In this interview, we dive into the journey of JONATHAN IRWANTO, a UC Berkeley tennis player. Jonathan opens up about his early days in tennis. He reflects on the highs and lows of his career—the tough losses, the moments of doubt, and the determination to keep pushing forward. From navigating college tennis to finding his own identity on court, Jonathan shares an honest look at what it really takes to chase success in this ungrateful sport.
Berni and Carlo (two of his teammates at UC Berkeley) mentioned that playing ITF tournaments versus playing in college is a completely different experience. One key difference they pointed out is that in ITFs, they compete as individuals, taking full responsibility for their results. But in college tennis, they're playing for a team, which adds a whole new level of responsibility and pressure. From your perspective, how does playing ITFs compare to playing college tennis?
I think the biggest challenge is bringing the right energy. In ITFs, I wasn’t the loudest or most intense player on the court, so at first, bringing that energy felt really unnatural for me. On top of that, playing in a team environment added extra pressure—with the coach, my teammates, and the overall expectations. But yeah, that was definitely the biggest adjustment.
For you, was being part of a team more of an added pressure, or was it a motivation?
I think I saw it more as pressure and ended up putting a lot of unnecessary stress on myself. Of course, I wanted to perform well for the team, but in reality, they just wanted me to give my best effort. Instead, I overthought it, and that pressure led to me underperforming at times.
How do you handle that? What strategies do you use to overcome the pressure and perform at your best?
I feel like you have to focus on playing for yourself—not worrying about what others think about your game or your results. It’s about trusting what you’re capable of and understanding that giving your best is all that really matters.
Earlier, you mentioned that bringing a lot of energy into a match wasn’t always natural for you. In college tennis, it’s common for players to be loud after every point, and there’s also external pressure—people shouting from the sidelines, opponents pushing the limits, and even some questionable calls from referees. Have you experienced this kind of atmosphere? And how do you handle these intense matches, which are so different from junior tennis?
Yeah, that’s definitely one of the toughest parts. Dealing with bad calls, opponents trying to get in your head, and even refs not always being on your side—it’s not easy. But the best way to handle it is to stay composed and move on.
At the same time, it’s good to have some fire. If someone is making bad calls, you need to show them that you’re there, that they can’t just keep getting away with it. Assert your presence on the court, but do it in a mature way. Understand that these things are part of the game, stay focused, trust your abilities, and believe that if you keep playing your best, you’ll come out on top.
For sure. Have you ever faced an opponent who played so unfairly that you struggled to handle the situation? If so, can you share that experience?
Yeah, for sure. I remember playing a match where I was winning pretty comfortably, but in the second set, my opponent made two really bad calls. I was passive about it because I trusted the ref—I figured if they called it out, it was probably out. But all my teammates were yelling that the ball was in, and I didn’t really stand up for myself.
That threw me off, and I let him back into the match. In the end, I lost, and it’s crazy to think that just one or two bad calls ended up deciding the whole match.
Yeah, that’s tough. After that experience, did it change the way you approach matches moving forward?
Yeah, even my coach told me that I needed to stand up for myself and show that I wouldn’t just let people get away with bad calls. So in that sense, I became a bit grittier—more assertive on court. I wanted to make it clear that I wasn’t someone they could just push around or cheat. Looking back, I do think that match helped me grow.
That’s great. Berni and Carlo mentioned that they’re feeling really confident about the team this year. They also believe you’ll perform well and that the team can go deep into the season. How do you feel about that?
Yeah, honestly, I’m super excited for this year. Looking back at last season, it feels like a complete opposite situation. Everyone is more confident, more prepared, and just ready to go. I truly believe we have what it takes to make a deep run this year.
I can definitely feel it. When I talked to Bernie and Carlo, it wasn’t just what they were saying—I could tell they truly believed it. And now, talking to you, I can feel that same confidence. Honestly, that’s really motivating for me as well. I told them this, and I’ll tell you too—I’m going to follow you guys this season and see how you perform because it’s exciting to watch you approach the year with this mindset.
So, my next question is about your college journey—why did you choose UC Berkeley? What was the process like for you?
I had a few different schools I could choose from, but the main reason I chose Berkeley was the team. On my visit, I bonded really well with almost everyone and instantly felt like I fit in. I could just see myself spending the next few years here with these guys.
That was the biggest factor for me, and honestly, the coach was an added bonus. He’s a great coach, but it was really the team that made the decision clear for me.
That’s great. Actually, Berni and Carlos mentioned the same thing—they really like the coach and the team. It sounds like you all have built a strong bond, which is really important for a team.
All right, let’s go back to the beginning. When did you start playing tennis, and why?
I come from a tennis background—my grandparents and my mom played recreationally, so it was always a sport in my family, but just for fun.
