By Angela Molchan
Rafael Nadal also known as Rafa is a 22 year old Spanish tennis player. Nadal's Uncle Toni who also is a tennis player introduced tennis to Nadal when he was only 3 years old and has coached him thought his career. Nadal also played football and was force to choose between them at the age of 12 so that his education was not affected because he was playing tennis or football all the time. At the age of 16 Nadal had been ranked as being one of the top 50 tennis players in the world. Nadal being naturally right handed was taught by his uncle Toni to play left handed because he thought
Nadal's two-handed backhand would benefit him with a strong right arm. He uses a full western grip forehand, which allows him to hit a heavy, powerful topspin forehand giving him a bigger margin of error because of the height in which he clears the net and the speed of which the ball drops because of the topspin that is applied to the ball. Nadal uses a Babolat AeroPro Drive without cortex, and his racquet strung is between 50 and 58 pounds.
His clothing is sponsored by Nike. Nadal is known for his unconventional wear, such as sleeveless tops and Capri pants. He wears the Nike Air Max Breathe Cage II shoes[24] which have been customized for him with the famous "Vamos Rafa" written on the side of them.[25] Currently, his shoes display his nickname "Rafa" on one shoe and a logo specifically designed by Nike featuring a stylistic bull's head on the other.
Nadal's career really began to take off in 2002 when he was just 15 years old when he became the ninth player in the open era to win before age 16. In 2003 he became the second youngest male player to rank in the world's top 50 players. In 2004 Nadal won his first singles title. In 2005 Nadal was No. 2 in rankings. They call him The King of Clay because of his abilities on a clay courts. In tournament finals his record was 22 wins and 1 loss and is undefeated in 41 of five sets of matches played on clay. During April 2005 until May of 2007 Nadal won 81 matches in a row making him the owner of the longest single-surface winning streak. Nadal won the French Open in 2006, 2007, and 2008. As of August 2008 Nadal has a 67 wins and 8 losses and has won eight singles titles, including the French Open, Wimbledon, and the Olympic Games. He also had a 32 match winning streak during which he received five titles.Nadal is the number one tennis player in the world and is considered the best spanish player of all time.
Nadal was born in Manacor, Majorca to Sebastián Nadal and Ana María Parera. He has a younger sister named María Isabel. Nadal's upbringing and early years are largely kept private, he has stated growing up his passions were football, tennis, and fishing, and as of 2008 he has been dating María Francesca Perelló,also from Majorca, for three years.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_Molchan
http://EzineArticles.com/?Rafael-Nadal&id=1465928
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Baseline - Revisited
By Beth McCaskill
This morning, I awoke to find the Nadal/Fish match being replayed on USA, after I stayed up 'til 2:15 AM to watch it. I decided to check over on The Tennis Channel, as if I'm not getting enough tennis lately, and they were showing the finals of the Mexican Open, between Chela and Horna, 2 South Americans. They looked quite at home on clay. Flipping back and forth between the 2 channels made it clear how different the games are. On clay, from right up on the baseline in the middle of the court, a player can hit a very sharp angle, to just behind the service line on the sideline, and not have an outright winner.
At the US Open, Fish was hitting winners from the baseline, middle, by hitting much less angle, deep near the corners, against Nadal, maybe the best defender on the tour. That is why the aggressive player must get up on the baseline against a great topspinner like Nadal. Fish really did it in the first set. I didn't count, but he hit lots of outright winners because he was standing up at the baseline. Standing up at the baseline has another big advantage, which Fish also made clear. You are that much closer whenever Nadal hit short, which he does quite often because of his spin. There is tremendous advantage to being closer to short balls.
When you get in to a short ball faster, you get to hit bigger angles. On a surface like the US Open, those are winners. Second, if you are hitting an approach shot you usually catch the ball higher and have many more options. There is another important reason to get to a short ball before it falls below the net: you avoid telegraphing your approach. If you are forced to hit an approach shot off a low ball, while you are running forward, you must prepare for your backswing by moving your feet out of the way, so your opponent knows 2 steps earlier, where you are aiming.
