University of Georgia Athletics
Ratiu Joins Georgia’s Top-Ranked 2023 Signing Class
July 24, 2023 | Men's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. — The University of Georgia men's tennis program has signed incoming freshman Niels Ratiu (pronounced Kneels Ra-Choo), who will enroll this coming fall, head coach Manuel Diaz announced Monday afternoon.
The Liège, Belgium, native earned a career-high International Tennis Federation Junior world ranking of No. 109 and currently has a Universal Tennis Rating of 12.56. The 17-year-old was a member of the Belgium National Team for the 2023 Summer Cup and holds a 21-3 record during the 2023 season.
"Niels is another great addition to this incoming signing class," Diaz said. "He is an extremely talented player with outstanding experience at the junior level. We have enjoyed getting to know Niels and his family throughout the recruiting process and know he will be a perfect fit in our program."
The fourth-ranked player under 18 in Belgium, Ratiu has won a pair of both singles and doubles titles on the ITF Tour, most recently winning the J200 St. Poelten Tournament in Austria this past May.
Ratiu joins an already top-ranked recruiting class, with blue chips Ignacio Buse and Alex Michelsen, five-star Davis Taylor and four stars Parker Jacques and Parker Mariencheck. The Bulldogs also signed USC transfer Ryan Colby, who was a former blue-chip prospect and All-Pac 12 honoree.
"I can't wait to become a Bulldog and join the best program in college tennis," Ratiu said. "I believe the coaches' experience and the relationship between them and the players will help me to develop as a player and a person. I have no doubt that l made the best decision, Go Dawgs!"
Niels is the son of Lo Fatim and Ratiu Loan and sister to Louise, who is a rising sophomore on the women's tennis team at Tennessee Tech. She spent her freshman season at Young Harris College, where she was named to the PBC Presidential Honor Roll for her stellar academic performance.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Men's Tennis on social media on Twitter and Instagram @UGATennis, on Facebook @UGAMensTennis, and on the web at GeorgiaDogs.com.
The Liège, Belgium, native earned a career-high International Tennis Federation Junior world ranking of No. 109 and currently has a Universal Tennis Rating of 12.56. The 17-year-old was a member of the Belgium National Team for the 2023 Summer Cup and holds a 21-3 record during the 2023 season.
"Niels is another great addition to this incoming signing class," Diaz said. "He is an extremely talented player with outstanding experience at the junior level. We have enjoyed getting to know Niels and his family throughout the recruiting process and know he will be a perfect fit in our program."
The fourth-ranked player under 18 in Belgium, Ratiu has won a pair of both singles and doubles titles on the ITF Tour, most recently winning the J200 St. Poelten Tournament in Austria this past May.
Ratiu joins an already top-ranked recruiting class, with blue chips Ignacio Buse and Alex Michelsen, five-star Davis Taylor and four stars Parker Jacques and Parker Mariencheck. The Bulldogs also signed USC transfer Ryan Colby, who was a former blue-chip prospect and All-Pac 12 honoree.
"I can't wait to become a Bulldog and join the best program in college tennis," Ratiu said. "I believe the coaches' experience and the relationship between them and the players will help me to develop as a player and a person. I have no doubt that l made the best decision, Go Dawgs!"
Niels is the son of Lo Fatim and Ratiu Loan and sister to Louise, who is a rising sophomore on the women's tennis team at Tennessee Tech. She spent her freshman season at Young Harris College, where she was named to the PBC Presidential Honor Roll for her stellar academic performance.
Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Bulldogs by following UGA Men's Tennis on social media on Twitter and Instagram @UGATennis, on Facebook @UGAMensTennis, and on the web at GeorgiaDogs.com.
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