Australian Tennis

[rooboy_88]

With all this talk of a lack of depth in the sport.

What is the answer to solving the solution and getting more kids turning pro.

Should talent be sent overseas to improve there skills or is there a need for more funding. Or something else.

It's sad as we used 2 be a powerhouse in world tennis.

What are the players like coming through, I heard theres a bloke by the name of Bernard Tomic gunning it atm.

 

[pjcrows]

The development programs are not up to scratch. So much money is thrown at them, but they arent using it effectively - so funding isn't an issue here. It's not that there is a lack of talent - just a lack of ability to harness talent and develop it. The only 2 world class Australian players in the last decade - Hewitt and Rafter - had outstanding ability and are naturals. There needs to be a push to raise the standards of all the junior levels to make the best even better.

 

[Smell The Glove]

Maybe the problem is that there is too much money being thrown at these development programs. Get the kids' families to have to fund a trip to the States or Europe to one of the academies, or make it more self service over here, to separate the cream from the rest. They have it too easy- look at the way the Russians, the South Americans, hell most of the Europeans have to do it tough early and make sacrifices. Make our kids do the same.

 

[Funkalicous]

The big investing in Australian Tennis started only a few years ago. A lot of that money was directed at very young, and very raw talent. It'll take a few more years yet before these players are old enough to compete at the highest level.

 

[rooboy_88]

I've heard a bit bout thie Bernard Tomic. Is he the next big thing

 

[Redline]

I've heard a bit bout thie Bernard Tomic. Is he the next big thing

You never know until they are about 17 or 18. Many other players have looked great at an early age but who knows. He got knocked out in the second Round of the Australian Open Juniors but from allr eports he played well.

The last of the Australian girls got knocked out in the third round this morning while guys are playing their 3rd round matches now.

 

[Roddy]

As a 'surface' fan it's disappointing. The late 90s early noughties were a pretty handy era, with Rafter, Hewitt and the Scud all at their peak and in the top 20. But Pat's retired, the Scud's hopeless and Hewy's undoubtedly on the decline. I would doubt whether he would make the top 10 again. Domestication has made him lose his edge, it seems. He used to be a tiger of a competitor, a dogged never say die player. Now he's just a good average guy on the tour.
Tennis is only my 3rd favourite sport after Footy and cricket, and when the Aussies go out of the majors I almost totally lose interest. And cricket is the opposite: the Aussies are so very dominant that it's uncompetitive and boring.
Footy come back soon!!!!

 

[m.diddy]

You never know until they are about 17 or 18. Many other players have looked great at an early age but who knows. He got knocked out in the second Round of the Australian Open Juniors but from allr eports he played well.

The last of the Australian girls got knocked out in the third round this morning while guys are playing their 3rd round matches now.

I don't like it how they are putting so much pressure in him at the age of 14.

 

[red+black]

The insistence of many local clubs to roll out synthetic grass can't be any good for junior tennis players. Moving the Oz to Rebound Ace hasn't improved the chances of Australian players. How many of us have played on Rebound Ace, let alone play on it regularly?

 

[Redline]

Well we now have two players through to the Boys Singles Quarter Finals and one still playing. Brydan Klein defeated the number one seed.

These results are not always a great indication but our best result for some time.

 

[PLSC]

its a bit easier to give ya kid a pair of footy boots rather than pay hundreds an hour on tennis coaches

 

[Redline]

Three Ausies into the final eight of the boys singles is a good result. Klein and Jones have to play each other.

 

[rooboy_88]

its a bit easier to give ya kid a pair of footy boots rather than pay hundreds an hour on tennis coaches

This is the biggest problem facing Tennis in australia.

 

[red+black]

its a bit easier to give ya kid a pair of footy boots rather than pay hundreds an hour on tennis coaches

It's a good point, but why are we struggling while Spain has 7 players in the top 50, France had 6 and Argentina has 5? Football is very big in those countries. I don't think money is the issue. We aren't a poor country.

 

[stmookeyj]

It's a good point, but why are we struggling while Spain has 7 players in the top 50, France had 6 and Argentina has 5? Football is very big in those countries. I don't think money is the issue. We aren't a poor country.

But there are not as many top line sports to combat tennis in those countries than we have here. None of those has Cricket, Rules or League (except France which is growing but not there yet) that is really going to take players away.

 

[rooboy_88]

I feel that a loss against Belgium would be devestating as we would face the possibility of being out of the world group.

 

[Dave The Man]

I feel that a loss against Belgium would be devestating as we would face the possibility of being out of the world group.

I reckon we could be Gone.

We Have Only Hewitt and a Bunch of Hacks!

 

[Herbs]

I reckon we could be Gone.

We Have Only a Bunch of Hacks!

Edited for accuracy.

 

[Cameron_K]

Edited for accuracy.

Yes because Hewitt is a hack

There seems to be a strong push to get the juniors playing on clay like most of the european countries do. This is one area that Australian kids are lacking big time on the world stage and they need to do something in regards to it or things can only get worse.

Don't forget though, Russia were going through the same problem 5+ years ago and look at them today.

 

[Herbs]

And we have a bite.

 

[Redline]

It really just comes down to luck sometimes. A good development programe helps some players but to have a Grand Slam winner I really believe it comes down to natural talent.

 

[Smokey_22]

I've heard a bit bout thie Bernard Tomic. Is he the next big thing

I taught the kid how to volley when he was 10.

 

[rooboy_88]

Any news on Bernard or any of our young talent in the system

 

[rooboy_88]

Another Year and another open passed.

The interesting thing is how do countries like Serbia produce major champions and signs of increasing there depth while Australia is stuck in the oceania zone of the Davis Cup.

I hope Tennis Australia can learn from other federations and address the problems that we face.

I also heard that the AIS only offers scholarships for 1 male and 1 female, why not over 10 or 15.

 

[hirdy_is_champ]

Maybe the problem is that there is too much money being thrown at these development programs. Get the kids' families to have to fund a trip to the States or Europe to one of the academies, or make it more self service over here, to separate the cream from the rest. They have it too easy- look at the way the Russians, the South Americans, hell most of the Europeans have to do it tough early and make sacrifices. Make our kids do the same.

The thing is the kids families do actually pay for this sort of stuff. Which is incredibly expensive which means that only people who are well off can really afford it. That's where the problem is. We could've possibly had a ocuple more champions but maybe their parents simply couldn't afford to take them around the country to different tournaments. Especially since tennis is one of those sports where you turn professional at a very young age (more so the womens than the mens) its not like the kids can go get a job and help out either.

Apperently France has so many top players because they have major companies pumping all this money into french tennis so the kids who go these acadamies don't have to pay for much if they can't afford it. Look at how many top players they have. Russia and Spain must do similar thigns as well.