Oliver Tarvet is a tennis rarity who can't collect his £99,000 Wimbledon prize money - the world No 733 grew up idolising Rafael Nadal and will now follow in his footsteps in playing on Centre Court in Carlos Alcaraz clash

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

On the brink of receiving almost unfathomable prize money, Oliver Tarvet has been feverishly working out ways to spend it. But not, perhaps, with the motivation you might assume.
'By December, I need to show that, like, profit or prize money minus expenses equals less than $10,000,' The world No 733 told reporters after his dreamlike win against Leandro Riedi. 'I don't know how much I made. I think I made, like, it's £99,000 or £100,000.
'Obviously, that's before tax. I've got to find £60,000, £70,000 of expenses, which tennis is an expensive sport. So, hopefully, I can make that happen.
'Just pay my coaches a little bit extra. I don't know. We'll figure something out. Fly business class,' the 21-year-old joked.
Tarvet's position is unique because the St Albans-born player is a rarity in the modern game - a college athlete, and a non-professional. While he can make money through name, image, and likeness rights (NIL), and is sponsored this week by ClearPay and TK Maxx, due to NCAA regulations, athletes' prize money is strictly monitored; hence the race to make sure every necessary penny is accounted for.
There has been no question of abandoning the collegiate system for full-time professional life - Tarvet attends the University of San Diego, and is keen to follow the example of a number of British tennis players with similar journeys, such as Cam Norrie and doubles specialist Neal Skupski.
'I was a little bit immature when I was 18, I was not ready to be independent of for the loneliness of the tour,' Tarvet said of his decision to join the US college system. 'It's a really good option to help you mature and develop your game.'
And mature Tarvet has, parlaying his Wimbledon qualification wildcard into a run through the draw in Roehampton, supported by his USD coaches Ryan Keckley and Alex Funkhouser. On Wednesday, he will play on the biggest stage of all as he steps onto Centre Court to face two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz.
The All England Club's main show court is a long way from Hertfordshire's Batchwood Tennis Academy, where Tarvet received training as a talented 10-year-old who idolised Rafael Nadal.
But a number of characters from Tarvet's past came out of the woodwork for his first-round match against Riedi on Monday.
'Today was pretty funny because I would hear this voice that would be familiar,' Tarvet admitted. 'I'd quickly give a glance. It would be my old coach when I was 10 or 11 or my old friend when I was just young - an old player that I played when I was a little kid.
'It was nice kind of seeing these familiar faces, them coming out to support me. Obviously, gave me a lot of energy, a lot of motivation to go out there and win.'
Primary among them were those of closest to him: his parents, Garry and Jennifer, who he has described as his 'heroes', and his girlfriend of just over one year, USD student Helaena Staebler. Tarvet's mother swept her son up in a sweaty hug moments after he came off court, before he gave his girlfriend a kiss.
Staebler, a biology major to Tarvet's communications major, told the Mirror that the win had left her in 'complete shock'.
'I have no words, I haven't even been able to process this just now,' Staebler said. 'It's going to be amazing, I'm very excited, I'm sure he's very excited as well.'
The couple celebrated their first anniversary at the end of June, and Staebler has praised her boyfriend's 'communication skills' for being the key to their successful relationship.
Tavert, she believes, can beat Alcaraz, with Staebler adding: 'I've always believed in him – it's just what you've got to do. He has a really good mindset.'
His mother is an education worker, who was given a special day off on Monday to watch her son take to the grass court in SW19, but remains assured that she will get one on Wednesday as Tarvet takes to Centre Court after putting through the request in the wake of his win.
While not as bullish as his son or his girlfriend, Jennifer was hopeful on Monday afternoon that Tarvet could 'give (Alcaraz) a game'.
Garry added that he believes his son will treat facing Alcaraz like it was 'just another tennis match'.
Jennifer and Garry have been extremely supportive of their son's career, first ensuring that he could receive home-schooling for his A-Levels during his stint training at Unique Tennis London, and now during his college career.
Garry is a particular cheerleader, devoting his Instagram page to his son's achievements in the West Coast Conference and travelling to events like Monastir in June 2023 to watch his son win his first pro-tour title.
The support of his father Garry has been invaluable, with Tarvet Sr travelling to support him as he won his first title in July 2023
While the events Tarvet has been playing are some way off the level of the main ATP Tour, the student has picked up a slew of college titles including the 2024 and 2025 WCC Player of the Year, and five ITF titles, as well as qualifying multiple times for the ATP Next Gen Accelerator programme.
The No 1 court at his college is his favourite, and the one that he will seek to turn Centre Court into on Wednesday, with the screams of 'come on!' and, more unusually, 'Gareth!' that have become recognisable to those who began following him last week.
Tarvet has been secretive about the origins of the cheer, which is shouted down from his coaches' position too, but has revealed that it refers to former Real Madrid star Gareth Bale - something which Madridista Alcaraz may find alternatively comfortable and disconcerting. Considering that Tarvet is an avowed Liverpool fan, it must be quiet the in-joke.
Another ritual of Tarvet's is his preference for journaling on-court, something that he has stressed settles his pre-match nerves.
'It's a thing that I enjoy doing,' Tarvet confessed. 'You can maybe see on the court I bring, like, a little notepad and I write just things that allow me, as I said, to focus on what makes me good, gives me success in the process.
'I feel like a thing that gives me comfort a lot is focusing on those things and the outcome will take care of itself.'
One imagines it will take a number of pages to vent his emotions ahead of a showdown with Alcaraz, fresh from wins at Roland-Garros and Queen's.
He will look to harness the element of surprise against the two-time Wimbledon champion
But while the difference between their rankings is chasm of Grand Canyon-like proportions, one advantage that Tarvet will have over Alcaraz is the element of surprise.
The former champion has hours of footage for Tarvet to analyse his grass-game, while Alcaraz will have to make do with a handful of qualifying rounds. Although, it may not stay that way for long.
'He was a wall. A huge wall,' His opponent Riedi said after the match. 'He moved unbelievable on grass. He was sliding everywhere.
'The passing shot he was producing was mind-blowing. Served pretty well. He was a clutch player today. If he can continue like this, you're going to hear a lot (about) him.'