USA's Donald Young learning how to handle on-court pressure

Over ten years after he was tapped as the next great American hope in men's tennis as a 15-year-old, Donald Young is beginning to understand his game and how to handle the on-court pressure — and it's showing in his tennis.

"I knew that my time was going to come," Young told USA TODAY Sports in a telephone interview from Glasgow, Scotland, where he's competing this weekend with the U.S. team in a Davis Cup tie against Great Britain.

"I had a lot of friends who said that at 25 everything was going to change," said Young, who turned 25 last July. "I had that in my mind. Sure, I wanted it to come earlier, but I see stuff differently now. Even regular life stuff, I just know myself better."

Those ten years have been a long, oftentimes hard road for Young, who never rose to the peaks prescribed for him.

Coached by his parents, Donald Sr. and lIlona Young, the Atlanta-based left-hander had constant outbursts on the court, struggling to control his temper.

In 2011, he sent an expletive-laden tweet aimed at the USTA after he failed to secure the organization's wild card for the French Open that year. "They have screwed me for the last time!" he wrote.

But four years later, a more mature Young is emerging.

Last month in Delray Beach he reached his second career A.T.P. World Tour final, and his 10-5 start to the year that includes another quarterfinal and semifinal, is the best of his career.

His selection by U.S. Davis Cup captain Jim Courier for this weekend's tie was a surprise to say the least.

Though he lost his opening rubber to world No. 5 Andy Murray, he could play the decisive fifth match on Sunday afternoon in Glasgow. The U.S. trails Great Britain 2-0 after Friday's play.

"It's been exciting to see Donald play so well recently," Courier said in an email. "We've seen so many ATP players reach their career peak in their late 20's in recent years, so from that perspective Donald has a lot of runway ahead of him to work with. He's been through some trying times earlier in his career but he is focused and optimistic about what his future holds and so am I."

Young, visibly stronger in the upper body this season, has taken a more aggressive approach in his tactics: He's moving forward and attacking the court, a thinking player who often makes his opponents uncomfortable with his lefty spin.

"His game is very unique," said tennis coach and analyst Paul Annacone in an interview. "He's got fast hands and fast feet, so he can play on or inside the baseline which is awkward to play against. Marcelo Rios was great at that. I can't compare him to anyone right now, but he can hit his backhand flat into the court and he creates a lot of probe for a lot of players."

Young has credited some of his recent success to growing his inner circle, which has long been insular and protected. Last season he worked in conjunction with Craig Boynton as part of the USTA Player Development program.

"Working with Craig, he wanted me to fight out there and be myself, get to know myself in tough situations," said a reflective Young. "That's allowing me to come back and be comfortable with who I am on the court. I'm competing better."

Young reached a career-high ranking of No. 39 in 2012, but finished that year 5-24 and ranked outside the top 150. It's been a long, steady climb since that season, but his best tennis might still be in front of him.

"It's hard to measure what a lot of expectation does to a young person and it's hard to know how much of the recipe that ingredient is," said Annacone, who recently worked with a heavily burdened Sloane Stephens. "Donald has to understand how to manage his game when he's playing average tennis. The best players know how to win when they're playing average."

Young states his goals with a sort of assertiveness in his voice: He wants to reach the top 20, win an ATP title and win a live Davis Cup match — the latter he'll perhaps have the chance to do Sunday.

"These types of things, they're what I've always wanted but now it feels like they're within reach," he said.

"Donald came in an era following all-time greats Sampras, Agassi and others… that's brutal when it comes to expectations," noted Annacone. "I think that was a tough environment for him to follow up on. Now it's taking root a little bit because the expectation has dropped."

"Everything that is said, I hear it," Young said of his Davis Cup experience and new found approach. "I'm like a sponge."

And he's even back on Twitter, re-joining the social media platform last month.

"Back on Twitter," he wrote on February 5. "100% PG this time."