The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Desanto Adds Clark, Ratzlaff to Staff
8/25/2021 1:09:00 PM | Men's Tennis
BIRMINGHAM – UAB men's tennis coach Justin Desanto has announced the additions to Hunter Clark and Casey Ratzlaff to his staff.
Clark, who will be an assistant coach, comes to the Magic City from the University of Missouri Kansas City where he served as an assistant coach for the women's program for the 2020-21 season. The Roos finished 5-1 in league play and advanced to the finals of the Summit League tournament. While at Kansas City, he coached Grace Ball, who was named to the All-Summit League Women's Tennis Team.
Prior to Kansas City, Clark spent 2019-20 season at the University of Washington. The Huskies were 11-3 prior to the season being canceled due to Covid-19. UW finished 2020 with a Final ITA Ranking of 27. He coached Vanessa Wong, who was ranked the No. 75 singles player in the country and Natsuho Arakawa, who along with Wong, were the No. 59 ranked doubles team in the country.
As a player, Clark competed as a walk on for Kansas City in the Fall of 2016 and was a part of the team that won the WAC Regular Season title 2017-2018.
Clark graduated with a degree in journalism from University of Missouri Kansas City.
Ratzlaff, who will be a volunteer assistant coach, is currently the No. 23 wheelchair tennis player in the world and highest ranked American player. He made his debut in the men's division of the UNIQLO/ITF World Tennis Tour's international rankings in 2015. Ranked No. 165 in the world to end 2015, he finished each of the next three years in the Top 50, with a year-end ranking increase each year, before ending 2019 at No. 20.
Recently, Ratzlaff played in the 2020 US Open Wheelchair Competition, where he battled the then No. 1 player in the world and four-time Grand Slam title holder Joachim Gerard to a three set match.
Some of Ratzlaff's accomplishments include:
Currently, Ratzlaff is participating in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo that were rescheduled from last year. He'll be seeing first round action on Thursday evening in singles against the No. 21 player in the world Federico Cattaneo from France. He will then partner with fellow American Connor Stroud in doubles.
Clark, who will be an assistant coach, comes to the Magic City from the University of Missouri Kansas City where he served as an assistant coach for the women's program for the 2020-21 season. The Roos finished 5-1 in league play and advanced to the finals of the Summit League tournament. While at Kansas City, he coached Grace Ball, who was named to the All-Summit League Women's Tennis Team.
Prior to Kansas City, Clark spent 2019-20 season at the University of Washington. The Huskies were 11-3 prior to the season being canceled due to Covid-19. UW finished 2020 with a Final ITA Ranking of 27. He coached Vanessa Wong, who was ranked the No. 75 singles player in the country and Natsuho Arakawa, who along with Wong, were the No. 59 ranked doubles team in the country.
As a player, Clark competed as a walk on for Kansas City in the Fall of 2016 and was a part of the team that won the WAC Regular Season title 2017-2018.
Clark graduated with a degree in journalism from University of Missouri Kansas City.
Ratzlaff, who will be a volunteer assistant coach, is currently the No. 23 wheelchair tennis player in the world and highest ranked American player. He made his debut in the men's division of the UNIQLO/ITF World Tennis Tour's international rankings in 2015. Ranked No. 165 in the world to end 2015, he finished each of the next three years in the Top 50, with a year-end ranking increase each year, before ending 2019 at No. 20.
Recently, Ratzlaff played in the 2020 US Open Wheelchair Competition, where he battled the then No. 1 player in the world and four-time Grand Slam title holder Joachim Gerard to a three set match.
Some of Ratzlaff's accomplishments include:
- World Cup Team Member - 2019
- US Open GS debut as a wildcard - 2020
- Two-time Junior World Team Cup Champion - 2015, 2016
- 2019 Indian Wells Tennis Garden Wheelchair Championships - 1st singles
- 2019 Siruis Open in Zagreb, Croatia - 1st singles
- 2019 Camozzi Open in Brescia, Italy - 1st singles
Currently, Ratzlaff is participating in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo that were rescheduled from last year. He'll be seeing first round action on Thursday evening in singles against the No. 21 player in the world Federico Cattaneo from France. He will then partner with fellow American Connor Stroud in doubles.
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