My older sister started playing when she was around seven or eight, and I would always go to her practices with my mom. As a little kid, I’d pick up a racket and mess around on the court. One day, I was just hitting the ball, and one of the coaches noticed me and was like, ‘Hey, this kid’s not bad—he can actually hit.’
That’s basically how I got started. I think I was around four years old, so I picked it up pretty early.
What was the transition like between your grandparents, your mom, and you? You mentioned that they played recreationally, but here you are, fully dedicating your life to tennis. What do you think made you so hooked on the sport?
Actually, my oldest sister quit because she didn’t like competing—she hated playing tournaments and just wasn’t into it. But I was the complete opposite. I loved competing, I loved just hitting the ball, and I always felt really free on the court.
I started playing tournaments around nine years old, but honestly, I wasn’t very good at first. I lost a lot. I think I didn’t even win my first match until I was around 11 or 12. So yeah, I was playing tournaments for a long time before I finally got a win.
What category were you playing when you were nine?
It was just USTA tournaments—under 10s, under 12s, basically. Looking back, I honestly wasn’t very good, but at the time, I was just playing and figuring things out.
How did you stay motivated to keep competing? Many kids lose one or two matches and immediately feel like tennis isn't for them, so they quit. Why did you keep going?
I honestly just really enjoyed the sport. I was pretty fast, and the coach I had at the time saw my potential, so he helped me a lot. I really enjoyed our private lessons, and I just kept at it.
I never really played any other sports, and at the time, I didn’t even have the desire to. It was just tennis—24/7.
You mentioned that you started playing USTA tournaments. When did you transition to playing ITFs?
It was around 2021. I was actually going to start earlier, but then COVID happened. I think I was 15 when everything shut down, so I couldn’t play or travel for a whole year. I finally started in February 2021.
What was the difference between playing USTA tournaments and ITFs for you? Was the experience significantly different? And was the step up to ITFs a big challenge, or did you adapt quickly?
Honestly, in my year—2004—USTA had a lot of strong players. All the national and even state tournaments were really high level, so the transition wasn’t too difficult for me. In 2021, I made a lot of progress, reaching the top 200 in ITF within a year. But once I got to that level, things started getting tougher for me.
What was the experience like playing at that level? If I’m not mistaken, I think your best ranking was 88—does that sound right?
Yeah, I think I finished 88.
How was the progression to reach that ranking? Many players start competing in ITFs around 15—that’s the typical age. How did the transition feel for you each year? Did you notice a big difference in competition as you got older, or did playing against 18-year-olds at 15 not feel like a huge jump?
I was 16 at the time, so at first, the jump in level didn’t feel too drastic. But once I started facing players ranked in the top 100—or even top 150—I began struggling more. In my first year, I progressed quickly. I think in just my third tournament, I won a J6 or J60, and things were moving fast.
But the following year, my progress slowed down a lot. The biggest issue I faced was scheduling—figuring out which tournaments to play and where to go. I didn’t have much guidance from my coaches in that aspect, so I was mostly choosing tournaments based on convenience rather than strategy. That made things tough because I started losing a lot, and it felt like I was traveling for nothing.
2022 was especially difficult—I wasn’t playing well, and my ranking dropped. I think I fell back to around 300 ITF, which was really discouraging.
2022 was the year before you went to college, right?
Yes, yes.
Okay. How did you handle that transition? From what I understand, the year before college, you weren’t feeling very confident on the court. How was the shift from struggling with confidence to playing in college?
Actually, at the end of 2022—sorry, I might be mixing up the dates a bit—I was playing really well, which is how I reached the top 88 in the world. But despite that, I still felt pretty discouraged and unmotivated.
At the time, I wasn’t committed to any college yet, and I wasn’t sure where I was going. I didn’t have any strong offers, which I think actually pushed me to play better toward the end of the year. That uncertainty kind of fueled me.
During that transition, a lot of coaches started noticing my potential because of how I finished the year. But then, going into the next year, I struggled again and kind of fell off.
And how are you feeling now? How do you feel on the court after going through all of that?
Yeah, right now, I haven’t been playing a lot of matches, to be honest. I feel like I didn’t really prove myself last year—I didn’t have a great fall—so this year, I’m just putting my head down and focusing on the work.
It’s definitely tough to stay motivated when everyone else is out there competing for the team, and I’m on the bench. But at the end of the day, I just want to keep improving and get better for the team. So, while I’m not feeling the best right now, I’m still motivated to keep grinding on court.
Of course, to reach a ranking of 88 in the ITF, you have to play at a really high level. So the talent is definitely there. Like you said, if you keep working, things can change.
Now, I wanted to ask you about something broader—tennis is often seen as an individual sport, and many people say it can feel lonely. Players have to make a lot of sacrifices while growing up—whether it’s friendships, school, social events, or just the typical experiences that most kids have.
How was it for you? Did you ever feel lonely? Did you ever feel like you were sacrificing too much and question whether it was all worth it?
