Michael Venus Season 2024-25
2009 ITA Singles All-American
2009 ITA Doubles All-American
2009 SEC Player of the Year
2009 First-Team All-SEC
2009 SEC Honor Roll
2009 Louisiana Player of the Year
2009 First-Team All-Louisiana
2008 D’Novo All-American Champion
2008 First-Team All-SEC
2008 Louisiana Player of the Year
2008 First-Team All-Louisiana
2008 Louisiana Newcomer of the Year
LSU CAREER (2006-09)
Venus created a new line in the history books for LSU men’s tennis. The 6-3 Orlando, Fla. native became the first Tiger in the history of the program to capture the D’Novo/ITA All-American title (2008). Venus is one of only two Tigers to earn a top-10 finish in both singles and doubles the same year as he earned a No. 7 billing in singles and No. 4 in doubles with partner Skupski in 2009. He earned First-Team All-SEC honors, First-Team All-Louisiana honors and Louisiana Player of the Year recognition during each of the two years he played for the Tigers. In his final season with LSU, the senior standout earned the SEC’s top honor as he garnered the conference’s Player of the Year award, a feat not accomplished since Michael Chmela took home the award in 1998. His junior year he finished ranked No. 14 with Cluskey in doubles and earned a No. 31 singles ranking after sitting out during the fall.
SENIOR SEASON (2008-09)
Posted a top-10 finish in both singles (No.7) and doubles (No. 4) with Skupski… Became a two-time All-American as he garnered the honor in both singles and doubles … Selected SEC Player of the Year… Selected First-Team All-SEC for the second year … Named to the SEC Honor Roll … Garnered Louisiana Player of the Year and First-Team All-Louisiana honors for the second-straight year … Named SEC Athlete of the Week for his efforts against Georgia and Tennessee the week of March 29 … Competed at the NCAA Individual Championships in singles and doubles with partner Skupski… Compiled a combined 34 victories over nationally-ranked opponents, 21 in singles and 13 in doubles … Reached the semifinals of the SEC Coaches’ Indoor Championships in singles and reached the finals in doubles with Skupski … Along with Skupski, defeated the No. 1 ranked duo of Ole Miss’ Jonas Berg and Bram ten Berge twice and once when the Rebel duo checked in at No. 2 … Captured the 2008 D’Novo All-American title, defeating then top-ranked Oleksandr Nedovyesov on his quest for the championship … Compiled a team-best 26 singles victories, 17 in straight sets… Earned second varsity letter.
JUNIOR SEASON (2007-08)
Earned first-team All-SEC honors … Finished the season ranked No. 31 in singles and No. 14 in doubles with partner James Cluskey … Earned a bid to the NCAA Singles and Doubles Tournaments … Named Louisiana Player and Newcomer of the Year … Earned first-team All-Louisiana honors … Notched 14 singles victories while playing among the top two spots … Captured eight wins against ranked opponents, including three in the top-30 … Ranked as high as No. 26 in the singles rankings … Biggest win was when he defeated Florida’s third-ranked Greg Ouellette in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4 … Earned SEC Player of the Week honors for his win over Ouellette … Reached the doubles finals of the Price Leblanc Lexus Pro Tennis Classic in Baton Rouge with 15-year-old pro Ryan Harrison … Joined the team in January after sitting out the fall … Earned first varsity letter.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2006-07)
Transferred from the University of Texas and sat out the 2006-07 season.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2005-06 at Texas)
A key ingredient leading the University of Texas to the Big 12 Championship as he played at the No. 6 slot throughout the season … Ended the season with a No. 59 ITA doubles ranking with doubles partner Travis Helgeson …Posted a 26-12 overall singles mark and a 21-8 doubles record … Scored a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Pepperdine’s Omar Altmann in UT’s 5-2 victory over the eventual National Champion Waves in Austin … Defeated Baylor’s Vladimir Portnov to help UT to a 4-1 victory in the Big 12 Championship over the host Bears.
HIGH SCHOOL
2006 Boys’ 18 National Clay Court Singles Champion … 2005 Boys’ 18 National Clay Court Doubles Champion with partner Andy Orban … 2004 Florida 5-A Singles Champion and 2003 Florida 5-A Singles Runner-Up … Earned the 2004 Central Florida Fall Sportsman Award for high school athletes … Captured Boys’ 18 Singles National Open events in Tallahassee, Fla., and El Paso, Texas … A Boys’ 18 doubles finalist, along with partner Carsten Ball, at the 2005 Easter Bowl … Entered his freshman season at UT with a No. 2 United States Tennis Association (USTA) Boys’ 18 national ranking and a No. 148 International Tennis Federation world ranking … Appeared in Junior Davis Cup events.
PERSONAL
Son of Dave and Lynne Venus … Has three sisters, Sarah-Jane, Elizabeth and Laura … Born Oct. 16, 1987, in Auckland, New Zealand.
Venus’ Career Statistics
Singles
Overall
vs. Top 125
Conf. Dual
Year
W
L
Pct.
W
L
Pct.
W
L
Pct.
2007-08
2008-09
26
9
.743
21
8
.724
7
3
.700
Totals
Doubles
Overall
vs. Top 60
Conf. Dual
Year
W
L
Pct.
W
L
Pct.
W
L
Pct.
2007-08
2008-09
19
10
.655
13
7
.650
5
5
.500
Totals