It’s been over a decade since Rikus De Villiers made the journey to Pepperdine for his first season of collegiate tennis. But the now-UCLA men’s tennis assistant coach’s eventual trip from Malibu to Westwood wasn’t the longest leg of his journey. Read more...
Photo: UCLA men’s tennis assistant coach Rikus De Villiers grew up playing junior tennis in his native country of South Africa before making the journey to the U.S. to play collegiate tennis. As he climbed the junior ranks of his home nation, De Villiers was often expected to financially support his budding career on his own – one of many obstacles he faced as he strived to break into the professional level of the sport. (Liz Ketcham/Photo editor)