Watch a Roddick match. If he approaches from his usual spot, many feet behind the baseline, he catches the ball very low. Watch his opponent. He is already running into position before Roddick strikes the ball. In today's game, giving away your approach is fatal. Watch an early Federer match (HINT: Roger, you are playing deeper now!). When he hits a short ball, he closes fast, reaches it up high, and freezes his opponent by not revealing his approach. Then, half the time, his opponent guesses wrong or moves early and Roger just hits a winner. The rest of the time, because he has caught the ball up high, he drives it with pace, and gets an easy volley back. Off course, all this is contingent upon your willingness to stand at the baseline and be willing to hit many more balls on the rise. It takes guts. It takes confidence. On clay it is more difficult because of the uneven bounces, and frankly it isn't even worth it. At the US Open, on a hard court, against someone like Nadal, that is where the advantage lies.
Contact: Beth McCaskill
Phone: 678-622-3708
Email: BethMcCaskill@TennisPlayersNetwork.com
URL: http://www.TennisPlayersNetwork.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_McCaskill
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Baseline---Revisited&id=1471128
This morning, I awoke to find the Nadal/Fish match being replayed on USA, after I stayed up 'til 2:15 AM to watch it. I decided to check over on The Tennis Channel, as if I'm not getting enough tennis lately, and they were showing the finals of the Mexican Open, between Chela and Horna, 2 South Americans. They looked quite at home on clay. Flipping back and forth between the 2 channels made it clear how different the games are. On clay, from right up on the baseline in the middle of the court, a player can hit a very sharp angle, to just behind the service line on the sideline, and not have an outright winner.
At the US Open, Fish was hitting winners from the baseline, middle, by hitting much less angle, deep near the corners, against Nadal, maybe the best defender on the tour. That is why the aggressive player must get up on the baseline against a great topspinner like Nadal. Fish really did it in the first set. I didn't count, but he hit lots of outright winners because he was standing up at the baseline. Standing up at the baseline has another big advantage, which Fish also made clear. You are that much closer whenever Nadal hit short, which he does quite often because of his spin. There is tremendous advantage to being closer to short balls.
When you get in to a short ball faster, you get to hit bigger angles. On a surface like the US Open, those are winners. Second, if you are hitting an approach shot you usually catch the ball higher and have many more options. There is another important reason to get to a short ball before it falls below the net: you avoid telegraphing your approach. If you are forced to hit an approach shot off a low ball, while you are running forward, you must prepare for your backswing by moving your feet out of the way, so your opponent knows 2 steps earlier, where you are aiming.
Watch a Roddick match. If he approaches from his usual spot, many feet behind the baseline, he catches the ball very low. Watch his opponent. He is already running into position before Roddick strikes the ball. In today's game, giving away your approach is fatal. Watch an early Federer match (HINT: Roger, you are playing deeper now!). When he hits a short ball, he closes fast, reaches it up high, and freezes his opponent by not revealing his approach. Then, half the time, his opponent guesses wrong or moves early and Roger just hits a winner. The rest of the time, because he has caught the ball up high, he drives it with pace, and gets an easy volley back. Off course, all this is contingent upon your willingness to stand at the baseline and be willing to hit many more balls on the rise. It takes guts. It takes confidence. On clay it is more difficult because of the uneven bounces, and frankly it isn't even worth it. At the US Open, on a hard court, against someone like Nadal, that is where the advantage lies.
Contact: Beth McCaskill
Phone: 678-622-3708
Email: BethMcCaskill@TennisPlayersNetwork.com
URL: http://www.TennisPlayersNetwork.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_McCaskill
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Baseline---Revisited&id=1471128
The Andy Murray Backhand Stroke - Analyzed!
By John Key
Following his amazing efforts at the 2008 US Open, Andy Murray has truly arrived and is a force to be reckoned with on the men's tennis tour - and so has his two-handed backhand. Andy's backhand really is a classy stroke and a great example of the two-hander for junior and adult players to copy.
