It is time Tennis Australia put its hand up and realised that its player development model isn’t working.
Our players are technically brilliant, but many crack, in various forms, under any sort of heat.
Look at our recent history.
Nick Kyrgios is the obvious example, after his Shanghai Masters showing – or lack thereof.
I don’t see this incident as being indicative of a brat or a sore loser. It is someone who wanted to get off the court. Only days before, he had taken his first ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo while playing very much under the radar.
Expectations mount, pressure builds and he worries he won’t meet expectations, so he puts in an obvious lack of effort – meaning his ability can’t be questioned. He is controlling the loss.
Being a bit older, Bernard Tomic was the next great hope for Australia as Lleyton Hewitt entered his twilight.
Yet he has sworn at spectators, asked umpires to eject his own father, and been in trouble with the law. Would you brand him a criminal?
It is more of a case of a young and immature man with the weight of a nation on his shoulders, lashing out and trying to escape in his own mind. Interestingly, Tomic was dropped for a Hopman Cup tie for complaining about a lack of support from Tennis Australia. Maybe there was some truth in his outburst.
Samantha Stosur also sits in this category.
The difference is not how pressure manifests itself – she never partakes in the theatrics of her male counterparts – but after winning the 2011 U.S Open, Stosur admitted the resulting weight of expectations surrounding her struck her like a “bombshell”.
She just seems to suffer a good old fashion choke whenever expectations increase. Perhaps driving the point home, Stosur has won five Grand Slam doubles titles, obviously outside of the glare and attention that singles tournaments attract. I feel like every time she passes the first round of a tournament, a memo needs to go out to the nation saying “Sam’s through, but don’t say anything!”.
These are not bad or weak people that can somehow play tennis, they would not have reached the level they have if they didn’t want to. But what is Tennis Australia doing to support them, and other up and coming athletes?
According to the Tennis Australia website, academy players can access outsourced psychological support.
It is clear this model has failed many of our current stars. It also shows the problem with the Winning Edge program, in that these sports associations seem incapable of providing these peripheral development tools for athletes on their own.
If Tennis Australia does not get serious about this, we will have another decade of tennis filled with rants, ravings, chokes, and unfulfilled potential.
NaBUru38
Guest
In the old days, tennis was a gentlemen's sport, to be enjoyed quietly. Then it became a show business, where fans cheer their idols loudly. I'm fine with that. I'm not fine with absence of sportsmanship. Kyrgios is as annoying as Maradona. They are examples of how not to behave.
Alexia
Guest
An interesting perspective. I do wonder how other countries produce relatively balanced ,professional players? I feel Nadal and Federer have represented the sport really well. In the younger players Raonic, Goffin and Thiem are exciting and gentlemanly. Is it just Australia? I know there has been other poor behaviour, but nothing at the level of kyrgios where parents have to actively condemn his behaviour for fear that impressionable children will follow. I do feel that the marketing of bad behaviour has a lot to blame- promoting abuse and foul language as exciting when, rather like cheap TV, and the promotion of betting on tennis has left it open to corruption. In general-time for tennis to clean up its act and consider the whole picture?
Alexia
Guest
What a load of rubbish-too much pressure and expectations? Too much money and pandering more like. It is obvious that Massur engenders a laddish, self-entitled, superior attitude in the 'men'. He has never done anything to stop immature behaviour, on or off court . It is a case of-as long as you are winning and making money-who cares? Take away some of the prize money and you can be sure Kyrgios and his ilk would try harder-as it was-he couldn't be bothered and actually believes he does not owe anyone anything. His apologies appear fake and smack of damage limitation. Most articles about Kyrgios are exactly that-about Kyrgios. The wider picture of other players, the staff, the fans and younger audiences get little mention-although all are involved.. This self-interested attitude which cries 'me, me me' is glaringly represented by Kyrgios and goes right down the path of dragging tennis through the 'gutter'.
Andrew Hill
Guest
Great story Check out Four Corners State of Play ABC doco on tennis in Australia
Matt Simpson
Roar Guru
Thanks for the comment Tennis Dad. Your comments have really broadened the scope of the piece, and it seems maybe TA need to look at the culture of both elite and sub-elite tennis. From what your saying, I would assume that the bullies and aggressive coaches and players at your level become the erratic seniors. It is a really sad state of play. The worst part is, as players and coaches watch the likes of Kyrgios and Tomic react under pressure, they will take that on board as the 'norm'. I would love to see things like drug information, self awareness, and media management classes rolled out to juniors early- even if they don't make the elite, the worst case is kids gain some new skills for life...
Tennis Dad
Guest
As a parent of a kid who currently plays tennis at a national level you can see some of where the problem comes from. While cheating and intimidation are not rife, there is enough of it to cause a problem and little that can be done to stop the few who use it to get ahead. Then there are the aggressive parents who bully other parents and kids and seem to get away with stuff you'd never accept in any other sport. "Education" fails and there are limited punitive options to follow up the really bad behaviour. The system self selects those willing to engage in poor behaviour at the cost of those who aren't. So what happens is the well balanced, but equally talented, kids leave the sport while the lunatics like Kyrgios and Tomic are left to fly the flag. And until Tennis Australia grow a pair and tackle it head on nothing will change.