How lack of discipline destroys tennis careers!

I can name you a long list of failures at the Professional level of Tennis.

First to me is Nastase who though he won many tournaments and matches could have probably won many more were it not for his antics.  His talent seemed unlimited.

Then comes Rios who fell to his demons before he actually won a slam but had already shown that he could dominate men's tennis after achieving number 1.

On the women's side, I see fewer examples but Capriotti comes to mind as a talent that was wasted for most of her career.  At least she proved that she had it later, much later, but all of that time was missed in between.

Now we have more on the men's tour who again have physical mastery of the game but lack the discipline to hold off their demons that invade their thoughts and come out in the form of bad behavior.  Some make excuses that tennis isn't important to them anyway so as a way for the ego to justify this failure pretend that it doesn't matter.  Think Kyrgios.  He has unbounded talent but lacks the discipline to hold his bad thoughts in check when faced with a challenge on the court.

Here is a comment by Ken Rosewall on the subject.  Rosewall was a master of the game and self-control and I never noticed anything but a gentleman on the court when he played no matter the outcome.  It's hard not a admire a person of such worth not only to our sport but to civilization.

Does Surface Slam Mean Anything?

Grand Slam Records - Laver versus Rafa on the surface judgment

Twitter Viewpoint - Huge Achievement

Meanwhile, we slice and dice records to make our favorites look good.   

This is amazing but doesn't consider that when Laver won two calendar year grand slams (all 4 events) there weren't any hard courts in those events. He did win the first and the last almost a decade apart. #RodLaver #SurfaceSlam

When this is all said and done it will come down to who eventually or at least temporarily holds the most total slams since they've now treated calendar year slams as just an incident that occurred rather than an amazing accomplishment. In that specific measure, Laver stands alone.

For the moment Federer holds the total record of slam events but Rafa and Novak are chasing him closely. I'd give it another five years for a clear call on the GOAT.

Is Novak Headed for GOAT Status? Ask Yolita

Here is a chart and argument put forth by Yolita that not only is Novak the most dominant player of the past decade but that he may already be close to achieving Greatest of All Time Status in Tennis, the GOAT.  It's generally agreed though that to have that status you need to have the most number of Grand Slam wins which is currently held by Roger Federer.  As has been proven multiple times before it is a record that can be surpassed since at some stage players must retire.  Federer seems be winning fewer and fewer major events while Djokovic and Nadal hold astounding numbers of wins over the past decade.  Looking at the stats in this time frame it is hard to argue against Yolita on this score.  Here is her well organized chart.

The numbers say it all


Here is the link to the original Tweet where this chart is found.   Yolita

Margaret Court: All time Grand Slam Winner - Treat me like Laver

Court - wants equal treatment        (She has a point.)

You can be erased from history if your views don't conform.  What does that say about the state of  freedom of thought in the West.

Tennis News: Big 3 Schedule , ESPN Rights Accusation, Embracing the Grind, Celiac Disease and Tennis, Fed's Stunning Record Continues

Big 3 Novak, Fed, Rafa

ESPN Rights Racist Accusation against tennis analyst
Adler Returns after settlement

Embracing the Grind with Bjorn

Celiac Disease and Tennis

Fed's Stunning Record Continues

Tennis Anyone - lifespan and quality of life 

Rafa to Attend Tennis Center Inauguration

CAA Exits Tennis Business - drops Tennis Pros citing lack of opportunity

Fed Chasing Titles Not Ranking

Monfils hands Tsitsipas lesson in Sofia - Merciless - Stuns

Novak Djokovic: Inside Djoker - making the case for the GOAT

Goat Debate Djoker

He is within striking distance of passing Fed but I suggest we wait.  Things happen like injuries, new faces on the scene, and resurgent other players like Fed and Rafa.  Still, it is arguable that Novak has what it takes to gain that crown but again who really owns it depends on how you define it.  Rod Laver still holds the honors for  two calendar year Grand Slams and no one has come close on the men's side to challenge it.  Yes, he doesn't have as many total slam event wins but he was also prevented from competing for them for almost a decade in the 60's when he turned professional and was prohibited from playing the then Amateur events that are the slams.  Fate cost the Rocket, Rod Laver, many more wins most likely and something no one expects can do the same for Novak.


