Lim enters pro tour after two years in UAAP

File photo from AJ Lim.
By Kristoffer Ed Bellen

Filipino teenage tennis sensation AJ Lim officially declared his full-time commitment at the professional level to have an opportunity to compete against the best tennis players around the world in a suprising announcement on his Facebook post, Wednesday.

The 18-year-old hotshot formally announced his intent to enter the ATP World Tour, the grandest association of men's tennis professionals which handles all tour-level tournaments for men's tennis athletes around the world, after calling his college tennis club a career.

"I would like to focus on my professional tennis career to earn points and improve my ATP world ranking," the post said.



Lim, who is currently undergoing a final week of therapy on his shoulder injury, also revealed that he will not come back for the University of the East Red Warriors at the UAAP Men's Tennis next season.

The two-time UAAP Most Valuable Player spearheaded the Red Warriors in his two colorful seasons for the Recto-based squad which also saw back-to-back titles during his stint there as a freshman and sophomore leader.

"I was very happy that I was part of UE's victory of two titles and being the MVP for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018)," the post added.

Lim, who also plays for the Philippine Davis Cup Team, had a career-high ranking as world's number 12 at the junior division highlighted by multiple appearances in all of the four Grand Slam events including his best slam finish at the Roland Garros in which he reached the third round a couple of years ago.

Follow the writer on Twitter: @theballkidPH