Tennis rising ‘out of India’

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Douglas

New Delhi has the attention of the tennis world this September weekend with one of the legends in sport … Rafa Nadal playing for Spain against India in Davis Cup. The playoff will see which nation returns to the ‘World Group’ for 2017

http://www.hindustantimes.com/tennis/davis-cup-outlook-bleak-as-india-prepare-for-mighty-spain/story-2rrNpwEAlZ6XBOBbiOHwJN.html 

India’s rising profile is evidenced lately by the achievement, for the first time, of representation in the finals of the Junior Davis Cup (16 nations) and Junior Fed Cup (16 nations) in Hungary in a few weeks, for the 2016 titles.

In a country dominated by cricket, this other ‘bat’ and ball sport (tennis) is seeking the edge to keep this momentum and attention continuing with recent visits to Melbourne, Australia by New Delhi’s Masters Tennis Academy player Nishant Dabas, ranked #6 in 14 years nationally and not turned 13 years as yet, additionally another player from New Delhi, 17 year old Shanu Agarwal, has commenced a four week period in Melbourne to enhance her game and entry into the world of professional tennis.

Vintage Tennis innovative and holistic Tournament Performance Program is the reason for Nishant’s second trip down under (his first in 2015) and Shanu’s first, with plans underway for more training / mentoring in 2017 … maintaining that edge to success. Director Doug Hill has been delighted by the single focus of these fine young people and impressed by the commitment to what the program can give them and what they can give to their tennis back home.

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looking to the future

 

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Process & Structure

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Douglas

Process … Structure … the catch cry of modern coaches around the globe in all sports and the disciplines of a successful pathway.

However, what if it doesn’t gain the required success … is it broken ! Does it need fixing ! The answer is most often … No. So what is missing … is it not up to date … not innovative … not thorough … the answer again is … No.

What is missing is the addition of culture and character … the player/s have to be considered in the mix … the history of their game has to be in the mix … thus the ‘buy in’ to the style of play exhibited … and then a combination results in sustained success.

In Australia, success stems from our positive (some call it aggressive or attacking) approach to our sport … over the decades this has been the DNA in our success, along with our culture of never giving up and the will to win (so evident at this time of year and the legacy of our ‘diggers’) … combined with a character of larrikinism, fun, creativity, daring, bravery, courage and hard work.

Vintage Tennis passion for tennis and national success, where over the last month Australia has failed to make the World group in Davis Cup & Fed Cup plus our Junior Davis Cup and Junior Fed Cup teams have not qualified for the finals in September (16 Nations) being defeated by India in both events at the Asia/Oceania qualifying event, encourages all high performance deliverers to assess whether we have ‘buy in’ from the enormous talent pool in Australia and once more challenge the upper levels of our game … doing it the Aussie way !

Lets add to process with player gifts … add to structure with player style … and be mindful that the pathway is full of passion from the cultural background … lets take from yesterday add today and get tomorrow!

Rod Laver in Action 1956 001

Hoad Hopman Rosewall 1954White city world record Davis Cup 1954 FB Cover

 

 

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Copy – or – Create

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Douglas

Australian Open concluded and much debate, analysis and view points taken away by tennis enthusiasts and experts. Around the world tennis coaches look at the successes and try to translate this to their students … thus the question … copy or create!

Vintage Tennis view is both … copy or create must be aligned to each individual and where they are in their tennis development journey, their assets, their character, their skill (talent) level and their ‘discipline’ barrier.

Copy the ingredients of balance & movement to turn defense into offence without reducing power and focus on placement – thus not allowing your opponent the luxury of easy attack (Djokovic, Azarenka) … create the opportunities by variety and pressure – thus not allowing your opponent to settle into any rhythm (Federer, Murray, Raonic) … take your opponent on by dictating when you can and making them play another shot – thus testing their patience and concentration/discipline (Kerber).

