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The University of Kentucky has already become the place young Canadian tennis players head to continue their education – both tennis and in the classroom.

And that reputation has only been burnished with the news reported by Parsa Nemati Wednesday, that Ontario brothers Nicolas and Mikael Arseneault have verbally committed to take their talents to the school, and well-regarded coach Cédric Kauffmann.

The 17-year-old twins, whose sister Ariana Arseneault has also gone the NCAA Route (via the University of Georgia, and now Auburn) are set to start in the fall of 2025. And as they’re not close to the ATP level where they might have to make a decision based upon a sudden surge in the rankings, it seems likely they will indeed attend.

#DoubleBomb 💣

17yo twins Nicolas Arseneault (UTR 12.35 / ITF Jr. #182) & Mikael Arseneault (UTR 12.06 / ITF Jr. #266) have verbally committed to @UKMensTennis & will join Kentucky for fall of 2025. Ranked #4 & #8 in Canada’s U18 rankings. Sister Ariana plays for @AuburnWTennis. pic.twitter.com/BnnROV0SMu— Parsa Bombs 💣 (@ParsaBombs) April 10, 2024

Twins in the Desert

As you can see, the Arseneaults are “Bryan Twins” – fraternal twins, with Nicolas (the higher-ranked) being lefthanded, and Mikael the righty.

***The Arseneault twins at the Canadian U12s in 2019. Time flies! (📸: Kyle Clapham/Tennis Canada).***

Just a few weeks ago, Open Court watched as the twins competed in the higher-level junior event at Indian Wells, during the second week of the BNP Paribas Open.

Here’s what they looked like – after a minor snafu during which one of the twins had an ineligible ball cap on – TWO logos! OMG! Not kosher! – and had to find another one before they could take the court.

Next up: a Tim’s franchise in Lexington

To say that the University of Kentucky is a nesting ground for male Canadian tennis talent is to understate the case.

From way back, when the late Bruno Agostinelli starred there (he later became a popular coach before a tragic and car accident took him far too soon), it’s been a place the Canadians have gone to further their education.

With a coach hailing from France, it’s been an especially welcoming place for francophone Quebecers. The Arseneaults, despite their names, hail from Ontario.

Among the alumni are Montrealer Gabriel Diallo, currently No. 150 on the ATP Tour and former captain Liam Draxl of Newmarket, Ont., who is just starting to make his way in the pros after a stellar college career.

Liam Draxl: from UK to DC (vid)

But there are even more. Even without Diallo and Draxl, there is still plenty of Canadian content on the 2023-24 UK roster: Taha Baadi, Christophe Clément, Jaden Weekes and Joshua Lapadat. Baadi is in his fifth year; Lapadat is a senior. Lapadat and Baadi are team captains.

We caught up with most of them last summer, at the new $25,000 ITF tournament in Laval, Quebec. There were seven UK players in all – plus their coach.

Xu headed to Cal – Berkeley

Nemati also reported a few weeks ago that Montreal’s Naomi Xu is headed to Berkleley, Calif. to play for the University of California Bears.

Naomi Xu (UTR 9.71) has verbally committed to @CalWomensTennis and will join the Bears for fall of 2024. The 17-yo has an ITF juniors career-high ranking of #47, winning five titles. Also is ranked #3 in Canada's U18 rankings and older sister Annabelle plays for @UVAWomensTennis. pic.twitter.com/ZJE2ZmSUhB
— Parsa Bombs 💣 (@ParsaBombs) March 18, 2024

Xu, the younger sister of former top Canadian junior Annabelle, was a top-50 junior who actually got to the junior Grand Slam level and played doubles with her big sister at Wimbledon in 2022.