began on Aug. 26.

Svajda has settled into the grinding but often lucrative routine as a pro player, earning just north of $300,000 this season.

But two months ago, Svajda’s life of forehands and kick serves was upended.

His dad Tom, who has been a fixture at Pacific Beach Tennis Club and helped mold Zach and his younger brother Trevor, a top U.S. junior, was diagnosed with colon cancer. Stage four. Suddenly the Svajda family was talking to doctors and cancer experts as Tom began “target therapy” to try to treat the disease.

Zach Svajda said his dad has some good and bad days, and that the family is waiting on test results from the therapy in a few weeks. A GoFundMe to help defray medical costs has been set up.

“It’s been tough; I found out just after Wimbledon and it’s upsetting,” Zach Svajda said. “I try to get home as much as I can, especially now.”

Svajda came into this year’s Open with high hopes, but a minor back injury he said he suffered in practice three days before his first-round match with No. 31 seed Matteo Arnaldi hampered him.

Arnaldi won the match in straight sets on Aug. 27.

“I don’t know what I did, but I just did something to it and it was hurting the last few days,” he said. “You have to be 100 percent to be able to beat a guy like (Arnaldi).”

Still, it’s been a season of great development for Svajda, and USTA General Manager of Player Development Martin Blackman has noticed.

“He’s just become such a much tougher, grittier competitor,” Blackman said. “He’s been on tour for a couple of years now, and he’s gotten used to the grind of it all. His Dad built such a great foundation for him, so I expect he’s going to do a lot of damage in the years to come.”

Svajda, who didn’t play a lot of junior tournaments, agreed that just getting lots more matches has helped him rise.

“Just the routines of it all, seeing the same guys each week, it all gets pretty comfortable,” Svajda said. “I always have felt like I could play against anyone, and seeing the results this year I’ve shown I can beat anyone if I’m playing well.”

Svajda and his buddy, fellow San Diego pro Brandon Nakashima, have been keeping each other company and leaning on each other for advice as they navigate the ATP Tour.

One funny experience they had came in England in June at the Surbiton tournament.

“We played in singles earlier in the day (Nakashima won a close 3-setter), and then a few hours later we played doubles together,” Svajda said. “So that was kind of weird. But he’s a great guy and has been a big help to me.”

Svajda’s next goals are to get inside the Top 100, and then Top 50. He plans to come home for a few weeks after the Open, and then travel to Asia for the ATP Tour’s swing there.

He’s also still battling Trevor, now a sophomore at Southern Methodist University, whenever they get together.

“He can beat me sometimes, now,” Zach admitted. “He’s getting closer. He took a set off me a couple of weeks ago. He was pretty excited about that.”

PHOTO BY MICHAEL J. LEWIS