From Futures to INTENNSE™ Arena: Keshav Chopra Finds His Groove
INTENNSE Tennis
2 MINS | Published on 08/8/25
Keshav Chopra has played a lot of tennis. From college matches at Georgia Tech to grinding it out on the Futures tour, he’s seen just about every type of court and competition. But walking into the INTENNSE™ Arena? That was something else entirely.
"I actually thought the arena was super nice," Chopra said. “Futures honestly are not held at the greatest courts. I was just in California, and it was literally held at some public courts. They don’t really treat you well at all. When I came into the arena and saw the net and the INTENNSE in the net, it looked like a really professional court."
INTENNSE brings a fast-paced, 10-minute format that flips everything Chopra knew about match play. Gone are the long rallies and time to recover from early mistakes. Here, it’s about showing up sharp from the first point.
"You start off down a couple, and it’s a little bit nerve-wracking. You kind of want to have a lead, it’s kind of more emphasized in your head," he said. "The very next point, you need to be ready to play. You can’t really think about the score too much."
That pressure forced Chopra to play more in the moment, something he actually appreciated.
"I think this format is great at helping you stay in the present. Just staying on the task, focusing on what you need to do. Not thinking about winning or losing, just kind of playing each point the way you want to."
The Challenge Series gives college players, high performance juniors and pros a shot to prove themselves in a unique, fast-paced environment. It also offers something even the professional tour often doesn’t: meaningful prize money.
"You get paid way better than you do on the Futures, for sure," Chopra said.
He fought his way through tough matches and tight moments, including a nail-biter against one of his good friends, Tyler Stice, that came down to the final point.
"I was down one point with like five seconds to go. I was like, this is it, you know, I have to give everything here. I ended up ripping a really good backhand line to tie it up."
It went to sudden death. Chopra served wide, played a great point, but just missed the chance to close it. Still, that third-place finish earned him a spot on the Challenge Team and a shot at playing in the main team Dual on Saturday.
"I was just happy I made the team. That was the main thing I wanted to do."
What came next caught Chopra off guard. Despite being ready to go, he didn’t get the call into the singles rotation early on. He sat, waited, and watched. His mom watched too and kept asking why he wasn’t in the lineup.
Due to flight issues earlier in the week, INTENNSE coach Irina Falconi hadn’t been able to see much of the qualifying action. Without the benefit of seeing Chopra in match play, she initially slotted him in for doubles.
"I said, look, I think you could really use me for singles. Put me in, and if I suck, take me out."
Once he got the nod, he didn’t waste the opportunity.
"I think I started off pretty hot. I won six or seven points in a row, and Team Tampa called a timeout.
From that point on, he was locked in. The Challenge Team needed a spark, and he gave them one.
Beyond the competition, what stuck with Chopra was the energy and atmosphere. There were ball kids, music playing between points, commentary mid-match, and teammates cheering from the sideline. It was a completely different vibe from the quieter, often lonely world of Futures tennis.
"You don’t get ball kids in Futures. I mean, this is crazy. It’s so much fun being on a team. It’s amazing."
For Chopra, INTENNSE is more than just a break from the tour grind. It’s a real opportunity. A place where you can compete, connect, and earn. And for guys chasing the dream, that’s a rare and welcome change.