An holistic view is required as players review and refine … evolve and execute … plan and play; an interesting year ahead and the player and coach must run by the mantra of from courage comes confidence, so never is it either/or … it is all!

Program checklist (Img src: mdcurrent.in)Program checklistCheck Plan Do Act

 

 

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Get set ….. Dream !

Posted on December 27, 2015 by Douglas

Brace yourself ….. there’s a dream coming in and with the Australian Tennis Open about to hit and the Olympics brewing that dream comes often and loud !

On too many occasions outside influences tell us that we are not good enough or it’s too hard or it’s a long way off or it’s too late or wouldn’t you be better off doing something else ….. all but (as Elvis put it) ….. “follow that dream” ….. 

So what do we learn/experience/gain by having a dream to win ….. self satisfaction by the effort to achieve | the value of hard work | discipline counts | things worth having are earnt not given | the benefits of being better than before | that from courage comes confidence | making a difference in the peoples lives around you or that witness you | the love of it | the acknowledgement that you gave it your best | never giving up | most of all – making dreams come true !

The next time outside influences make comment … turn around and respond … “you need a dream to follow” … then get on with yours !

Hang on to your dreams ….. if in any doubt ….. bring them to us at Vintage Tennis 

US College planFrench Trophybig future - compressed

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ready, play …..

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Douglas

ready, play ….. the call of the umpire and we are underway, or are we ready to play?

With the summer Pro Tour in Australia commenced; the Junior Davis and Fed Cup’s about to start in Madrid; ITF’s in Australia and New Zealand currently in progress and ATP / WTA events rounding up our tennis calendar … Australia’s tennis talent is on show !

Over the coming months we shall witness those players that have dedicated their time to hard work, sacrifice and clear goal setting focus to make an impact during this period before the Australian Open and understand what it takes to realise their dreams and passion to achieve excellence in elite tennis.

Check list:  speed | flexibility | agility | strength | aerobic and anaerobic capacity | endurance | nutrition | racquet skills | power | placement | direction | recovery | balance | control | creativity | flair | courage | precision | shot selection | patterns of play | discipline | intensity | desire | perseverance | fight | reading the play | understanding own game | use of emotion | focus | equipment | rules update | travel | money | analysis | belief ….. ready, play

 PREPARATION  =  PERFORMANCE

Plan | Act | Do | Check

Plan | Act | Do | Check

 

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look beyond the ball …

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Douglas

Look beyond the ball represents all the many adjacent components that create the environment in which a player can produce their best with the ball !

Leading up to the ball is the technical, physical, concentrated focus and tactical for the player to compete at the highest level – many,many hours and a lot of self indulgent searching of emotions, skills and belief.

The player is now at the ball and delivering countless of hits and plays … yes I have arrived ! Now is the time to understand the environment and the domino effects of where you are, what you are, how does that fit in this ‘elite’ world and who do I turn to for this next phase that will allow me, the player, to sustain everything beyond the ball …

Family and friends provide the emotional support | the coach to analyze and improve | the trainer to keep the physical ability going | the business/player manager to handle the financials and legal matters |  then there is the mentor, can be one of the above, but make sure this role is holistically looking at your survival in the ‘elite’ cocoon of professional sport and especially tennis.

The mentor takes from all the others above and leads the path and the many twists and turns that need to navigate the area of cause and effect … actions and consequences !! They may not be a former player or someone close … but they must know life … seek them out and quite often they have a bit of grey hair that will indicate they care.

Tennis 2 U

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R..E..S..P..E..C..T

Posted on July 9, 2015 by Douglas

Responsibility of Every professional Sports Personality to Exercise Control of Temperament … why is this important ?

Firstly, as an athlete, the ability of keeping emotions appropriate to the job at hand will maintain the focus of performing skills and strategy without distraction, increasing their success over a sustained period – be it a match or tournament or career.