So Why is it So Good?
There are so many good points about Andy Murray's backhand that it is difficult to know where to start.
The Movement
His movement, compared to a couple of years back is like the difference between chalk and cheese. His general court coverage and his ability to chase balls down is awesome. His tuning around the ball (those small sharp steps around the ball) is also vastly improved. It has now become extremely difficult to get the ball past Andy.
The Drive
It's scary how many options Andy has open to him on his backhand drive! His racket-head control is full of snap and his timing is perfect. He really makes this shot tell in a rally, partly due to the way he positions himself up the court striking the ball very early after the bounce. Andy's constant smothering of the ball is very tiring for the opponent to play against as they are given very little time between shots.
One minute he winds up with a full blown shot, the next he abbreviates, blocks or floats the shot. He has an uncanny ability to mix the pace, stopping his opponent from settling into a comfortable rhythm.
Andy has a straight right arm on take-back and flexes his arms slightly on impact. Lovely! Many of Andy's drives around the baseline are played with an open stance and with excellent weight transference. He has superb balance, very rarely collapsing when making contact with the ball (a common mistake when social players get too close to the ball).
The tremendous racket-head speed Andy generates has got to be my favourite part of his drive. The tip of the racket overtakes the grip with ferocious speed on the Murray drive. As a result, his arms and racket are wrapped over his shoulder on completion of the shot.
The Slice
Andy utilizes a text book take-back and follow-through and like so many two-handers, he plays his slice as a one-handed shot. Time after time he weaves this shot into his rallies for change of spin, change of pace and for approach shots. Sometimes he just floats his slice backhand to length without much pace and other times zaps it over the net fast and low. He also utilizes a cheeky short cut shot that fizzes low.
The Drop Shot
As Andy possesses a really natural slice backhand, the drop shot is a natural progression for him. Nowadays Andy is selecting when to play the drop shot with more care, resulting in a far more effective drop shot.
The Service Return
Week after week on the men's tour Andy can be seen hitting his returns early, constantly hitting to the feet of the incoming serve-volleyer. His natural ability to abbreviate and adapt his technique makes his return a real weapon. He moves forwards into the court and following a split step, pounces on the ball. His superb racket-head control means that the clipped shots and improvised flicks are a breeze.
If an opponent decides to stay back on the baseline, Andy will constantly nail his returns into the corners of the court. Intimidating to say the least!
Andy Murray has arrived and is here to stay!
As a coach, John Key has worked with all levels of tennis players from beginners to junior national champions, Davis Cup and Wimbledon. His tennis website Backhandworld.com offers lots of free coaching tips and advice for all standards.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Key
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Andy-Murray-Backhand-Stroke---Analyzed!&id=1481669
Following his amazing efforts at the 2008 US Open, Andy Murray has truly arrived and is a force to be reckoned with on the men's tennis tour - and so has his two-handed backhand. Andy's backhand really is a classy stroke and a great example of the two-hander for junior and adult players to copy.
So Why is it So Good?
There are so many good points about Andy Murray's backhand that it is difficult to know where to start.
The Movement
His movement, compared to a couple of years back is like the difference between chalk and cheese. His general court coverage and his ability to chase balls down is awesome. His tuning around the ball (those small sharp steps around the ball) is also vastly improved. It has now become extremely difficult to get the ball past Andy.
The Drive
It's scary how many options Andy has open to him on his backhand drive! His racket-head control is full of snap and his timing is perfect. He really makes this shot tell in a rally, partly due to the way he positions himself up the court striking the ball very early after the bounce. Andy's constant smothering of the ball is very tiring for the opponent to play against as they are given very little time between shots.
One minute he winds up with a full blown shot, the next he abbreviates, blocks or floats the shot. He has an uncanny ability to mix the pace, stopping his opponent from settling into a comfortable rhythm.
