Finding a Home in Durham

DURHAM, N.C.-- The junior tennis circuit is a solitary world. Long flights, unfamiliar cities, online school and the pressure of competing only for your name in tournament after tournament. For Claire An and Aspen Schuman, the two true freshmen on Duke's women's tennis team this season, that was their tennis world. Then they decided to pursue a collegiate tennis career at Duke.

When they stepped out on the court to start the dual-match season in January, they immediately felt the difference.

"In college dual matches, there's a lot of energy," Schuman said. "You're doing it for other people, not just yourself."
Claire An, Aspen Schuman

The transition to college tennis hasn't slowed the duo down at all. Together, the two freshmen have opened their collegiate careers with a combined 13-3 dual-match record and a 17-6 overall record. In ACC conference competition, they are undefeated with a 6-0 ledger.

Now, a semester in for An and a couple of months for Schuman, the two are navigating something entirely new. Being part of a team, sitting in actual classrooms and learning what it means to compete for something bigger than just themselves.

Why Duke?
For both players, the decision of 'Why Duke?' came down to the same two things: academics and tennis. But the supporting personnel environment is what sealed it.

"I just loved the balance in strong academics and a really good tennis program," Schuman said. "And then on my visit and at tournaments, I got to know the coaches, Jamie [Ashworth] and Danny (Lietner), pretty well, and I really liked their coaching advice. When I came on my visit, I thought that was definitely confirmed — just through seeing the team culture and spending a couple of days with the girls."

An, who grew up training in Florida, echoed those feelings. Coming from Dwight Global Online, an online school environment, she knew Duke would be a dramatic change of environment. What she didn't quite expect was how quickly it would feel like a perfect fit.

"I knew that Duke was very high on my list because of the great balance of academics and a great tennis team," said An. "But after visiting and meeting the team, the coaches, and the people, I learned just how many resources the school has. Now I love my team. I love the girls on it, and the coaches have been great."

Bringing the Accolades with Them
Schuman was ranked No. 1 nationally in her class by Tennis Recruiting three separate times and competed in six Junior Grand Slam main draws, including Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and the 2025 U.S. Open Junior Championship. An was ranked as high as No. 7 nationally, owns a career-best ITF junior ranking of No. 6, and in 2023 battled through six matches to win the Girls 16 Singles National Easter Bowl Championship in Indian Wells.

Both also competed professionally before arriving in Durham. The experience sharpened them, but also clarified something.

"On the women's tour, there are so many post-college players who have been incredibly successful," An said.

"College is one of the highest levels before officially turning pro," Schuman agreed, pointing to the confidence that was gained in the pro tournaments. "Just gaining the experience of playing at that level was very beneficial."

Familiar Faces in a New Place
Schuman and An didn't arrive as strangers. The two spent years crossing paths on the junior ITF and USTA circuits. An recalls them playing the same tournaments since they were about 12 years old. An, who started at Duke in August, was one of the voices encouraging Schuman to take a hard look at the program.

"We played a lot of the same tournaments. We kind of grew up together in that sense," An said. "After I committed, when I started looking at the year below me, I definitely wanted to try to get her to come too."

Still, Schuman was careful to emphasize that she wasn't leaning entirely on a familiar face. "I actually think that this team was relatively new for me," Schuman said. "I knew Claire through [junior tennis], so that was really nice, but getting the experience of meeting new people was very important to me and it ended up being a really good decision."

From Solo to Squad
One of the biggest shifts hasn't been the level of competition, but the feeling of having extra people in your corner.

"Previous to college, all of the juniors, the tennis tour, was just very independent — you focus on yourself," An said. "Coming and transitioning into college with the team, the atmosphere is just so much different. Honestly, there's nothing like it. I'd say I personally enjoy it a lot more. To have a coach on your court, to have your teammates supporting you and even people up in the stands. The atmosphere is just a lot better."

By arriving in January, Schuman's transition was a lot steeper, being thrown into dual-match play right away. Yet she described the move to team tennis with unmistakable appreciation for the new atmosphere. "I've just loved going from having more individual practices to working out with a team and a group," Schuman said. "We really push each other, and I can already feel like it's made me a better player and made tennis so enjoyable, at a different level for me. I'm just so motivated when I come out on the court."

"They've both adapted to college tennis really well," said Duke women's tennis head coach Jamie Ashworth. "They both play with a lot of pride and passion, kind of exactly what we're looking for when recruiting, and what we're looking for in players, but also as people."

That sense of playing for something greater than yourself has affected both players, even in individual matches.

"There's something other than myself that's really helped me let go of nerves and honestly just play better," Schuman reflected. "You're doing it for other people, not just yourself."

An pointed to Duke's matchday atmosphere as unlike anything she experienced in juniors. The warm-up music, teammates cheering from adjacent courts and the shared uniform all contribute to an electric, supportive atmosphere.

"Everyone gets their blood pumping," An said with a laugh.

The Classroom Adjustment
Both An and Schuman came to Duke through pathways outside traditional high school, both through online high schools. Sitting in a physical lecture hall was, for both of them, a new experience.

"Definitely in-person classes, a lot of people are homeschooled and doing online school in high school," Schuman said of the biggest adjustment. "I've noticed a lot of my classes are very collaborative and discussion-based. Professors teach you by questioning you about it and it's definitely an adjustment."

For An, time management was the defining academic challenge. One that every college student grapples with, but that feels especially pronounced when practices, travel and meetings fill the calendar along with coursework. "Just managing your schedule, being more disciplined with your time…I think that's something every college kid has to juggle," An said.

Yet both spoke of their teammates as a crucial academic lifeline. The older players walked Schuman through Duke's administrative systems and assignments, helping her get her footing.

"They definitely made the transition easier," Schuman said.

Bigger Than Tennis
Campus life at Duke has given both players their first real taste of being a college student — and a college sports fan. An has made a point of attending games across sports, living alongside field hockey, volleyball and lacrosse players, showing up for their competitions.

"All of the athletes kind of support each other, and it's really fun seeing them in their element," An said.

Schuman's first basketball game was a Duke men's basketball contest. "To get to experience a Duke basketball game as my first one was just an out-of-body experience. So much energy, and you can just feel the community and connection that it builds."

Both players arrived at Duke after dipping into professional-level competition. Playing in pro tournaments gave them a feel for the world that might await them after college, but they elected for a different experience. For now, both have found something in Durham that the pro circuit wasn't offering — community.

"I feel very emotionally supported, on and off the court," Schuman said.

For An, one semester in and still adjusting, the verdict is already clear. "Overall, the school, academics, everything has exceeded my expectations," An said. "So, I'm happy!"

Between An and Schuman, they have won Grand Slam junior matches and ITF titles on multiple continents, and they are currently undefeated in the ACC. But if you ask them what they have enjoyed most about their first year, they don't reach for a potential trophy this season. They talk about their teammates. They mention the noise in the stands. They talk about not having to do this alone.

The junior circuit can be a lonely road. Durham and Duke have helped them transition to a new college life and find a new community.

An and Schuman will next take the court Friday, March 13 at 5 p.m., as the Blue Devils face Louisville at Ambler Tennis Stadium in Durham.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils women's tennis, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWTEN".

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Players Mentioned

Claire An

Aspen Schuman

Duke information