Allowing the athlete to display skill/talent as the forefront will enhance audience/spectator support/admiration and emote an energy that could make the difference in achieving ultimate goals/trophy. Similarly rewards in income (it is a business) from prize money and sponsorship potential (especially post career).

Secondly, the love of the game that they are showcasing – its history, its champions, its records, its life and the life it brings to other competitors, organizers, workers and volunteers, communities, and economies.

Additionally, broadly this role, chosen by them, comes with duties to themselves, their family, their teachers and their friends.

Be who you are … however think … how you do it … why you do it … where you do it … and when you do it !!  What you give … you shall receive !!

Duffer Rule 7

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New names on ‘French Trophy’ … a sign

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Douglas

… a sign of things to come … as we enter the deciding days of the French Open and commence the grass court season, culminating at Wimbledon.

With the grass court season extended many more upper and middle tier players will be better prepared and more accustomed to the nuances that this surface brings … a comfort that will deliver, in my opinion, new names on this famous trophy.

We will watch closely the lead-in events … at the players taking the ball on the early rise , up at the baseline, playing running volleys and straightening out their serves and those with ‘old head’ coaches who understand grass court-craft.

Let us also witness the ‘youth’ on display and how, in their early development, they adapt to the emotion and excitement of the ‘world’s’ premier tournament and the likelihood of their name engraved one day.

Right now a new name will be added to French trophies however it may not be the ones predicted and that is what we love about our game.

Strawberries and cream (Img src: bistrochic.net)French Trophy

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The Body of Tennis

Posted on April 7, 2015 by Douglas

Changing court surfaces at a moments notice not only requires a mental preparation focus but also a bodily adjustment – lets explore the body of tennis !

The recent ‘Pro Tour’ in Australia has had the players change from hard court to grass to clay in a 6 x week period. Like wise the main tour currently just finished in the USA, two major hard court events, now move to the European clay circuit and a different speed and bounce.

Today’s tennis, it is not possible to change game styles, but an awareness of longer rallies and sustaining the pressure, looking for opportunities that appear less often – yes – mental focus and prep is the order of the day.

Adding a few more shots to the rally (discipline) | having more time to be more precise with placement (balance) | variety of spin to advantage early rise (time taken away) | add some flair (brain to foot) | use power/penetration (aggressive) …… discipline to balance and take time away from your opponent by brain quickness all in an aggressive manner !!

The importance of our physicality and what we put into it covers added dimensions to our body of tennis – be it nutrition or physical training or recovery or equipment (footwear / string) with a focus of … for every one hit there is two movements !!

Game style stays – it is just going to take a little bit longer to implement it – Happy Clay Day !

Clay court

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Out and In of the ‘Blue’

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Douglas

Australian Open 2015 closes and the new year of professional tennis opens ! What comes ‘out’ of it and what goes ‘in’ to the year ahead ?

This past fortnight showed that although the young talent beacon is shining the glow of the ‘pro’ that has been around for a while, still lights the way !

Over 30 ‘Grand Slam’ titles were shared between the 4 x finalists and the levels of competitive battle were extremely high, showing that the transition of youth to the top has obstacles that are stubborn and showing a hunger for more.

In a tennis sense movement/balance was a big standout plus the evolving ‘players physicality’ (attitude) in not taking the foot off the pedal, whether in offense or defense and as mentioned in the last ‘post’ the ability/desire to hit the lines and the fine line in/out plays in the outcome.

The new year will see players improve the above and the willingness to get to the net and finish a point quicker will continue to develop. This brings new thinking and new movement along with a focus from all ‘pros’ to bring the ‘return of serve’ to the forefront of their training.

In to the reaches of tennis and the excitement all ages and tennis levels are experiencing flows through to the tennis coaches around Australia and all are fielding new enquiries and taking bookings – lets deliver a great job guys !

We are very privileged to host a Grand Slam and the opportunity to see the world’s best, as a tennis community and industry get a great deal ‘out’ of this and we must put it back ‘in’ !

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