MVN - Most Valuable Network

Kids on the Pro Tour

We call the ATP the men’s tour and the WTA the women’s tour, but let’s face it, most pros are still kids when they turn pro. There was a lot of vitriol – not just criticism, which he deserved - directed at Djokovic when he retired against Federer in Monte Carlo, complaining of dizziness – especially as it wasn’t the first time he’d retired in a match. It reminded me somewhat of the flak Justine Henin received after she retired with gastroenteritis against Amelie Mauresmo in a much bigger match, the 2006 Australian Open final. She was genuinely surprised by how seriously the tennis world viewed her actions. But she learned from her faux pas, behaved more responsibly, and grew up. But that’s not all – Justine is not a flashy, extroverted personality like Novak. She always preferred to fly under the radar, and now of course, she’s retired – at least, for now (and I suddenly find the women’s tour about 85% less interesting, since no other woman who has real variety in her game is a real contender). But Djokies (or Chokervitch, as someone has called him), with his uninhibited behavior, trash-talking parents, uncouth fans, etc. seems like a guy people either love or hate. So when he goofs/acts badly, his haters hate him more and really lay it on, as if they bear him a personal grudge.

The emotional maturity and life experience of young tennis pros lag behind their physical development. If their parents haven’t taught them good manners, their behavior may not be too pretty. Pro tennis is necessarily a self-centered, single-minded sport. A few kids may start winning big, thereby turning into overnight celebrities. Things start to change rapidly. Media and fans start chasing them around. Suddenly they are offered million-dollar endorsements, huge appearance fees, asked to appear on talk shows, commercials, photo shoots, even movies. They start believing their own press. Life is wonderful, people love them, and the money rolls in – as long as they keep winning. It’s easy when they’re winning. But when they exhibit immature kid-like behavior or – gasp – lose, especially to lower-ranked players, they get asked uncomfortable questions; fans rake them over the coals; they must confront their own failings and that’s not pleasant or easy for anyone at any age, and it’s worse when one has to do it in public. Pro players who are kids get to do it in front of the world. Not many people were watching what they were doing as juniors. When they play the real tour, they’re expected to act like adults and the media is as quick to tear them down as they are to build them up.

Let’s take Jennifer Capriati, tennis prodigy. Even before she started winning big, she was a star because of her age. She was a cute, sunny girl who had done well as a junior and turned pro in 1990 before she was 14. Of course, some said she was too young to turn pro. I agreed. Just the same, the wins started coming. The youngest this, the youngest that. A meteoric rise. She was a big, strong kid, a pure power player who became #8 in the world at the end of her first pro year. 1991 was also good; she won three titles. In 1992 she beat Steffi Graf for Olympic gold. Unlike Steffi, who to this day shuns the limelight, Jen grinned and giggled her way through interviews. Everyone expected she’d be winning Slams soon.

After three promising years, she started losing in early rounds. The interviews suddenly became harder; everyone could smell blood. That Jen was a kid and not an adult became very clear at her post-match interviews. She couldn’t respond calmly to tough questions when all she wanted to do was go off somewhere and cry. The big smile disappeared; she turned grouchy; she started losing endorsements – what’s more, she wasn’t happy playing tennis anymore. Her father, who was her coach, took a lot of criticism for pushing her too hard, too soon. Finally she took a break, left the tour for a while, and went through a real dark time before she started growing up – because that’s exactly what she needed to do. It wasn’t easy coming back, and it wasn’t easy after she came back, playing and struggling on the outer courts. She finally started winning like she was expected to, her big grin came back, and the media hailed her big comeback story – but Jen was never easy with the media again. They built her up, they tore her down, they built her up again – and she knew they’d tear her down just as quickly again. She’s been sidelined with a shoulder injury, wistfully talking about coming back, but things don’t look good. Important to have a Plan B.

Pete Sampras, at 19, was uncomfortable at the attention he received after winning his first Slam in New York, especially when he didn’t win his second as quickly as people expected. Boris Becker remarked he thought his first win at Wimbledon came too early, in light of the ensuing uproar. He was 17 then. Both guys were saying they were too young and unprepared to handle their new-found fame. Hey, there are plenty of teens whose heads aren’t mature at twice Pete’s and Boris’ ages then. Pete was raised right, but never enjoyed the spotlight, and retired on a high note, eager to embrace a quieter life as a father. Boris became philosophical about his fame, thrived on the competition, and retired grudgingly. I don’t think life after tennis has provided him with the same excitement, just unpleasant drama re women and money.

It’s a real struggle and a real triumph for a budding champion to not only keep winning, but to become a true champion in the other ways that matter, and are ultimately more important – so that when they stop playing and the spotlight fades, they still like what they see in the mirror every day.

