Can American Tennis Coaches Develop New Champions With Help of USTA Player Development?
Robert Lansdorp has written the interesting post “In Charge” on his blog. He asks a very simple question: “Why United States Tennis Association Player Development works with Spanish tennis coaches and does not cooperate with the best American coaches”. I am also wondering, why?
I just read an letter from Wayne Bryan to Klein, McEnroe and Haggerty in response to an invitation he got from them, to come to a USTA Player Development meeting in La Costa on March 12. He was sorry, he could not make it, because of prior commitments. Wayne mentions in his letter that Patrick McEnroe does not think the coaches in the U.S. are great and he has hired coaches from Spain. Is McEnroe serious or is he going over the deep end. What is wrong with this idiot. Now he can blame the Spaniards, when his program fails completely.
There are many coaches in California and all over the US who can do a better job than these Spanish coaches. All they know is Top Spin and more Top spin. It is really sad how McEnroe has gotten the power to do just whatever he wants to do. How is that possible. Who is his boss? How come people don’t speak out against this ugly, and insane behavior. He has had a Spaniard in charge of developing top juniors for 5 years now and NO results. Yes Higueras has not developed one player. Maybe Jose needed some buddy’s from Spain. All I know is something is really wrong here.
What do you think about Robert Lansdorp’s opinion? Can American coaches to produce new tennis champions with the help of USTA Player Development? Share your thoughts on the topic.
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These kind of articles and style is not the answer. The problem lies on lack of open mind that made US the country what it was during the 20th Century. The end of the 20th century, and the beginning of the 21st Century has showed a different kind of mind set that is not helping at all. I see more sectarianism from different tennis organizations who think they are the owners of the truth causing no collaboration among each other. Team work, from different tennis clubs and academies, is almost non existent. On the contrary, they have become rivals; when in Europe, they have unified. On the other hand, they have (Europe) kept prices low and affordable to more people, while in the US the prizes have gone up and up. Parents and young people are switching to other more affordable sports. Last weekend I was astonish to see the $81,00 entry fee for a junior tournament. Unfortunately greed might be the problem. The problem is not the people. The problem is greed that is scaring away talented tennis players, and other sports are receiving them. The problem is articles with the kind of attitude we read in this one, instead of looking for team work approach solutions. Jose Higueras maybe have something good to bring to the table, after all, it was the same great Pete Sampras who once brought him to his own team. I read and external unstated problem in this article.
Dear Mr. Lansdorp:
Thank you for your always insightful and shy free words. While I agree that the USTA has to work with the crop of highly skilled coaches / parents we have in this great country we call the US, attacking a spaniard coach seems senseless. The system as a whole here in the US is flawed and needs a change. Many great players are no where near the radar of the USTA as are great coaches. The problem is not the USTA alone it is the system of development we have in this country. This is a individual society in which individualism is highly regarded, so the paradigm that the USTA provides seems against what the whole country stands for. The USTA objective should not be to develop champions, but to develop tennis as a whole. It is the parents, kids and the USTA’s (one part a small one) to develop champions. Think of the USTA as the government, they provide roads, police, services etc. But you don’t expect them to develop the best roads, the best police etc. That is left to the individuals. Think of a great car ( next tennis champ) the government won’t develop it. It will be a crazy risk taking entrepreneur (crazy parent, kid, family). The tennis business for 99.9% of the players is a money losing business. Certainly the math does not lie. Who cares who the USTA president is, no matter what he/she does a champion will not grow from there. It is mostly from hunger, and those kids and parents cannot pay $200.00 hr classes from top pros. This is why the spanish system is better and provides better results and the sad part is the coaches need help, the USTA needs help, the kids need help. Firing Mcenroe wont do either, keeping him will not do much for developing a champion either. It is up to the coaches and players to do so.
We got plenty of great coaches it’s the culture get out of you’re comfort zone and go grind it our for a month of two to South America maybe that will help !!!!!!
If you look hard enough, there are some good coaches in Southern Califonia. Also there is one up and coming men’s player I think that has the potential of making top ten. Keep your eyes on Daniel Kosakowski. Just spend several days with him at Indian Wells. He got in to the first round through pre-qual., qualifying to reach the main draw. It was an easy road for him. I just wish he was not with USTA. If I would have the opportunity to coach him, I think he will definately make top ten. I think he is our best potential on the men side to make it. GO!!! DANIEL!!!
Is Daniel with USTA? I thought his brother was his coach? The kid he played yesterday is a young, promising player (Thiem)…really cracks the ball.
Daniel is with USTA right now. His brother helps him also. I spoke with the parents and gave them my opinion. Daniel played too defensive in that match with Thiem. This is what I have been saying all along. USTA have him spinning the ball too much and his balls sits up perfect for Thiem. The Europeans plays very aggressive and flat. I call it flat and fast. This is the key to winning. Every aspect of the game is related to speed. This is what Physio Technical Tennis emphasize on. Daniel was playing too far back while Thiem was aggressively pushing into the court. I’m sure I can help Daniel move upward on his ranking. But is up to him to choose what is best for him. Another good example is the Warinka and Nadal match, how Warinka’s speed and pace of the ball beat Nadal.
Was this the entire post from Robert as there really wasn’t much of an opinion offered… more name calling than anything else.
I think Robert is a staight forward guy. He is telling it like it is. What he makes on his statement is all true. These guys at the helm of USTA doesn’t have a clue what they are doing. It’s more like taking care of your friends and definately not developing standout players. They ruin players instead of producing great players. I’d hope they don’t mess up Daniel because Daniel really have lots of potential.