Andy has a straight right arm on take-back and flexes his arms slightly on impact. Lovely! Many of Andy's drives around the baseline are played with an open stance and with excellent weight transference. He has superb balance, very rarely collapsing when making contact with the ball (a common mistake when social players get too close to the ball).
The tremendous racket-head speed Andy generates has got to be my favourite part of his drive. The tip of the racket overtakes the grip with ferocious speed on the Murray drive. As a result, his arms and racket are wrapped over his shoulder on completion of the shot.
The Slice
Andy utilizes a text book take-back and follow-through and like so many two-handers, he plays his slice as a one-handed shot. Time after time he weaves this shot into his rallies for change of spin, change of pace and for approach shots. Sometimes he just floats his slice backhand to length without much pace and other times zaps it over the net fast and low. He also utilizes a cheeky short cut shot that fizzes low.
The Drop Shot
As Andy possesses a really natural slice backhand, the drop shot is a natural progression for him. Nowadays Andy is selecting when to play the drop shot with more care, resulting in a far more effective drop shot.
The Service Return
Week after week on the men's tour Andy can be seen hitting his returns early, constantly hitting to the feet of the incoming serve-volleyer. His natural ability to abbreviate and adapt his technique makes his return a real weapon. He moves forwards into the court and following a split step, pounces on the ball. His superb racket-head control means that the clipped shots and improvised flicks are a breeze.
If an opponent decides to stay back on the baseline, Andy will constantly nail his returns into the corners of the court. Intimidating to say the least!
Andy Murray has arrived and is here to stay!
As a coach, John Key has worked with all levels of tennis players from beginners to junior national champions, Davis Cup and Wimbledon. His tennis website Backhandworld.com offers lots of free coaching tips and advice for all standards.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Key
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Andy-Murray-Backhand-Stroke---Analyzed!&id=1481669
10 Top Tennis Tips For Coaching Junior Tennis Players
By Rufus Keown
Mini Tennis, Pee Wee Tennis, Tiny Tots Tennis, Little Mozzies! Coaching Junior Beginners has been called everything. The bottom line for tennis coaches is that having a strong beginner tennis coaching program is the key to a long term sustainable business operation.
Putting together an exciting and challenging tennis coaching program for the young player should be a priority for any serious coach. These young beginners also need some special coaching methods to teach them to love tennis and stay in the game.
Tip 1 - Success equals Confidence equals Fun! Tennis is in the recreation business and coaches are fighting to attract young athletes to the sport so that grass roots programs flourish and we produce players at the elite level. Be constantly positive; play fun games which all players can succeed; create an atmosphere at your club that parents and children can enjoy. Do your best to keep children in tennis for life.
Tip 2 - Use modified tennis equipment. This relates to tip number one because by using lower nets, softer tennis balls, lighter tennis racquets and fun equipment we can help our students succeed and therefore enjoy tennis.
Tip 3 - Use cones to position players. Use cones or spots to position students for games and activities. This will give them a reference point and prevent them from wondering off.
Tip 4 - Refer to the names of lines and areas of the court. Use the names of lines and parts of the court when giving directions. This will provide a "full" tennis education and help when playing matches later on.
Tip 5 - Demonstrate before you explain the drill. Young children are fantastic learners. They learn best from observing and copying; as well as experimenting and feeling how something works. In your tennis lessons give the players lots of visual coaching and have them shadow swing so they can feel the correct stroke. This will be far more effective than explaining to a child with a very short attention span who may not fully understand the meaning of your words.
Tip 6 - Don't get too technical! This relates to tip number five. Technical instruction is wasted on young children but they do understand simple distinctions. For instance using higher or lower; softer or harder; to the left or right are effective words to guide a young player. This is one reason why the use of targets and cones can be a very valuable coaching tool.
Tip 7 - Use targets for students to aim at. The reason for using targets is to compel the players to use control over power. Many young players will associate success with how fast and far they can hit the ball. Studies have shown that in sports that require both speed and precision (like tennis) it is far better to learn slow, controlled moves and then make them faster; than learn fast uncontrolled moves and them slow them down. By hitting accurate controlled shots our players will become better at rallying (which should be foremost goal of any program.)
