With the fanfare of the American season coming to an end, great tennis and crowds, the Pro Tour moves from hard court to clay ….. new footwear, new clothes, new conditioning and new mindset !

Clay takes on the style and subtle skills of a player wishing to be successful, with court craft and point building the focus. Without changing the character of their game and power of the modern foundation, good players add variety and creativity to their formula of ‘play’.

This takes the shape of more use of variety of spin, drop shots and acute angles, and I believe this season, more volleys. Together with conditioning based on aerobic capacity, the smart players allow this to build up over a few weeks and not put stress on their bodies too early. At the same time their game and mind expands in a natural environmental way.

A trap for young pro’s heading to Europe is the thinking that they have to play an entirely different way ….. beware the consequences and seek experienced mentoring (Aussies take note).

Speaking of ‘down under’ the Autumn in Australia is also clay covered in activity with the Victorian Claycourt Championships underway, followed by two ITF Junior events in Melbourne, along with the National 16′s (both on the new clay at the National Tennis Centre, Melbourne Park). The National 12′s and 14′s will be on clay in Ipswich, Qld plus a host of OJT tournaments around Victoria during the school holidays.

Vintage Tennis is excited about the clay tennis that is to come over this next period where the brain and imagination are on show to their best ….. and yes, the best at it, will prevail !

Clay court (Img src: atptennisblog.blogspot.com)

In time past, professional tennis players hit the ball that we could only imagine how to do … well in our modern era, players through the necessity of dealing with the speed of the game, have simplified their stroke play and although we, as social/competition exponents, may not match the 120 – 140 kph shots we can certainly emulate the swing pattern !

Players work on efficiency (time capacity) and a technique that won’t break down under pressure. Modern players with evolving technology in racquets and natural skeletal movement understanding need to not complicate the process, thus the follow the ball flight in their backswing, catching/stopping the ball at impact, follow the ball down the court in the swing and continue over the shoulder to complete the overspin/topspin … all in a natural body rotation and from an open or semi-open stance.

Movement is the second most important ingredient in tennis and again modern players have given us an insight to the efficiency and common sense of lateral steps and body weight … with racquet and body working together, all in a non stop dance with the ball approach.

Marvel at these gifted and extraordinary athletes …. but also mimic and create a greater understanding of tennis at the very elite level.

Hoad Rose Rosewall – footwork

Escorting groups of young tennis enthusiasts to the Australian Open (many their first experience) I was frequently asked “where can we watch our players play“.  Explaining to 11 year old’s, that only two got past the 1st round in singles and none past the 3rd round , a bemused look came over their faces …. stats show 0 from 20 in the qualifying event and 2       from 16 past the 1st round in the main draw.

“Oh where not very good at tennis” was the inquisitive reply, as a ‘tennis’ professional for over 35 years, this made me cringe a little … “what about our juniors” was the next question, again I could only talk about the great potential of two …. stats show from the ITF lead in event at Traralgon, 1 from 22 boys got past the qualies and 5 from 17 girls the same. Main draw … 3 from 14 boys got past the 1st round (although 1 did win the event !) and only 1 from 18 girls got past the 2nd round. The Australian Open junior event which followed the numbers were similar (although 2 boys are in the semi finals today … zero girls past the 2nd round).

Silence from our group, then the perfect reply … “maybe it will be one of us that play here and win, one day” !   I loved that answer and the Australian spirit … yes maybe it will !

The responsibility of all that are involved in Australian Tennis and it’s rightful place in the world must take this attitude displayed and create an environment of ‘ladder to the top’ for all the players that put their hand up ! ….. we are great up to the point of the above (16 years of age and under) … then we stop the ladder for all but a few to climb … keep the ladder their and maybe put in another one, so that one day and soon, our 11 year old’s can see Australian’s play … every day !

Australian Open marks the beginning of the new tennis year and with this comes the ‘talk’ of the hopefuls of Australia’s tennis future.

The recently completed “December Showdown’ put on display some of the tennis that we can expect from the next generation. The result was a little surprising, with the players you expect to step up didn’t and the evenness of competition, although tight, showed that ‘stand outs’ just didn’t eventuate. Players of similar fitness, speed, skills and unfortunately styles battled for a ‘wildcard’ and the major stepping stone to enhancing careers and greater expectations.

