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From: fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann)
Newsgroups: net.sport
Subject: Re: What's happening with Bollettieri's tennis kids?
Message-ID: <4@unc.unc.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 3-Oct-85 20:43:36 EDT
Article-I.D.: unc.4
Posted: Thu Oct  3 20:43:36 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 5-Oct-85 14:54:58 EDT
References: <505@ihlpm.UUCP>
Reply-To: fsks@unc.UUCP (Frank Silbermann)
Distribution: net
Organization: CS Dept, U. of N. Carolina, Chapel Hill
Lines: 34

In article <505@ihlpm.UUCP> cher@ihlpm.UUCP (Mike Cherepov) writes:
>--
>For some time now there has been a pattern of "sad" developments
>with those kids out of Nick Bollettieri's tennis academy who
>are good enough to turn pro:
>* they move up very high very quickly
>* they stay there few months
>* they take an enormous plunge
> [... some examples ...]
>Anyway, is there something about Bollettieri's academy type of 
>environment that renders his pupils unable to sustain their
>success? I realize that all of these individuals are pretty young,
>so this might not be the final judgement....

Nick Bollettieri seems to groom his kids to specialize in clay court play.
This enables them to have more impressive results at an early age, since
on clay courts raw speed and power are less important than endurance
and sound technique.  Many teenagers have good strokes and endurance,
but few have the speed and power of a mature adult.

In the late 1970's the trend in major tournaments seemed to be away
from grass courts and toward clay courts.  Unfortunately, the clay
courts fostered a type of play that was too slow for the spectators.
The more recent trend is toward hard courts (concrete, carpet, asphalt, etc.)

Nick's kids start out doing very well in clay court play.  Then they
see that further advancement requires a different style of play.
So far, none of them have been able to make the adjustment.  Furthermore,
the attempt to change styles hurts their clay court play.

The Swedish tennis players have been able to make this kind of adjustment
very well, but only after suffering through a period of bad losses.

	Frank Silbermann


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