At Recruited, we know that every player’s path looks different. Some athletes begin planning for college tennis years in advance. Others discover the opportunity later—but still find a way to make it happen. Gustav Facchini is a perfect example of that.

Gustav has a unique background. He is Italian and Swedish, originally from Sweden, trained extensively in Italy, and also holds American citizenship. But despite his international experience and strong foundation in tennis, he found out about the college tennis route relatively late.

By the time he began seriously exploring the U.S. college system, he was still developing as a player and had a lower UTR than many athletes typically targeting Division I programs. Instead of rushing the process, Gustav made a smart decision: he took a gap year to improve his tennis, raise his level, and give himself more time to prepare academically as well, including studying for exams like the SAT.

That decision changed everything.

During that year, Gustav continued to improve and kept his eyes on one goal—playing Division I tennis. It was an ambitious target. At around a 10 UTR, he was on the lower end of the Division I range, and we knew it would not be easy. So while we explored strong Division II options and stayed realistic about the process, we never lost sight of his dream.

Then the right opportunity came along: Longwood University.

From the start, there was real belief on both sides. The coaching staff saw Gustav’s videos, recognized his potential, and understood how much progress he had made. They didn’t just look at where he was in that moment—they looked at where he was going. That made all the difference.

Once the conversations began, everything started to fall into place. Gustav had great talks with the coach, connected well with the team, and even got the chance to speak with several of the players. The more he learned about Longwood, the more natural the fit felt. The location, the environment, and the people around the program all made it clear that this was the right place for him.

In the end, Gustav achieved exactly what he set out to do: earn a Division I opportunity.

His story is a reminder that timing does not define your ceiling. Even if you start late, even if the process feels uphill, and even if your dream seems difficult to reach, the right plan and the right fit can still get you there.

Now, Gustav is heading to Longwood ready for the next chapter—proof that with patience, development, and belief, a late start can still lead to a Division I dream coming true.