From Early Mornings to Grand Slams

From the tennis courts of BISP to the Junior Grand Slams and Dartmouth College, alumnus Kunanan (Puthi) Pantaratorn reflects on the people, experiences and lessons that have stayed with him.

When Puthi joined BISP on a tennis scholarship alongside his brother Pine, he was far from convinced about moving away from Bangkok. He admits that tennis had never been a particular passion growing up, and the prospect of boarding school and studying entirely in English felt daunting.

When I heard from my dad that I would be going to boarding school in Phuket, I was nowhere near ready for such a change in my life. But it ended up being the best decision of my life.

Settling into BISP brought a new perspective. Surrounded by students who took their studies and sports seriously, Puthi began to rethink his own approach to tennis. “I was never a big believer that an environment could shape who you are,” he recalls. “Then I realised how naive I was to think that, because I was completely wrong.”

His days soon developed a familiar rhythm: early morning training, rushing to breakfast with Pine and their friend Pao, lessons, afternoon tennis and evening prep in boarding. What once felt like a demanding routine became an important part of his development, helping him balance schoolwork with an increasingly busy international competition schedule.

Among the people Puthi remembers is his IGCSE Biology teacher, Mrs Danielle Jennings, who helped him keep up with his studies despite spending considerable time away at tournaments. He recalls how she would sometimes extend lessons to make sure everyone understood the material, and how much he appreciated her dedication. On court, Coach Gill Lemore taught him lessons that went beyond tennis, while Coach Miguel encouraged a more determined approach to training. Both regularly made time for additional practice, sometimes working on serves during lunch breaks. Coach Victor, his coach during his senior year, played a significant role in guiding his overall game and development throughout some of his most important international competitions.

I remember feeling sleepy and lonely on court at six in the morning, but I knew it was something I needed to do if I wanted to achieve something special.

That determination helped Puthi reach a career-high ITF junior ranking of world No. 41 and compete in all four Junior Grand Slams. Among his most treasured memories is a Wimbledon doubles match in which he and his partner Arnav held five match points against two of the world’s leading juniors before narrowly losing. Playing at Wimbledon had been a dream his father often spoke about throughout Puthi’s childhood, and seeing him in the stands, knowing they had finally made that dream a reality, made the experience particularly meaningful. Despite the result, it remains one of the happiest moments of his tennis career.

Alongside his sporting achievements, Puthi worked towards his ambition of studying at a leading university in the United States. He committed to Dartmouth College while still in Year 12, drawn not only by its academic and sporting opportunities but also by its sense of community.

My years at BISP taught me never to underestimate the power of a supportive, close-knit environment. It’s not about the biggest name, but finding a place where people genuinely care for one another and push each other to excel.

Now balancing an Ivy League education with NCAA Division I tennis, Puthi is adjusting to greater independence and enjoying the opportunity to explore new interests. Leaving BISP, he admits, was difficult, and university life has given him a new appreciation for the routines and relationships he once took for granted.

He particularly remembers the small gestures of everyday school life, from boarding staff checking in on students to the dining hall team saving meals for tennis players returning late from training. Above all, he misses the time spent with friends, the ordinary moments he only fully appreciated during his final week at school.

Reflecting on his experience, Puthi has some advice for younger students:

Don’t stress so much about trying to be the coolest person in the room or worrying about what others think. Focus on the work in front of you, always trust your environment, and enjoy the everyday moments while you have them.

I’m proud that I didn’t just walk away with rankings or achievements, but with a real sense of gratitude for the people and moments that built me.

As he continues his studies and tennis career at Dartmouth, Puthi is determined to enjoy those ordinary moments while they are happening, carrying with him the friendships and experiences that made BISP feel like a second home.