Nick Cavaday made his way to the United States four years ago from a borough of London, choosing the college route over an early start to his professional tennis career. Cavaday had visited N.C. State and spoke with coach Jon Choboy and his assistant coach at the time, Matt Halfpenny, and realized that to reach his potential and to position himself for a professional career, training at the college level was a must.

And now, four years later, before Cavaday heads back to England to pursue his professional career, he is pleased with the insight he has gained from N.C. State and how his game has developed.

“I really learned how to handle myself in tough situations,” Cavaday said. “In college you get put in situations where you’re the deciding match and there’s a lot on the line. You begin to understand how you respond in those situations.”

This team aspect of the college game is an element that is very different from tennis in Europe, Cavaday notes, adding that it has helped his game out quite a bit.

When deciding on where to take Cavaday’s game after high school, his father Nigel said that four years in America sounded like the best option.

“It’s a very physical game and the trainers out there can help with that,” Nigel said from his London home. “Also [there are] benefits of getting an education, if he doesn’t make it as a pro. But we knew getting out there at 21 or 22 [years old] he’ll have a good attempt at it.”

State’s coach Jon Choboy helped lure Cavaday to the Wolfpack, and said he is pleased with how Cavaday, who spent the vast majority of his college career as State’s No. 1 seed, developed.

“He prepares himself in every way — mentally and physically,” Choboy said. “He’s definitely got some assets that can help him once he leaves here. He takes the ball early, so his opponent won’t have a lot of time to react. If you make a mistake, he’s going to make you pay.”

Cavaday will take this style back to England with him as he prepares for the professional circuit. And while Nigel notes that Cavaday has developed both physically and mentally, there are still aspects his son will have to work on.

“Nick has become mentally stronger and has had some tough battles against some very good players,” Nigel said. “It allows him to come back and sort a few aspects out of his game, which I think should have been developed out there, but that he can work on [in England].”

Nick will start training at a base back in London as soon as he graduates next month. He plans to work with a trainer he became familiar with over the years on London’s southeast side and jumpstart his career as a professional.

“I’ll basically be on the road for 30 or 40 weeks a year playing in events around England and the rest of Europe and trying to pick up rankings,” Cavaday said.

While playing in England over the summers in the past four years, Cavaday has competed in professional events. But now he’ll be able to keep the prize money. And with the grass court season starting up soon in England, Cavaday will be busy, playing in low level events that lead to his ultimate dream of playing at Wimbledon.

“My dream has always been to play professionally and enter Grand Slam events, but Wimbledon is definitely my favorite,” Cavaday said.

He added that it’s feasible for him to qualify for the event as soon as this year. The tournament holds a wild card playoff with those outside the top-200 competing for two spots.

“It’s feasible, but unlikely,” he added.

And while Cavaday said he knows the chance to qualify regularly for Grand Slams is still in the distance, his options aren’t limited to a professional career, with coaching and sports psychology as other options. But for now, he has one focus.

“Gaining those points and moving up in the rankings and qualifying for Wimbledon would be pretty amazing,” Cavaday said. “That’s really my goal in the next three to four years is to get to the point where I’m consistently making it into grand slam events.”