Keeping It Going

One thing that the professionals have down is consistency. They are able to keep a rally going with precise and powerful shots. Both players on the court are skilled in their shot placement and in strength and that's what makes their rallies so amazing! Their rallies have tremendous speed to it and they must change their strategy in an instant as the rally progresses. Many times it looks like they are just hitting it back and forth with no rhyme or reason to it. However, they are actually using a strategy to beat their opponent. They are working to move their opponent into a position to where they can make a move to hit a winner. Here is a video of an epic rally between Federer and Hewitt! Enjoy!

The Upcoming Event!

It seems like it hasn't been that long since the U.S. Open but it's time to move on. It's almost time for the Australian Open! The men and women are gearing up for the Sydney International as a lead-up to the Australian Open. On the women's side, 9 out of the top 10 pros will be attending this event. This includes Serena Williams, Dinara Safina, French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, Caroline Wozniacki and Elena Dementieva. Venus Williams, ranked #6, will be the only one absent. She will be in an exhibition match in Thailand at that time.

This will be the strongest the women's field has been in the Sydney International. The organizers are ecstatic to have nine out of the top ten women be in it. This is a great prelude to the upcoming Australian Open. The tournament will still have qualifiers and wild card draws for the tournament. This will be the ultimate test for any up and coming new talent that as something to prove. The fans will have a difficult time finding tickets to these matches. This will definitely be something to watch.

Tennis Lookalikes

Some times you just have to have a little fun. And this is one of those times. The stars of tennis are everyday people like us.. kind of. They all are familiar faces but I bet you don't know how familiar. Many tennis pros have a shocking resemblance to other stars in our world. This is a video that compares the tennis pros to the stars. See for yourself and make the call:



If you're like me, then you did not expect to see this at all. These guys almost have twins! Some of them are meant to just be funny but they actually do look like them! Hope you guys enjoyed the video.

Spain Is The Victor!

The world famous Davis Cup came to an end this Sunday and the Spaniards came out victorious. This showed that Nadal is not the only big man is Spain but there is a whole team of Spanish warrriors. Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco beat Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych of the Czechto to seal the deal on Sunday. Spain is also a repeat winner, having won the Davis Cup last year. They have won 4 titles since 2000. Nadal commented on his teams victory Sunday.

"First thing, you have to have good players," Nadal said, referring to his team's prowess. "In Spain, we have a lot. Sure, last year was disappointing for me not to be there, but for sure the team was better. They play unbelievable and they won, so they did much better without me than with me."

Spain looks to be unstoppable, on their home courts at least. Their powerful presence on the court makes their entire team a force to be reckoned with.

Tennis Doubles

Tennis is unique in the way that in can be played by 2 people or 4 people. Tennis doubles is similar to singles tennis but also very different. There are many different strategies to playing doubles. It can be a very fun thing to do with friends but also a very aggravating thing if people don't know how to play doubles. Here is 2 videos on how strategy in doubles:

How To Return a Serve


Baseline Shot From Net


These are just two of the many strategies for doubles tennis. It takes time to learn how to play doubles just like it does for singles. Players must find another player that compliments their abilities in order to make an effective doubles team.

The Mighty Have Fallen

The ATP World Tour Finals were a few days ago and the winner of the U.S. Open, Del Potro, was in the finals. When he won the U.S. Open he became a giant over night. For one thing, he is a giant, he towers above all of his opponents. He also defeated the modern legend Roger Federer and so he was an immediate star. However, he was brought back down to Earth in the finals as he lost to Nikolay Davydenko. His powerful skills that were dominate in the final of the U.S. Open were no where in his World Tour final. His powerful forehand is the strongest part of his game and it was absent in his loss to Davydenko. Some would say that Del Potro just had a bad day and he will bounce back and I think this is true. We have seen how amazing he can be but he is still young. He needs to gain consistence in his game if he wants to be the best. He has the potential to be a legend but he still has room to grow. Players will always make mistakes but the best learn how to recover and keep their confidence in a match. They control their game and are consistent in their shots. This loss is good for Del Potro. He can use it to go back and look at his game and where he needs to improve. He will realize that he it not the undefeatable giant that the News made him to be. He is human just like Nadal and Federer and he will make mistakes. He will learn how to control himself in a match and recover from mistakes. He will soon be back and better than ever.