Tip 8 - Don't take private lessons too early. While some parents will expect us to dress up in a clown suit and entertain a 4 or 5 year old in a private lesson it is inappropriate at this age. The children at this age enjoy the excitement of playing with their friends and social interaction - the coach will soon become weary and lose passion for their job.
Tip 9 - Progress the program. Keep giving the students a reason to come back to the game. Progress from a mini court to full court; a mini racquet to a graduate racquet; low compression balls to championship balls; a 30 minute lesson to a 45 minute lesson. Keep challenging the students or they will feel they are not improving and find another sports which offers a pathway.
Tip 10 - Let them play the game. As coaches we are trying to teach players the game of tennis. Once the fundamentals have been taught modified game play should become an emphasis. While at a young age hitting the ball over the net seems miraculous, and returning an impossible dream; let the students experiment with a modified rally. The coach can help or make special rules so it remains enjoyable and the students can experience some success.
Follow these tennis tips to success in your own junior tennis program!
By Rufus Keown
Club Professional Coach
Co-founder http://www.globalsportscoaching.com
The global website for tennis coaches and players with 1000's of tennis drills, tennis articles, tennis tips and tennis lesson plans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rufus_Keown
http://EzineArticles.com/?10-Top-Tennis-Tips-For-Coaching-Junior-Tennis-Players&id=1493080
Mini Tennis, Pee Wee Tennis, Tiny Tots Tennis, Little Mozzies! Coaching Junior Beginners has been called everything. The bottom line for tennis coaches is that having a strong beginner tennis coaching program is the key to a long term sustainable business operation.
Putting together an exciting and challenging tennis coaching program for the young player should be a priority for any serious coach. These young beginners also need some special coaching methods to teach them to love tennis and stay in the game.
Tip 1 - Success equals Confidence equals Fun! Tennis is in the recreation business and coaches are fighting to attract young athletes to the sport so that grass roots programs flourish and we produce players at the elite level. Be constantly positive; play fun games which all players can succeed; create an atmosphere at your club that parents and children can enjoy. Do your best to keep children in tennis for life.
Tip 2 - Use modified tennis equipment. This relates to tip number one because by using lower nets, softer tennis balls, lighter tennis racquets and fun equipment we can help our students succeed and therefore enjoy tennis.
Tip 3 - Use cones to position players. Use cones or spots to position students for games and activities. This will give them a reference point and prevent them from wondering off.
Tip 4 - Refer to the names of lines and areas of the court. Use the names of lines and parts of the court when giving directions. This will provide a "full" tennis education and help when playing matches later on.
Tip 5 - Demonstrate before you explain the drill. Young children are fantastic learners. They learn best from observing and copying; as well as experimenting and feeling how something works. In your tennis lessons give the players lots of visual coaching and have them shadow swing so they can feel the correct stroke. This will be far more effective than explaining to a child with a very short attention span who may not fully understand the meaning of your words.
Tip 6 - Don't get too technical! This relates to tip number five. Technical instruction is wasted on young children but they do understand simple distinctions. For instance using higher or lower; softer or harder; to the left or right are effective words to guide a young player. This is one reason why the use of targets and cones can be a very valuable coaching tool.
Tip 7 - Use targets for students to aim at. The reason for using targets is to compel the players to use control over power. Many young players will associate success with how fast and far they can hit the ball. Studies have shown that in sports that require both speed and precision (like tennis) it is far better to learn slow, controlled moves and then make them faster; than learn fast uncontrolled moves and them slow them down. By hitting accurate controlled shots our players will become better at rallying (which should be foremost goal of any program.)
Tip 8 - Don't take private lessons too early. While some parents will expect us to dress up in a clown suit and entertain a 4 or 5 year old in a private lesson it is inappropriate at this age. The children at this age enjoy the excitement of playing with their friends and social interaction - the coach will soon become weary and lose passion for their job.
