It was announced today that another career-high ATP Top 200 player would be joining the Texas Longhorns. Per College Tennis Nation, former junior No. 1 Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez will be joining the Longhorns in the spring.
The 21-year-old is just one more player looking to break away from the pro ranks and play a season or two of college tennis, joining the likes of Bruno Kuzuhara (Clemson), Toby Kodat (NC State) and others — including fellow Texas commit, ATP No. 138 Matej Dodig.
Well, not so fast. College Tennis Nation later reported that Dodig will no longer be joining Texas in Austin this spring. That comes after remarkable results from the Croatian, after he won the Braga and Como challengers this fall. He has played his way onto the edge of grand slam main-draw qualification for next season and upped his career earnings to over $411,000.
The once-hailed Longhorns took another hit as ITA No. 9 sophomore Gabriel Debru announced on Instagram this evening he plans to turn pro and drop out of the college tennis ranks with a heart-felt statement.
“I would like to share with you my decision that I have decided to turn pro. I would like to thank The University of Texas for the tremendous resources and support system that they provide for their athletes. I especially would like to thank my coaches for their guidance, and my teammates for their friendship. I wish them all the very best. Although my time in Texas was short, I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to be part of this exceptional program. I feel in my heart that it is time for me to commit fully to professional tennis, and I am excited to play on the circuit in the coming weeks. See you soon, Gabriel.”
The Frenchman won the Samsun challenger over the summer, after a promising All-American season in 2025-26 after playing in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots with a 15-6 singles record.
Over the summer, it seemed like the Longhorns would be the team to beat with all of the top talent they signed. But now, the lineup is certainly less formidable with two of its best players gone. That comes after Texas had to replace senior Sebastian Gorzny after his departure last season, and subsequent first-round win at the US Open.
If the 10th Circuit Court rules with the athletes in Wisne v. NCAA, maybe we will see his return with the new roster space opened up. But that is just fodder.
