Tennis wither bound; a little time to ponder
View(s):The ATP and WTA are starting their professional events in the southern summer of Australia and New Zealand. Few changes, some for attraction and others to sustain the interest of the game, which is in its second century. Sports is different now, any definition that was good up to half of a century ago is not valid now. Tennis is not the only sport to face modern issues.
A few of old issues have reappeared in a different form. Some could change the very definition of sport. Ever since professionalism appeared, developing countries have it difficult.
Tennis cannot generate enough enthusiasm and be appealing to talent as it was. This felt even in Australia, an advanced nation.
ATP, WTA and ITF have the steering position of tennis. At ground zero, ITF and their representation in the countries have been the promoters of the skill and events. In tennis development, 200 plus member of ITF still rely on them. Their effectiveness is questionable. Proof of it is in the ATP and WTA rankings. The developed countries hold the best cards in development and events as it was in the very early stages of tennis.
Sri Lanka tennis
One often wonders how tennis manage its popularity nearing to 200 years in existence in this island. Many older historic sporting disciplines make tennis a new-world-colonial sport. Olympics is the marker when it comes to popularity and antiquity rating of a sport. Tennis went into Olympics very recently. Its position as European colonial sport, prepared surface, weather shielded ambiance are constrains to its popularity. These pushes overhead cost beyond the realm of mass sport.
Challenging new versions
Challenge has come and its diverting would be tennis aspirants with another form of equipment handling, early eye-arm coordination court games, with much lesser skill levels. In the past, many good tennis players came via badminton and table tennis, for that matter through many other sports disciplines.
Latest two sports like tennis demand greater maturity eye-arm coordination. Basic tennis is a complex combination of physical ability, multiple faceted of coordination, mental toughness and possibly more unknown abilities. Considered as one of the five difficult sporting pursuit. Known to enhance an individual’s in daily living activities. Of the two new racket sports, paddle and pickle, both of Spanish origin, paddle has the popularity.
Overseas universities give preferences to tennis players for their entrance. Local junior ranking has developed to be status marker at national level, is not global indicators of player status for the right reasons. ATP and WTA quashes these and does not give a status quo. In tennis ATP and WTA rankers are the globally accepted ones. We have none in this realm.
Sri Lankan tennis aspirant
Where and for do I begin tennis is more than ever becoming pertinent question. At present, squad training with many players taking turns to hit a few balls on rational basis is the only one available. Started in Sri Lanka Tennis Association playing section by a good player Niranjan Casie Chetty.
Present pricings for squad training can frighten even the rich. Leaving pros and cons of aside, the issue that needs much attention now to address is competent players’ practice and recreational time. There are no clubs for such exponents to practice the skills for health and sporting excellence. In tennis, challenge of the opponents is the engine of interest and indulgence.
As school sport, tennis stops very soon after the junior realm. Hundreds walk out of the game for this reason every year. Very few join a club and as of now, entrance to them cost wise is very high.
High local rates
Municipal and Urban Council rates have shot through the roof. For a remedy no off-hand solution available, suggestion will be to do a study. A factor that needs local government has to look into is to provide a concession to clubs accommodating aspirant juniors and residence in their zone a concessional rate. I would like request a study in this direction.
Recent history
For clubs with facilities tennis has become a big money-spinner via coaching. As one senior club player put it, “in clubs rotational presidency has given way the incumbent to be the resident king”. All such unpalatable development is the outcome of neglect of sports for its continuity.
The emphasis on continuity of tennis was the central theme of the colonial era and they made an impact in every sport they introduces to this island. One tennis player from Kandy won the Wimbledon title in the early days of the game. If we are to remove all the colonial era introduced sports to us, we will be a culturally poor nation.
Unfortunately, we are racing to reach this, never intended to be a winning post. Even in international professional level, there is great deal of emphasis on New-Gen identity. Locally, a replica must find its way for competition tennis aspirants.
–George Paldano, European and Asian competition player; player development German Federation, National coach Brunei and Sri Lanka; Davis Cup, Federation Cup, ATP and WTA tour coach; WhatsApp +94775448880–