Matthew Forbes is ready to dive into the deep end as he gears up for his first Grand Slam event at the US Open this year. However, before the 18-year-old can make his highly anticipated debut, he must navigate a small but significant hurdle: a controversy involving the NCAA. As questions arise about his eligibility and amateur status, Forbes finds himself caught in the crossfire, adding an unexpected layer of tension to his debut.

Who is Matthew Forbes?

The 2024 USTA Boys’ 18s National Champion is Matt Forbes, who defeated Jack Kennedy in the championship match after a close battle. With tenacity and skill, Forbes defeated Kennedy 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, and 7-5 to win the title.

In the Round of 32, Forbes defeated Braeden Gelletich to start his career. He then defeated Ohio State freshman Nikita Filin in the quarterfinals and incoming Penn freshman Sanjeev Chundu in the Round of 16. With this victory, the gifted young player secured a much sought-after spot in the US Open main draw, giving him the chance to face some of the greatest players in the world.

Matthew Forbes made it to the US Open first round, but NCAA regulations will force him to forfeit $100,000 of his prize money.

Why Matt Forbes has to give away his first-round US Open money

The NCAA is facing a new legal challenge over its rules restricting college athletes’ earnings from outside sporting events, such as the U.S. Open in tennis. Leading North Carolina women’s tennis player Reese Brantmeier filed a federal lawsuit in the state just a few days ago.

In an attempt to have the court reverse the regulations prohibiting athletes from receiving prize money from such competitions, she is requesting class-action status. Brantmeier’s complaint draws attention to her battle with NCAA regulations, which resulted in her having to surrender the majority of her $48,913 prize money from the 2021 U.S. Open because of limitations on her pre- and during-college earnings.

Additionally, she was forced to miss the autumn 2022 NCAA competition because the NCAA disputed some of the event’s associated costs. The complaint highlights that student-athletes are only allowed to take prize money for “actual and necessary expenses” by the NCAA once they have enrolled in college.

Matt Forbes, an incoming freshman at Michigan State, is the perfect example of these contested rules of collegiate athletics; in order to stay eligible, he must turn down the $100,000 in prize money from his US Open first-round match. This rule draws attention to the inconsistencies in the system, since athletes are penalized for winning prizes as a result of their sports accomplishments.

In a similar vein, North Carolina tennis player Fiona Crawley had to give up almost $81,000 in prize money from the U.S. Open in order to keep her qualifying status. The ongoing legal challenge to NCAA rules, which restrict college athletes from accepting prize money earned outside NCAA competitions, has created a dilemma for Forbes.

Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on the NCCA situation that has created a problem for the 18-year-old? Do let us know in the comment section below.