Stretching for Flexibility

 Stretching for flexibility is key in Injury prevention to ensure longevity. Here is the best example.

Stretching - Novak

The GOAT list

 Since the focus and cutoff is the Open era, players like Laver and Rosewall are lower on the list than they would normally rank. See the legend at the bottom to understand the methodology. I found it interesting. https://www.ultimatetennisstatistics.com/goatList 

 

 

Disqulification risk from ball kids and line judges

 So getting disqualified is subjective? That seems apparent over time. After the point is over, players should roll the ball. Or, not touch it. Solutions?

 Here is the story of the Miyu Kato disqualification.

 

 

It is getting ridiculous. They should institute physical and mental toughness training for the ball kids and line judges. If I were playing for money, I'd never hit the ball after the point ends due to this risk of disqualification.

Interesting take on the argument for who is the GOAT of Tennis

 Musings

Novak is not the problem, Tennis is.

 This rings true about the lost opportunities for the second Golden Age of Tennis.

The problem

Kyrgios asks for Carpet Courts

Kyrgios just asked on Twitter why they don't have tournaments on carpet courts. This might help explain why. They even had exhibitions on wood back in the '60s and '70s. Most wouldn't want to face a big serve and volley player on either surface.

 

Here is why they dropped them among other reasons.

A simple tennis workout plan to supplement on-court training - Herschel Walker Workout

 Read and Learn - Herschel Walker

Rod Laver - Goat Herd Leader

Goat Herd Elder Statesman, might be the best title for Laver.  His record stands alone for men's tennis, with two CYGSlams (Calendar Year Grand Slams).  If all we do is count slam totals, we ignore all the other statistics.

Many tennis watchers say that Laver would never be able to hold up against the current talent like Rafa and Novak.   I disagree.

It's impossible to make valid direct comparisons because players from the past conformed their methods to the conditions present at the time. Applying current standards against the past is a common cognitive bias. 

How Boris Becker Ended up in Prison

The road to perdition

Pickleball vs Tennis - can they work together?

I see tennis as the Apex racket sport while others lower on the skill chart like pickleball and table tennis still add to the value proposition (allure) of tennis in my view. It's better that they take up pickleball rather than non-racket sports since they can be natural allies and become a source for those wanting to upgrade into tennis. 

Since pickleball is better for lower mobility players it seems like a natural place to go out to pasture.

 

 I don't see the need for an antagonistic relationship between the two sports.

Umpires, refs, and linesman can change outcomes - Here is one in Tennis

 He lost after he won.

Opelka discusses Tennis Media

 It is bad and most tennis coaches and good players know it.  The questions that the journalists ask tennis players are often beyond stupid.

 

 Here is a link to an interview with Reilly Opelka. 

It's a good interview and on point. Tennis media, in general, is bad news. I see many tennis journos praising their favorites, and they spend their remaining time attacking players that aren't.

Is Tennis the New Pro Wrestling

  

 

I think this last AO was as politicized as a presidential debate where the partisan moderator joins one side, acting more like a member of a pro-wrestling tag team for one of the contestants. If you remember that happening here in the U.S., you'll get what I mean. 

 It's tough when you have the referee/umpire/judge, and in this case, government, working for the other side. 

 

 Maybe tennis will become the next pro-wrestling where we all know the outcome is fake.

If it weren't for Novak, we wouldn't be deported.

Lendl on Training

 Back in the 1980's Lendl was at his peak of fitness and domination in Tennis.  

Here is an interview where he discusses the value of fitness training and 

How the Best Players Adjust the Best

Ana Ivanovic - Hall of Fame?

 She's been nominated.

#1 Univeral Rule of Tennis

#1 Universal Rule of Tennis - The ball goes where the racket-face is pointed at contact. The player is responsible for working out the details like getting there, positioning, and creating enough force to redirect the energy of the incoming ball.

https://twitter.com/brentherrick/status/1394896793721262080?s=20

Coronavirus: Indian Wells Canceled

Event Canceled 

This is just the beginning of the economic problems that will result from the risk of large public events when a major health threat exists.

Don Budge and his Signature Racket

Here is an old Don Budge Signature racket.  These date back to the 1940's since Budge had his big run of Grand Slam events in the 1930's.  He was the first player to win all four slams in a calendar year and thus set a standard for judging players as the G.O,A.T.  (greatest of all time.)  Up until Laver completed two of these Calendar year Grand Slam wins of all four events he could have arguably been called the GOAT.  Now of course they call whichever player has the most total wins the GOAT. That is currently Federer but Nadal seems to be chasing that record depending on when both retire and who wins a few more in the meantime.  Novak is also chasing the numbers as well so we'll see how things end up.

Don Budge remains a top name in the history of tennis and his one handed backhand was legendary for  its effectiveness.

For more detailed information on Don Budge here is a link to his WIKI Page

You can see this racket was barely used.




With a Current Value around $10 plus shipping costs add $10 minimum.  To own one you'll have to part with at least $20 as of 11/2019 unless you find one at a yard sale for a a few dollars.  Most are not in great shape so if you find a very good condition one it should fetch more depending on how old it is.  This model comes from the 1940s.  Some later versions may have been produced into the 1950s.

Tennis Journalism

Peter Bodo on the State of Tennis Journalism

I've been reading Peter Bodo's writings since he began publishing and he clearly knows his trade.  The one thing that I've witnessed and participated in is the rise of free tennis journalism thanks to the Internet.  It is more hands off since players can't have relationships with thousands of writers.  The cost of travel to follow the players can't be covered by most since they don't have an expense account courtesy of a publication.  Tennis reporting has become more distributed in terms of both quality and direction but on average I'd say that we've all benefited from the huge increase in information found regarding tennis players, the tour, instruction, and coaching.

Before you waited once a month for your Tennis Magazine and that was it unless you read the USTA publications related to amateur competition.  There is a Tennis Industry magazine that existed for a long time but only club owners usually saw these since they were the market for the products advertised there.

On average I'd say we're all better off with the state of things in Tennis Journalism.  Having Bodo out there to keep up the standard of knowledge and excellence gives the competition something to aim toward.

The Path to Expertise

Hopkins Study shows you a new approach to learning and mastery

This mirrors some of the ideas written on how learning by deliberate practice as outlined in the book Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin.

Use this approach to get yourself to the next level.  I suggest reading Colvin's book if you want to become an expert in any field and to make yourself an exceptional performer.  If you choose to accomplish this on the tennis court then you have an advantage of a large talent pool of coaches and teaching knowledge to get you there as well.  You have to do your part though.