Tip 9 - Progress the program. Keep giving the students a reason to come back to the game. Progress from a mini court to full court; a mini racquet to a graduate racquet; low compression balls to championship balls; a 30 minute lesson to a 45 minute lesson. Keep challenging the students or they will feel they are not improving and find another sports which offers a pathway.
Tip 10 - Let them play the game. As coaches we are trying to teach players the game of tennis. Once the fundamentals have been taught modified game play should become an emphasis. While at a young age hitting the ball over the net seems miraculous, and returning an impossible dream; let the students experiment with a modified rally. The coach can help or make special rules so it remains enjoyable and the students can experience some success.
Follow these tennis tips to success in your own junior tennis program!
By Rufus Keown
Club Professional Coach
Co-founder http://www.globalsportscoaching.com
The global website for tennis coaches and players with 1000's of tennis drills, tennis articles, tennis tips and tennis lesson plans.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rufus_Keown
http://EzineArticles.com/?10-Top-Tennis-Tips-For-Coaching-Junior-Tennis-Players&id=1493080
Maybe the Williams Sisters Had it Right All Along
By Mark Hauser
Maybe there is no right or wrong way on how to handle a tennis career. It may all just be a matter of personal preference. However, there seems to be a prevailing view that if an athlete, specifically a tennis player, is not totally dedicated to playing just tennis all the time they are wasting their talent. Admittedly, at first glance -- given how competitive any professional sport is right now -- this seems to make sense. But, in tennis, more than any major sport, there is the burn-out factor. More great tennis players over the last 30 years (Tracy Austin is the first one that comes to mind and Bjorn Borg is the biggest name) have been burned-out by age 26 than any other sport. And given that in most sports, athletes hit their peak at around age 28, this would by startling if we were not so used to it.
Tennis players, like any sport where there is lots of money to be made, start practicing and competing intensely at a very early age -- and never let up -- in order to gain an advantage over their competitors. Which they do: But, at what price? Well, the price is obvious. They earn more victories and money at a young age, however, mentally and physically they break down -- at a young age.
Boxers and running backs in American football, because of the physical toll that getting hit takes on their bodies, often hit their peak before the age of 28. But, I do not see anything about tennis which would have that type of affect on its athletes. No, the toll is caused by too much tennis. Ken Rosewall made the finals of Wimbledon at the age of 39 in 1974 -- something unheard in today's tennis. I am willing to bet that he was able to this, at least partly, because he played a lot less tennis between the ages of 5 and 20 than today's stars.
The very talented Andre Agassi was not always as focused and dedicated as people thought he should have been before the age of 28. Then around the age of 28 he rededicated himself to tennis and won more majors after the age of 28 (5) than before (3). Hence, Agassi success demonstrated that a lack of burn-out and not age, is why modern tennis players fail to perform well after the age of 26. While he may have underachieved before the 28, it appears he may have made up for it by overachieving after the age of 28.
Which brings us full circle to Serena and Venus Williams. Venus, at the age of 28, defeated Serena in the finals in July to win her fifth Wimbledon (her 7th Grand Slam singles win). Serena, 26, just did her sister one better by eliminating Venus in the quarterfinals and going on to win the US Open (her 9th Grand Slam singles win). In addition, Serena regained the World #1 ranking -- something she has not had for 5 years, 1 month -- the longest gap in women's tennis history. Like Agassi, the Williams sisters have been criticized for their lack of focus and dedication. Sometimes, they appeared more interested in fashion design than tennis. As a result, they did not win and dominate as much as their talent may have allowed them. Given that Venus is very talented (perhaps as talented as any women ever on grass) and Serena is the most talented women tennis player I have ever seen -- this seems to be a fair criticism.