The lessons of the past and generations that have succeeded and generations that have fallen seem to be ignored by this current crop. Whilst not being critical of their energy and passion, questions must be raised about a group of aspiring professionals and equipped with different physical attributes would ‘play’ the same.

The ‘character’ (inner person) is missing from a game that continues, as history reminds, to be for all and many and varied. Play exercised to match the aggressive, or the passive, or the calm, or the volatile, or the planner, or the natural, or the creative, or the courageous ….. in other words ‘be yourself ‘ in order to succeed and turn dreams into reality.

Australia  has another new generation to follow the current one and these 16 year old’s have something very different and future modernism to their game / character. Vintage Tennis over 35 years has witnessed many fallen generations, this next one, we hope, has the fortitude and single bloody mindedness to be one of the successful generations.

A thought to some of the past and present generations (current players aged 20 years to 28 years) – seek mentoring to guide a life that is there but needs to change …..too much talent, too much waste.

Sharing recently (facebook/twitter), the lastest ‘finals wrap up’ from the ATP – Shanghai and the WTA – Linz tournaments there were two distinct examples of ‘professionalism’.

In Shanghai, Andy Murray was attempting to close out the match in the second set tie-break against Djokovic – to Murray just a continuation of his form from the US Open, but for his opponent this represented the ‘state of play’  leading into the end of year Masters and the Australian Open 2013 (January). Novak made the statement (saving 5 x match points) that the bigger picture and overall ‘state of play‘ in world tennis has him as the outstanding player in any circumstance – thus not allowing Murray any psychological advantage, in fact, quite the opposite.

Definitely heightened professionalism demonstrated.

The second example in the WTA - Linz, Victoria Azarenka (love the way she plays) leading 5-0 in the second set on her way to a straight sets victory, admitted to thinking it was all over, relaxed and put herself in cruise mode – her opponent came back and rattled off the next 4 x games, not a problem Vika regathered and won the set and the title. However this mindset sends a message to her contemporaries that maybe the world N0.1 likes to ease over the line ( ala Usain Bolt) !

This is not the ‘norm’ for her but demonstrates how professionalism at 95% can cause a hope in opponents that does not need to be there.

We have seen recently (Australian Story – ABC) a story of a man that once learnt about professionalism (1963-1964) went on to be the ‘benchmark‘ in the Open era.

Tennis returns to ‘normality’ this week as players gear up and prepare for the US Open. This Grand Slam event is referred to as ‘The Open‘ for the reason that the progressive winners must not only be talented and have ‘form’ but must be in the peak of fitness.

A number of the top players have been involved in the Olympics and have expended physical and emotional energy, whilst others have been playing lessor tournaments trying to keep match fit and striving to get their game ready.

The Olympics demonstrated that the athletes that were the best prepared in every detail achieved or near achieved their desired result and those that went in hoping instead of believing and trusting in what they have toiled for came up short with devastating consequences.

Detail in preparation is exactly what professionalism means and takes years of determined effort, energy, emotional discipline to get to the point where they can say …” I am ready ” to deliver the dream that they hold tight and cherish.

The US Open will produce the quality player and a few surprises from those that exercise this professional attitude, the detail, the performances that set them on the pathway that they have set for themselves, as it did for the Olympic medalists.

Vintage Tennis will be embarking, during this month, on spreading the message / lessons so markedly learnt from the Olympics to young Australian tennis aspirants wishing to be educated in preparation and training for ATP, WTA and ITF Pro Tours through its engine tennis program … see website for a profile and brief.

MEDIA RELEASE -VINTAGE TENNIS – TOURNAMENT PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT   PROGRAM SUCCESS

Vintage Tennis Tournament Performance Development Program had enormous success in a variety of junior tennis tournaments throughout Victoria and South Australia, as players travelled far and wide over the school holiday period.

Doug Hill, the Director of Vintage Tennis, remarked “that the athletes performed above previous levels to enhance their learning and reflected great pride for their Academies.

Players in the ‘program’ representing the Gippsland Sports Academy, South West Academy of Sport and Kooyong Tennis Academy in the 12’s,14’s, 16’s age group of these Optus Junior Tour (OJT) events, delivering the type of tennis that will see them reach the goals, aims and desires that they have set themselves in 2012.