Yeah, definitely. During high school, I was actually homeschooled starting in eighth grade, so honestly, I didn’t really know what I was missing out on at the time. Most of my friends were also homeschooled and playing tennis with me, so my social circle was mainly within that environment.
But as I got older and started seeing what my friends from traditional school were doing—hearing about how much fun they were having—it did cross my mind. I remember thinking, Why am I doing this? It was tough at times, especially when friends would invite me to hang out, and I’d have to say no because I had a tournament or training.
That part was hard, but looking back, I think it was worth it. The discipline, the sacrifices—it all shaped who I am today. I don’t think I’d be the same person if I had gone to a regular school. Playing a competitive sport at a high level really puts you in a different mindset compared to those who play just for fun. It’s a whole different world.
I want to ask you about tennis as a whole. Like we talked about before, it has shaped you as a person and influenced your outlook on life. What do you think are the biggest lessons you've learned from tennis that have made you who you are today?
Kind of just being a respectful person. I think tennis teaches you to carry yourself with class and respect because it’s such a beautiful sport. You develop a deep appreciation for your opponents and the game itself. In that sense, it really taught me to be respectful, kind to others, and to treat people the way I would want to be treated.
If you could sit down with your younger self—whether just starting tennis or at 14, 15, or 16—what advice or encouragement would you give? Is there anything you would change about how you approached the sport back then?
I’d say that’s a good question. Honestly, I would tell my younger self to just shut up and do it. There were so many times I didn’t feel like practicing, doing workouts, or even going to certain tournaments. Looking back, I regret not putting in that extra work. So yeah, I’d just tell myself to put my head down and get it done, no excuses.
Going back to what you said about 2022—I think you mentioned something about it before. During that year, when things weren’t going right, aside from the scheduling issues you mentioned, was there anything else you think played a role?
I think a big part of it was that I didn’t really have a coach at the time. The academy I had been at since I was little had helped me as much as they could, but by that point, I was the best player there, and I felt like I had learned everything I could from them. During COVID, it was tough to transition to a new training environment, so I ended up playing pretty independently without much guidance. I wasn’t getting consistent coaching, I didn’t really know where I was going, or even why I was playing at that moment. I just felt really lost, and I think that’s why I wasn’t performing my best during that time.
What role did your parents play in your tennis journey? You mentioned that they played recreationally, but competitive tennis is a whole different experience. How did they support you along the way?
My parents played a huge role in my journey. They’re incredibly kind and always supported me no matter what. They never forced me into anything but instead gave me the freedom to choose my own path, always reassuring me that whatever decision I made, they would fully support it. If I ever wanted to make a change, they were on board right away. If I wanted to play a tournament, they never said no. That level of support really helped me develop as a tennis player and as a person.
Yeah, because for parents who aren’t familiar with the competitive tennis world, decisions like homeschooling can be a big step. Some parents don’t like that route because they worry it might jeopardize their child’s education. How did your parents feel about it? How did they know it wouldn’t have a negative impact?
Honestly, she just asked me straight up, ‘Do you want to be homeschooled? Just be honest with me.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I really do.’ And she just said, ‘Okay, then let's do it.’ I'm not sure if they were just trusting me completely or what they were thinking at the time, but they always supported me in whatever I wanted to do.
It definitely paid off—you’re now at one of the best colleges in the country, so it was clearly the right choice. That’s actually a great lesson for parents who are hesitant about fully supporting their kids in their tennis journey. It shows that players can still attend a top academic school while pursuing their dream of becoming a better tennis player.
All right, John, we’re almost done. I just have two final fun questions for you. First—would you rather win a Grand Slam or be ranked number one in the world?
Honestly, I think winning the U.S. Open would be absolutely insane. It would just be such an incredible feeling. The experience of winning a Grand Slam, the moment itself, just feels like something truly special.
Yeah, totally. I agree with you. Like you said, winning the U.S. Open in Arthur Ashe Stadium—the biggest stage in tennis—must be an incredible feeling. Even winning any tournament is special, so I can’t even imagine what it would feel like to win a Grand Slam.
All right, last question—who was your tennis idol growing up?
Growing up, it was definitely Federer. I used to try to imitate his playing style a lot, but I wasn’t nearly as talented as him. I even started using the Pro Staff at a young age, around 14, so in that sense, I always kind of tried to model my game after him.
Do you still use the pro staff?
Yeah, great racket, I love it.
Actually, a lot of people say that racket is really tough and stiff. What do you think about that?
Yeah, honestly, it’s true—the racket is really stiff. I actually add a lot of weight to my racket. Unstrung, it’s around 340 grams or something like that, so it’s pretty heavy. But I feel like it suits my game style really well. I can hit the ball really hard, and I love feeling that clean contact. I hate when the racket bends in my hands, so the stiffness really works out for me.