However, to be fair to the Williams sisters -- they have had more than their share of injuries. And there is no law (the last time I checked) that a professional tennis player has to be 100% committed to tennis all the time. Besides, isn't fashion more suited to the young than old? And maybe, just maybe, they saw the recent history of tennis and decided they wanted to well rounded and avoid the tennis burn-out. Right now, is appears to be working. Perhaps they had it right all along and we were a little hard on them. Perhaps, like Agassi, they will overachieve after the ages of 26 and 28 while their contemporaries retire due to burn-out. I am hoping and predicting they will, but only time will tell.
Mark D. Hauser
Owner: http://UltimateSportsRankings.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Hauser
http://EzineArticles.com/?Maybe-the-Williams-Sisters-Had-it-Right-All-Along&id=1494184
Maybe there is no right or wrong way on how to handle a tennis career. It may all just be a matter of personal preference. However, there seems to be a prevailing view that if an athlete, specifically a tennis player, is not totally dedicated to playing just tennis all the time they are wasting their talent. Admittedly, at first glance -- given how competitive any professional sport is right now -- this seems to make sense. But, in tennis, more than any major sport, there is the burn-out factor. More great tennis players over the last 30 years (Tracy Austin is the first one that comes to mind and Bjorn Borg is the biggest name) have been burned-out by age 26 than any other sport. And given that in most sports, athletes hit their peak at around age 28, this would by startling if we were not so used to it.
Tennis players, like any sport where there is lots of money to be made, start practicing and competing intensely at a very early age -- and never let up -- in order to gain an advantage over their competitors. Which they do: But, at what price? Well, the price is obvious. They earn more victories and money at a young age, however, mentally and physically they break down -- at a young age.
Boxers and running backs in American football, because of the physical toll that getting hit takes on their bodies, often hit their peak before the age of 28. But, I do not see anything about tennis which would have that type of affect on its athletes. No, the toll is caused by too much tennis. Ken Rosewall made the finals of Wimbledon at the age of 39 in 1974 -- something unheard in today's tennis. I am willing to bet that he was able to this, at least partly, because he played a lot less tennis between the ages of 5 and 20 than today's stars.
The very talented Andre Agassi was not always as focused and dedicated as people thought he should have been before the age of 28. Then around the age of 28 he rededicated himself to tennis and won more majors after the age of 28 (5) than before (3). Hence, Agassi success demonstrated that a lack of burn-out and not age, is why modern tennis players fail to perform well after the age of 26. While he may have underachieved before the 28, it appears he may have made up for it by overachieving after the age of 28.
Which brings us full circle to Serena and Venus Williams. Venus, at the age of 28, defeated Serena in the finals in July to win her fifth Wimbledon (her 7th Grand Slam singles win). Serena, 26, just did her sister one better by eliminating Venus in the quarterfinals and going on to win the US Open (her 9th Grand Slam singles win). In addition, Serena regained the World #1 ranking -- something she has not had for 5 years, 1 month -- the longest gap in women's tennis history. Like Agassi, the Williams sisters have been criticized for their lack of focus and dedication. Sometimes, they appeared more interested in fashion design than tennis. As a result, they did not win and dominate as much as their talent may have allowed them. Given that Venus is very talented (perhaps as talented as any women ever on grass) and Serena is the most talented women tennis player I have ever seen -- this seems to be a fair criticism.
However, to be fair to the Williams sisters -- they have had more than their share of injuries. And there is no law (the last time I checked) that a professional tennis player has to be 100% committed to tennis all the time. Besides, isn't fashion more suited to the young than old? And maybe, just maybe, they saw the recent history of tennis and decided they wanted to well rounded and avoid the tennis burn-out. Right now, is appears to be working. Perhaps they had it right all along and we were a little hard on them. Perhaps, like Agassi, they will overachieve after the ages of 26 and 28 while their contemporaries retire due to burn-out. I am hoping and predicting they will, but only time will tell.
Mark D. Hauser
Owner: http://UltimateSportsRankings.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Hauser
http://EzineArticles.com/?Maybe-the-Williams-Sisters-Had-it-Right-All-Along&id=1494184
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)