Why Novak can be called the GOAT - Substance over style

Again, we'll see.  All in good time.  If you notice the writers mention Laver arena more than they mention Laver himself.   It always comes to the mind that whomever is around when you're around, they are he best ever .   Current writers tend to forget what it took for Laver to accomplish what he did against competition ever bit as strong as the current crop relative to the game as it was played back then.  He did this against Ken Rosewall,  Roy Emerson,  Fred Stolle,  Tony Roche, and and strong and deep source of talent from Australia alone much less worldwide.   Laver passed the baton to Federer when it became obvious to him that Fed was a magical talent and his total wins proved it.  So maybe this will happen again is someone passes Fed or maybe we should just restart the argument about what we are measuring.

Why Novak can Emulate Rod Laver

It will be impressive if he can do that but can he do it twice.


Young Rivals Expose his weakness - reliance on the backhand

Every player has a relative weakness compared to their strengths.  Most players would happily take Novak's forehand compared to their own.


Where does Novak Djokovic Rank?  - 3Rd All Time - if you're counting slam totals

World Celebrates Novak Win 

That should be changed to Tennis World Celebrates.

Tennis News: Big 4 News, Aussie Open, Player News

Big 4 News

Big 4 Bust - 1 week into 2019

Stuff happens including bad hips, bad knees,  and other injuries.

Fed - 2019 may see changing of the Guard

I would agree except Novak stands there and maybe be the last one standing of the big 4.

Murray Announces Retirement - lots of support


Aussie Open

Two Goats at one event - Australian Open

Can't meet before final - six timers Fed and Novak

Quiz - Aussie Tennis Slam

Favorites tricky early schedule


Player News

Roger Federer and Peter Carter - Fed Breaks Down in interview

Halep did everything for Tennis, her dream

Tennis Tantrum from French Star Benoit Paire at ASB Classic

Osaka prefers less attention 

Big 4 may end in 2019

Big Four Demise

Tennis News: 3 or 5 sets debate, Fed 1 again, Cilic Davis Cup, Serena

Three sets or five for men's tennis at slams debate

Fed is number one again and appreciates it more than ever

Cilic - 99% of players will back news Davis cup plan

Serena makes it official - she's back playing professionally

Federer - Return of the King

 Fed is the King of grass much as Rafa is the King of clay.  With Nol'e no longer in full control of things and Rafa seemingly vulnerable it is the perfect time for the King of tennis to regain his crown if only for a time.  There are always more coming up from behind but this is sweet for those of us that have come to near worship Fed for his artistry on the court.  It doesn't hurt that he is a likable guy that appears to have no rough edges and is a good family man too.  He is the perfect model for tennis as it was and should always remain.

I hope he has more good years ahead so that those of us in our selfish way can see tennis as it might be played by those not subject to the normal rules of human architecture and physics.

As for his future,  even those of us among his strongest contingent began to doubt his ability to hold back the younger titans in waiting coming up.  I was hopeful he'd grab one more but after seeing him play yesterday I do believe he has improved his game again.  His backhand is stronger and he's taken a few hints from the past when Ken Rosewall used his chip backhand to attack and sliced it to break up the rhythm.

He's improvised shots that I've never seen before.  One was a ball that Fed attempted to run around to hit his inside out forehand but the ball was moving so fast that it was going into his body.  Murray seeing this held back at the baseline and watched in disbelief as Fed performed a peel the orange slice forehand on an angle that I didn't know was possible from that position in the court.  I went out last night and tried it and figure he must have some battery powered spin inducing device in his racket to get the action needed.  What he created was a perfect angled drop shot from the baseline as he was moving backward.  I knew it wasn't an accident after he did it again later though I really was sure it was intentional the first time since he wasn't rushed in the execution of the shot even though he was jammed. Damn he's good.

If we had to put up one person to play a match on grass for the future of planet earth against space aliens to avoid a devastating intergalactic war, I'd chose Fed.  He's the best we have and ever have seen and that I admit as someone who idolized Rod Laver as the perfect tennis player in both skill and demeanor since I was a child.


Thanks Roger for giving us more years to enjoy.


Long Live the King of Tennis