How A Dubai-Based Tennis Star Plans to Go Pro with Online Schooling

This week we caught up with tennis superstar, Timmy, 14-year-old CGA student based in Dubai, who took to instagram live to share what it takes to be a professional tennis player while studying online as a full time student.

No stranger to hard work and discipline, Timmy’s daily routine revolves around intensive training sessions, tournaments, and schoolwork—all aimed at reaching his goal of becoming a professional athlete or attending a top university in the United States.

Finding a balance between the demands of competitive sports and academics can be overwhelming, but Timmy has found a solution that works for him: online schooling at Crimson Global Academy (CGA).

Why Online Schooling Works for Professional Athletes

Like many young athletes, Timmy faced the challenge of balancing a demanding training schedule with his education. Traditional schooling meant rigid schedules that clashed with his need to travel for tournaments and attend early morning practices.

“I switched to online learning this year. It was a great choice because online schooling gives me the flexibility to focus on my tennis career while still keeping up with my studies,” he says.

“With online school, I can travel for tournaments and study anywhere around the world where there’s Wi-Fi, which is really helpful for an athlete because they have to train and do competitions.”

This flexibility was important, especially during the unpredictable nature of his tournament schedule. “Sometimes I have more than one match in a day, and I can’t always predict when I’ll be free to study.”

For this reason, online schooling at CGA has allowed Timmy to continue his education from anywhere without the need to stress or worry about missing class.

Not only are CGA classes flexible, but they provide Timmy with the ability to go back and review class recordings, ensuring he doesn’t fall behind.

“There’s no pressure because I can always look back at the recordings. If I miss something during a tournament, I know I can catch up later,” making his learning experience far less stressful and much more manageable.

Supportive Teachers and a High-Level Education

Timmy shares how one of the best parts of studying at CGA is the support and quality of education he gets from his teachers. Following the British Curriculum, he’s been able to explore subjects that truly interest him, like Commerce and Maths.

“I like Commerce because our teacher is really kind and helpful. We recently played a game about investing and even started our own businesses. It was a lot of fun.”

The interactive learning at CGA keeps Timmy engaged, even with his demanding athletic schedule. His teachers understand his commitments on the court and provide the flexibility he needs to stay on track.

“They’re really supportive,” Timmy says. “They always give me homework, and when I miss a lesson, they explain everything I missed. But I usually check the recordings, so I’m already up to speed.”

For those who worry about missing out on support with online learning, Timmy is quick to reassure them. CGA’s online platform makes it easy for students to reach out to teachers whenever they need help.

“It’s really easy to contact the teachers via email,” he says. And the support doesn’t stop at academics. “If I have technical issues and send a message, CGA replies in like a maximum of five minutes.”

A Typical Day for a Tennis Superstar

There is no secret to balancing a demanding schedule, it takes careful planning, and Timmy has perfected a routine that keeps him on track.

His days vary depending on whether he’s training in Dubai or competing in tournaments. When he’s at home in Dubai, his routine is very disciplined.

Here's Timmy's daily routine:

“I wake up at six, have my first breakfast, and train until nine. Then at 10, I have school until 1:15 p.m., followed by two hours of free time for my personal life and lunch. I have my last lesson from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. After that, I take a quick snack before training from five to eight. Then it’s dinner at 8:30, and I go to sleep by 9:30.”

During tournament days things can get unpredictable.

“In tournaments, the schedule is quite challenging because it’s unpredictable. The match schedule usually only comes out at 7 p.m. the evening before, so I have to be ready for anything.”

His matches can change at a moment’s notice.

“If I’m playing the third match of the day, I have to stay by the court from the first match because there might be a walkover or a cancellation. If I’m not ready to go on the court in 15 minutes, I get eliminated,” he explains.

Despite these challenges, Timmy makes a conscious effort to attend lessons when he can.

“I still try my best to attend at least one lesson that day. Once I finish my match, I go back to the hotel and watch the recordings to catch up.”

High-Quality Education for Athletes Online

Online schooling was an obvious choice for Timmy. Before joining CGA he conducted thorough research to make sure it was the right fit for him.

In fact, he believes that CGA has provided a level of learning that surpasses his previous school, thanks to the challenging, academic rigour.

“I realised that here in online school, people might say that the level of education is lower, but I picked CGA because it’s number three in the US. The level of education is really high, and I feel like it’s higher than my old school.”

Since joining CGA Timmy is very clear about his future goals and ambitions. Tennis has always been a passion of his from a young age.

“I started playing tennis when I was 4.5 years old, and by 11, I began playing international tournaments to gain experience and ranking points.”

Now, with the help of CGA’s adaptable schedule, he is able to keep up with the intense demands of his sport while preparing academically for the future.

His ultimate dream? To turn pro in tennis. However, he also has a backup plan.

“If I don't turn pro in tennis, I want to apply to very top universities, for example, Harvard or Stanford, mainly to study in the US because it’s very good for tennis.”

Timmy knows firsthand the challenges of balancing academics and sports and has some advice for young athletes considering online schooling.

“Set clear priorities and determine what’s most important for you in both sports and academics...Always work hard and don’t waste time in lessons because fewer hours with good quality are more effective than more hours with poor quality.”

His experience with CGA has shown him that it’s possible to succeed in both areas if you stay focused and disciplined.