Twenty-two year-old, Jody Maginley has become the first Antiguan and Barbudan to make the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) professional circuit.
Jody got his first ever ATP points when he defeated Sabastian Hawken (NOR) (6-2, 7-5) in the first round of the Kelowa Canada F3 Futures tournament back in June of this year giving him (and Antigua and Barbuda) his first ever ranking of 1,502 on the professional circuit.
Maginley will now be seeing the likes of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray on a more frequent basis as a result of his promotion to the Federation’s top flight programme.
Since the start of his pro career, the young Maginley has since gone on to have a singles record of 31-15 during his first year on the circuit. On October 18, in Harlingen Texas, he notched his best career win (6-4, 6-1) against world no. 668 Shane Vinsant (USA) in the first round of the US 34 Futures tournament. After the win, Maginley moved up 200 spots in the ATP ranking to his current spot of 1,332 as we approach the end of the tennis year.
“I’m honored to be the only Antiguan on the ITF pro circuit right now and it’s an honor to represent my country,” Maginley said.
“My college career ended on a positive note and that inspired me to be a professional and since then I’ve been playing full time on the ITF pro circuit.”
The president of the Antigua and Barbuda Tennis Association (ABTA) and Maginley’s former tennis coach, Cordell Williams Sr expressed great elation at the tennis star’s rise to the pro circuit.
“I’m happy that he’s able to follow his dream of becoming a professional tennis player,” Williams said.
“Jody has been a member of the Halycon Tennis Club since he was five. It means a lot to me that he has taken full advantage of the road map provided to him to lead him to his current career.”
“As long as I’m the president of the tennis association, i will do everything in my power to help him achieve his goals,” affirmed Williams.
The president went on to say that Maginley’s achievement, “is win for Antigua, as the youngsters will now have a visual to attach to the road map we give them.”
Maginley’s current coach, Taylor Dent, was former number 21 (August, 2005) in the world and holder of 4 singles ATP titles in his career.
Of Dent, Maginley said that, “he’s the one I look up to the most.”
“We work on my tennis every single day, we talk about my tennis every single day and we both have a plan that’s gonna be me in the best position to help me achieve my dreams.”
Jody currently trains with Dent at the Dent Training Academy in Dallas Fort Worth, Texas.
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C-O-N-G-R-A-T-S to you Jody. wishing you all the very best and much success. God bless; Keep the flag of Antigua and Barbuda flying high. CONGRATS!!!
Just do it Bruh!…You make us proud. Wish nothing but the best for you!
Congrats Jody!! Keep up the good fight and continue to rep 268!
Curious…. the name Maginley is not common in the Caribbean, probably unique to Antigua! Was his father an Antigua politician who did his secondary schooling at The Lodge School in BARBADOS!
Brilliant
Yes Christopher his dad was a politician and also represented Antigua in tennis tornaments in the region.
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