We call the ATP the men’s tour and the WTA the women’s tour, but let’s face it, most pros are still kids when they turn pro. There was a lot of vitriol – not just criticism, which he deserved - directed at Djokovic when he retired against Federer in Monte Carlo, complaining of dizziness – especially as it wasn’t the first time he’d retired in a match. It reminded me somewhat of the flak Justine Henin received after she retired with gastroenteritis against Amelie Mauresmo in a much bigger match, the 2006 Australian Open final. She was genuinely surprised by how seriously the tennis world viewed her actions. But she learned from her faux pas, behaved more responsibly, and grew up. But that’s not all – Justine is not a flashy, extroverted personality like Novak. She always preferred to fly under the radar, and now of course, she’s retired – at least, for now (and I suddenly find the women’s tour about 85% less interesting, since no other woman who has real variety in her game is a real contender). But Djokies (or Chokervitch, as someone has called him), with his uninhibited behavior, trash-talking parents, uncouth fans, etc. seems like a guy people either love or hate. So when he goofs/acts badly, his haters hate him more and really lay it on, as if they bear him a personal grudge.

The emotional maturity and life experience of young tennis pros lag behind their physical development. If their parents haven’t taught them good manners, their behavior may not be too pretty. Pro tennis is necessarily a self-centered, single-minded sport. A few kids may start winning big, thereby turning into overnight celebrities. Things start to change rapidly. Media and fans start chasing them around. Suddenly they are offered million-dollar endorsements, huge appearance fees, asked to appear on talk shows, commercials, photo shoots, even movies. They start believing their own press. Life is wonderful, people love them, and the money rolls in – as long as they keep winning. It’s easy when they’re winning. But when they exhibit immature kid-like behavior or – gasp – lose, especially to lower-ranked players, they get asked uncomfortable questions; fans rake them over the coals; they must confront their own failings and that’s not pleasant or easy for anyone at any age, and it’s worse when one has to do it in public. Pro players who are kids get to do it in front of the world. Not many people were watching what they were doing as juniors. When they play the real tour, they’re expected to act like adults and the media is as quick to tear them down as they are to build them up.

Let’s take Jennifer Capriati, tennis prodigy. Even before she started winning big, she was a star because of her age. She was a cute, sunny girl who had done well as a junior and turned pro in 1990 before she was 14. Of course, some said she was too young to turn pro. I agreed. Just the same, the wins started coming. The youngest this, the youngest that. A meteoric rise. She was a big, strong kid, a pure power player who became #8 in the world at the end of her first pro year. 1991 was also good; she won three titles. In 1992 she beat Steffi Graf for Olympic gold. Unlike Steffi, who to this day shuns the limelight, Jen grinned and giggled her way through interviews. Everyone expected she’d be winning Slams soon.

After three promising years, she started losing in early rounds. The interviews suddenly became harder; everyone could smell blood. That Jen was a kid and not an adult became very clear at her post-match interviews. She couldn’t respond calmly to tough questions when all she wanted to do was go off somewhere and cry. The big smile disappeared; she turned grouchy; she started losing endorsements – what’s more, she wasn’t happy playing tennis anymore. Her father, who was her coach, took a lot of criticism for pushing her too hard, too soon. Finally she took a break, left the tour for a while, and went through a real dark time before she started growing up – because that’s exactly what she needed to do. It wasn’t easy coming back, and it wasn’t easy after she came back, playing and struggling on the outer courts. She finally started winning like she was expected to, her big grin came back, and the media hailed her big comeback story – but Jen was never easy with the media again. They built her up, they tore her down, they built her up again – and she knew they’d tear her down just as quickly again. She’s been sidelined with a shoulder injury, wistfully talking about coming back, but things don’t look good.

Pete Sampras, at 19, was uncomfortable at the attention he received after winning his first Slam in New York, especially when he didn’t win his second as quickly as people expected. Boris Becker remarked he thought his first win at Wimbledon came too early, in light of the ensuing uproar. He was 17 then. Both guys were saying they were too young and unprepared to handle their new-found fame. Hey, there are plenty of teens whose heads aren’t mature at twice Pete’s and Boris’ ages then. Pete was raised right, but never enjoyed the spotlight, and retired on a high note, eager to embrace a quieter life as a father. Boris became philosophical about his fame, thrived on the competition, and retired grudgingly. I don’t think life after tennis has provided him with the same excitement, just unpleasant drama re women and money.

It’s a real struggle and a real triumph for a budding champion to not only keep winning, but to become a true champion in the other ways that matter, and are ultimately more important – so that when they stop playing and the spotlight fades, they still like what they see in the mirror every day.

