MALIBU, California – The Pepperdine men's tennis program has signed its highest-rated recruit in the Adam Schaechterle era as Australian Edward Winter will join the Waves in the fall of 2023.
 
Winter (Adelaide, Australia) competed at all four junior Grand Slams, holds a career-high ITF juniors ranking of 66 and was recognized as the Australian national junior player of the year in 2022. He has also achieved significant success on the professional stage, winning his first 25k ITF World Tour singles event in Traralgon, Australia last November and defeating former world #6 Gilles Simon in the qualifying of the 2022 Australian Open.
 
The Aussie has won five singles titles in the last two years, but he has also shown his skill on the doubles court. He won junior doubles events at the ITF J2 in Istres, France and the J3 in Cancun, Mexico before winning his first 15K ITF World Tour doubles event in Champaign, Illinois in September.
 
Head coach Adam Schaechterle said: "It's an exciting day for our program to announce Eddie's signing. We identified Eddie early on as one of the best competitors in the world for his age group, and believe he has the potential to play serious pro tennis. But, throughout the recruiting process, we appreciated Eddie and his family's desire to grow academically and develop as a human being during his college experience. This young man has strong values and a rare character – he will impact our program far beyond winning tennis matches."
 
Winter said: "Pepperdine had always been on my radar as one of the best colleges in the United States. But, it was really after my visit to Malibu that my eyes were opened to the community and spirit associated with Pepperdine. I immediately connected with Head Coach Adam Schaechterle and Assistant Coach Tassilo Schmid as they shared common goals and visions as to how to develop my tennis, and to help me grow as a person. I was fortunate to meet President Gash on my visit, and I believe his words sum up my decision to come to Pepperdine, "Come to Pepperdine not for the location, but for the people." I was immediately amazed by the Malibu campus, but that is not the reason I chose Pepperdine. I chose Pepperdine for the people."
 
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