The Response of Robert Lansdorp to The Comments on His Article

Robert Lansdorp asked me to publish his response to the comments on his previous article “Famous Tennis Coach Robert Lansdorp about American Tennis”.

What the hell happened? I wrote a not in-depth article and have some guy,who does not believe in my criticizing, criticize me. Love it, just Love it.

I don’t mind being criticized at all, but at least when you criticize me, have a record that comes close to mine  and not just teaching somebody with videos.  Like I said in my follow up, I know there are good coaches in this country, otherwise we would have no half decent players coming up. I don’t know how many parents were responsible for these kids success. But there are may be a million “coaches ” in the USA and what percent of great coaches???

There were a couple of good Edsels driving around, but the car is known as the worst car ever made. I was in San Diego when the USPTA was going to start up. I was one of about 5 guys, most of them dead now. Anyway I voted for QUALITY, and was outvoted for QUANTITY.  So you honestly want to argue with me about the USPTA or PTR. Again, there are some good coaches in both organizations, but not enough!!

And Jennifer, with no last name!!  I don’t know enough about tennis academies in Europe, and that’s why I said in the U.S. If Casals (Sanchez-Casal Tennis Academy) was doing such a great job in Spain, why did they come to Florida?  Better money may be. I don’t know, why don’t you tell me Jennifer.  Bollettieri’s is a great Academy for Pros to practice and some young ones came out of Nicks Academy. I am talking about 8, 9, and 10 year old. I know Anna Kournikova was there at a young age. She never won a pro tournament by the way. Andre Agassi got there at 15, may be 14.  I don’t know how old Monica Seles was or Jim Courier. All I know is that all of them had somebody with them to manage what was going on, except Agassi; you can probably tell me Jennifer.

There are thousands of tennis academies in the U.S.  and how many top 10 players have come out in the last 10 years? Of course some kids like it and they get better, by hitting hundreds of balls. You must also think that summer camps create world class players. Dream on. And last Jennifer. I never said that education was not important. Where do you come up with that. A lot of my players got great scholarships at USC, UCLA and Stanford. All I said that the combination is very difficult and that you have to make up your mind what you want to do. If in doubt, go for the EDUCATION.  How can you misunderstand what I said.

And as for Mr. Wegner, all the things you mentioned I did in my life and career, and that is probably why I developed so many number 1s and top 10 and top 20 and 30  players in the world  and that was without knowing you had videos out.  And if you don’t like it Mr. Wegner go ahead and criticize, but tell me what players you personally developed from the age of 10 to number 1 in the world by being in the trenches with them. Not criticizing you, you understand, just making a point .

I thought Rick Macci was responsible with Richard in developing the Williams sister. But as you know by now I don’t know everything  and  I realize that. Again I developed most my champions from a very young age. Maria Sharapova came to me at barely 11 and lived in Los Angeles since 13 years old.  Came back and forth to see me many times a year before 13. Pete Sampras 9, Lindsay Davenport 10, Tracy Austin 7, Teltscher 10,  Po 10, Rehe 10, Myskina was already 17 and Teacher 16. One time in 2005 I think I had 19 students playing in the U.S. Open and most of them I started very young and had them for 8 to 9 years. In, I think 1986, I had 4 girls in the semifinals of the National 18. The finalists were only 14 years old and the doubles finals were my 4 kids!!!  I worked with these kids for years and  years, and made them mentally tough and gave them discipline and made them great people even if they never became tennis Champions.

How did I miss you Jennifer? What I did in that article was telling you was is wrong in MY eyes?Thanks and thanks Jennifer. At least, you made me get up and write a response, which I rarely do, as you well know by now. And criticizing me for having no solutions?

It is now about 5 years ago, when Patrick McEnroe became the boss, that I offered to run the Junior Development my way. I came out with a, I thought, great proposal and all he did was laugh at me, for what I wanted to get paid.

Hey John Austin, thanks man, for your nice words, and how are you? One of my greatest thrills was when John and his sister Tracy won the mixed at Wimbledon. Completely unexpected and just an unbelievable thrill for me John. Thanks again and you are a great guy.  Love you man !! Robert  Lansdorp.

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