Quote:
Originally Posted by
henryrobinett
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I also love tennis but haven’t been watching it too much the last few years.
I'll second Henry and the OP on tennis. From an amateur perspective, one of the few sports people can play for life. And anyone can participate with a racquet, a High School or public park court, a partner, and a $3 can of balls. You can play as little or as long as you want, take it easy or play hard. You don't need a whole team, an organized event, or six hours of your day to have some fun, get some exercise, and be as competitive as you wish.
From a professional perspective, the top players are world-class athletes. If they weren't playing tennis, they would be a star athlete in some other sport. Most people don't have the quickness, acceleration, or balance to slide on hard courts.
What sets professional tennis apart from other sports, especially singles?
- You play every set, every game, every point, every shot. Almost all full-out.
- You can't take it easy or rely on anyone else. You win or you lose. Can't blame it on someone else.
- You cannot be (legally) coached during a match. You must do your own analysis of your opponent and make your own decisions/adjustments/strategies.
- You get 90 seconds to rest on a changeover, but don't get timeouts or breaks. (Unless it's an injury timeout...10 minutes.)
- You don't have substitutes or backups.
- You don't get TV commercial breaks.
- There is no time limit. No horn, buzzer, or clock saving you. No ties. You play until it's done. That is typically 2-4 hours straight, regardless of heat or humidity on surfaces that can be 20 degrees hotter than air temp. (Consider the Isner/Mahut match at 2010 Wimbledon: 183 games, 11 hours 5 minutes of play over three days, with an 8 hour 11 minute final set.)
- You have to have mastered hitting forehands, backhands, topspin, slice, drop-shots, inside-out, outside-in, various serve types/speeds/placement, overheads, and lobs, with the ability to hit hard or with touch, with exact timing, accuracy, and split-second judgement, all while running forward, backward, and side-to-side...often at full sprint...while anticipating and analyzing the speed, spin, and bounce angle of the ball coming at you, as well as where your opponent is on the court.
- You travel frequently and globally during the season, funding all travel expenses for yourself and your team.
- You are responsible to pay your coach, trainer, and fitness personnel.
- And oh yeah, if you don't win, you don't get paid. No multi-million dollar guaranteed contracts regardless of your participation, production, or "potential". And while sponsorship can add to your income, that only happens when you win big and continue to win big.
Henry, if you haven't been to a pro tournament, I highly recommend it. Seeing these players in person gives a whole different appreciation for their level of talent. Looks like the closest to you is BNP Paribas/Indian Wells. Top names play that tourney. Take a few days and go fairly early in the tournament. The cost is less, you'll see more players, and at Indian Wells you'll be able to get closer to the courts/players. It's a totally different perspective than watching them on TV. See Fed, Rafa, and Djoker in person before they retire.
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