American CiCi Bellis has seen enough of the WTA Tour to know that she wants more. After reaching the third round of this year’s U.S. Open, Bellis has announced that she will pass on playing college tennis at Stanford and instead turn pro.
The American, who hails from Atherton California and had verbally committed to Stanford for 2017, told Colette Lewis of Zoo Tennis in an exclusive interview that her results on tour this season (6-4) helped make up her mind. "I think the past summer, and the WTA tournaments that I've done and my recent tournament here at the US Open, changed that decision for me," Bellis told Lewis. "That's kind of what did it."
Lewis reports that Bellis has signed with IMG primarily because of her relationship with Marjin Bal, who is based in Bradenton, Florida. “He's basically been my agent without officially signing for the past four years,” Bellis told Lewis. “I talked to a few other agencies, but I've known him so long and we're obviously great friends too. It's not just business."
Bellis will move her home base to the USTA’s new home in Lake Nona, Florida near Orlando, and finish up her high school studies online via the K-12 International Academy while competing on tour.