Colton Smith’s Wimbledon near-miss exposes pro tennis margins
Ex-Arizona All-American and No. 188 seed falls in qualifying third round after two straight wins
Colton Smith, the 2025 All-American from Arizona, saw his Wimbledon dream end in the qualifying third round on Wednesday. 188 in the world, won his opening two matches to reach the decisive qualifier before falling one step short of the main draw. Smith’s exit came against a seeded opponent in the final round, a match that exposed the razor-thin margins separating college standouts from tour-level breakthroughs.
His run through qualifying underscored how close top collegiate players are to cracking the pro ranks, even as the field remains stacked with seasoned veterans and hungry challengers. The loss also reinforced the volatility of professional tennis, where a single misstep can derail a breakthrough run in any round. The defeat marked Smith’s second consecutive Grand Slam qualifying exit this season, a pattern that highlights the unforgiving nature of the tour.