We call the ATP the men’s tour and the WTA the women’s tour, but let’s face it, most pros are still kids when they turn pro. There was a lot of vitriol – not just criticism, which he deserved - directed at Djokovic when he retired against Federer in Monte Carlo, complaining of dizziness – especially as it wasn’t the first time he’d retired in a match. It reminded me somewhat of the flak Justine Henin received after she retired with gastroenteritis against Amelie Mauresmo in a much bigger match, the 2006 Australian Open final. She was genuinely surprised by how seriously the tennis world viewed her actions. But she learned from her faux pas, behaved more responsibly, and grew up. But that’s not all – Justine is not a flashy, extroverted personality like Novak. She always preferred to fly under the radar, and now of course, she’s retired – at least, for now (and I suddenly find the women’s tour about 85% less interesting, since no other woman who has real variety in her game is a real contender). But Djokies (or Chokervitch, as someone has called him), with his uninhibited behavior, trash-talking parents, uncouth fans, etc. seems like a guy people either love or hate. So when he goofs/acts badly, his haters hate him more and really lay it on, as if they bear him a personal grudge.

The emotional maturity and life experience of young tennis pros lag behind their physical development. If their parents haven’t taught them good manners, their behavior may not be too pretty. Pro tennis is necessarily a self-centered, single-minded sport. A few kids may start winning big, thereby turning into overnight celebrities. Things start to change rapidly. Media and fans start chasing them around. Suddenly they are offered million-dollar endorsements, huge appearance fees, asked to appear on talk shows, commercials, photo shoots, even movies. They start believing their own press. Life is wonderful, people love them, and the money rolls in – as long as they keep winning. It’s easy when they’re winning. But when they exhibit immature kid-like behavior or – gasp – lose, especially to lower-ranked players, they get asked uncomfortable questions; fans rake them over the coals; they must confront their own failings and that’s not pleasant or easy for anyone at any age, and it’s worse when one has to do it in public. Pro players who are kids get to do it in front of the world. Not many people were watching what they were doing as juniors. When they play the real tour, they’re expected to act like adults and the media is as quick to tear them down as they are to build them up.

Let’s take Jennifer Capriati, tennis prodigy. Even before she started winning big, she was a star because of her age. She was a cute, sunny girl who had done well as a junior and turned pro in 1990 before she was 14. Of course, some said she was too young to turn pro. I agreed. Just the same, the wins started coming. The youngest this, the youngest that. A meteoric rise. She was a big, strong kid, a pure power player who became #8 in the world at the end of her first pro year. 1991 was also good; she won three titles. In 1992 she beat Steffi Graf for Olympic gold. Unlike Steffi, who to this day shuns the limelight, Jen grinned and giggled her way through interviews. Everyone expected she’d be winning Slams soon.

After three promising years, she started losing in early rounds. The interviews suddenly became harder; everyone could smell blood. That Jen was a kid and not an adult became very clear at her post-match interviews. She couldn’t respond calmly to tough questions when all she wanted to do was go off somewhere and cry. The big smile disappeared; she turned grouchy; she started losing endorsements – what’s more, she wasn’t happy playing tennis anymore. Her father, who was her coach, took a lot of criticism for pushing her too hard, too soon. Finally she took a break, left the tour for a while, and went through a real dark time before she started growing up – because that’s exactly what she needed to do. It wasn’t easy coming back, and it wasn’t easy after she came back, playing and struggling on the outer courts. She finally started winning like she was expected to, her big grin came back, and the media hailed her big comeback story – but Jen was never easy with the media again. They built her up, they tore her down, they built her up again – and she knew they’d tear her down just as quickly again. She’s been sidelined with a shoulder injury, wistfully talking about coming back, but things don’t look good.

Pete Sampras, at 19, was uncomfortable at the attention he received after winning his first Slam in New York, especially when he didn’t win his second as quickly as people expected. Boris Becker remarked he thought his first win at Wimbledon came too early, in light of the ensuing uproar. He was 17 then. Both guys were saying they were too young and unprepared to handle their new-found fame. Hey, there are plenty of teens whose heads aren’t mature at twice Pete’s and Boris’ ages then. Pete was raised right, but never enjoyed the spotlight, and retired on a high note, eager to embrace a quieter life as a father. Boris became philosophical about his fame, thrived on the competition, and retired grudgingly. I don’t think life after tennis has provided him with the same excitement, just unpleasant drama re women and money.

It’s a real struggle and a real triumph for a budding champion to not only keep winning, but to become a true champion in the other ways that matter, and are ultimately more important – so that when they stop playing and the spotlight fades, they still like what they see in the mirror every day.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 at 7:25 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.