Like in the Olympics, currently taking the world’s attention, success is about ‘racing’ not just PB’s, the tennis athletes focussed on ‘playing’ not just hitting skills and enjoyed the reward for their diligence.

Hill stated “that the program will stand these juniors in good stead for their development and lay the foundation for when they join Vintage Tennis’s Pro Tour program once their schooling has finished and they pursue a career into the professional ranks”.

The Pro Tour Preparation and Training ‘engine tennis’ program is conducted in Melbourne and educates young athletes about professionalism and ‘getting the job done’. It is unique to Australia and is recognised internationally, for further details visit www.vintagetennis.com.au

Result Summary:  25 x players involved with 9 x winners; 6 x runners up; 7 x semi-finals and 12 x Q/Finalists.

A significant impact from one ‘program’ and Vintage Tennis would like to acknowledge the support of the Academies and the players parents and private coaches.

Professional Tennis is played on a variety of surfaces, adding to the immense athletic ability and technical skill set required, for this great game, by the players.

Good pro’s know to adjust and prepare for these changes and show the discipline to stick to their preparation, even in lead up tournaments. Recent ‘upset’ results indicate that the top players are looking at a unique period, where not just one major tournament is approaching  Wimbledon, but two on ‘grass’ at the same venue, the Olympics.

The All England Tennis and Croquet Club ground crew are preparing their immaculate grass courts to handle the dual events. With this in mind the grass has to be a little tougher and stronger – thus a little quicker than in past years. This situation, identified by professional players and coaches, understand the need to adjust / abbreviate  swing patterns; movements; balance; serve types and most importantly, more volleys and baseline time.

Volleys, world wide, are being looked at and a new method of execution being taught to up and coming players, through ‘rookie’ programs. Players copy and experiment for an edge, leading up to this, maybe once in a lifetime experience, Grand Slam / Grand Stage dual event in London 2012.

This all makes for an interesting and exciting tennis time ! Vintage Tennis, proponents of the ‘new’ volley, is looking forward to those pro’s that approach these unique circumstances  or those that just prepare as normal for a major event.

Players to succeed – look to Federer, Williams, Berdych, Kvitova, Tsonga, Wosniacki, Murray, and if she volleys Stosur ……. of course, not to mention the World’s No. 1 & 2.

The grass will be greener with the tennis richer and vintage – one to savior !

Australia’s tennis ‘hangover’ of summer is coming to an end, with the last of the ‘Pro Tour’ tournaments about to commence and players looking at stints on the road – chasing their dreams.

Reality of the professional and those aspiring pro’s is that any success and momentum is now put to the test of day to day play, travel, play, train, travel, play. Some have lost financial assistance from Academy set ups, some suffer close losses that dents confidence, some regress back to former habits and drop back to lower tournaments to hang on to precious points and ranking.

Those players that have planned, have courage and vision, their reality is one of progress, one of faith and belief, one of knowing that their success can continue but does have ups and downs – this reality comes from within, with motivation, desire and real goals.

Reality is be professional, act professional, live professional – at Vintage Tennis we encourage all to pursue the ‘tennis’ reality in a sober and measured manner.

Australian tennis has a little resurgence going on, get real, get working, get thinking, get stuck in to your dreams !

As I sit and watch a ‘fortress’ of past combat, get ready for the AAMI Classic, Kooyong transforms from an empty shell and you can hear the role of champions and picture the players dreams in pursuit of Grand Slam success.

Melbourne is putting on the ‘heat’ with players arriving, for what they hope is a long stay in Australia. Packing, unpacking, checking equipment, checking travel schedules, accomodation, arranging practice partners, ticking the checklist to ensure everything is ready to play their best.

Be it a warm up tournament in the middle east or one of the numerous events around Australia and New Zealand, players have in the back of their mind, what if, yes I can, all I have to do…. ok, just play and you never know?

During next week the Qualifying rounds for the Australian Open commence with an intensity only rivalled by a final of an event. Players young, on the way up, players coming back from injury or a form slump and players who are there abouts every year,hoping that maybe this year !

Whatever the situation or circumstances to these players to see their names on the large tournament draw board for all the world to see ….. this is their Grand Slam Glory !