That's Why They're Pros

Some times we will go out and have an extraordinary day of tennis. All of our shots will be solid. We will be precise and skillfully sound. And for a few hours, we will feel like we could be a pro. There can't be that much to it? You just have to be able to return the ball and hit a powerful shot every now and then. We watch them on TV and think about how we could match their level of play. The pros make it look so easy on TV. In reality, their level of play is way above ours. The speed of their matches are ridiculous and almost every shot is precise and powerful. Sometimes we don't know just how good they are until situations call for the best of their abilities. That is when we see just how amazing they are. That's also when we realize that we really don't have what it takes. This is a video of just a few of the amazing shots professionals have made:



All we can do is marvel in their greatness and hope that we will be half as good as them one day. They truely are professionals at tennis and they have perfected the sport.

Britain's High Hopes

For years, Great Britain has not had a tennis players that has stood above the rest. Fred Perry was the last British player to win a major grand slam title, which was back in the 30's. At this years Wimbledon, Andy Murray gave Britain high hopes for his people as he fought his way through the matches. He played as the #4 ranked player in the world and played with control and precision. Although he was knocked out by Andy Roddick, his skill gave hope to Britains future in tennis. In August, Murray achieved the #2 rank in the world but quickly fell back to #4 after a loss.

Murray is known for his particular skill set in tennis. He is able to control to tempo of the match like no one else. He also has amazing precision in his shots that combine to make him a deadly player. Although players don't have to run very far, when they do run, it is a very quick sprint to the other corner. Andy controls exactly where his opponents run and when they least expect it, he drives it right past them.

"If you give someone (the) opportunity to dictate, not only on his own service games, but on yours, it’s very difficult to win" -Andy Murray

The only thing Murray lacks is having power and consistency in his shots. In some matches he will start to fade as the match goes on or if he is getting beat he will seem to get into a "funk" to where he can't play his way out of it. All in all, Andy Murray shows potential to be an amazing player and he could easily turn into the best player in the world.

Taking It To Another Level

The Princess Tower in Dubai is one of the most famous hotels in the world and Roger Federer and Andre Agassi made it even more famous. These players have shown their skills on almost every venue in their career. I guess some people get bored playing tennis on solid ground. The top of this multi-million dollar hotel has a helipad that sticks out from the hotel and one day, it was converted into a tennis court. See what happened:



Thankful, these two players made it down okay, but what an experience! Some times doing things just for the fun of it is all we need. These guys will never forget the time they played tennis while they were hundreds of feet in the air.

Kickin' It Old School

The legends of tennis are not known by people that don't love tennis. Names like Bjorn Borg, Boris Becker, Michael Chang, and Jimmy Connors. These men have brought tennis into what it is today. They have brought fame and evolution to the sport and a whole new way of viewing it. Bjorn Borg brought a fame to the sport that had not been seen in tennis till his time. His long blond hair and wicked awesome head band made him an icon to women.

"When I first played at Wimbledon, in 1973, it was crazy. I was this young Swedish guy with long hair, and suddenly it went mad and there were girls everywhere. There were girls on the way to the practice court, girls by the match court, and girls waiting in the lobby of my hotel ... The girls had found out where I was staying and so when I went into the lobby there were hundreds of them waiting for me. They were screaming and they wanted my autograph, they wanted to talk to me and they wanted to get close to me. It was like I was a pop star. Tennis had never seen anything like it before." -Bjorn Borg

We can learn from the legends of tennis and see what they have done. There are lessons to be learned from everyone and we should take the time to learn. We can see how their actions have shaped the sport of tennis and from there, we can look at our own actions to see what we are doing to shape tennis.

The Backhand

For many tennis players, their forehands mature a lot faster than their backhands. The movement of a backhand is not as natural as a forehand and some players try to shy away from it. The truth is, it can't be avoided. The backhand is a vital part of a player's skill set and it can win or lose a match. If a player does not have a solid backhand then this will be the target of the opponent. Players target the weak parts of a player's game and for many players, this is a backhand. Like the other types of hits, there is a technique to the backhand and players must learn the basics of this first before they seek to improve their game. Many players do a backhand that is comfortable for them and almost all the time, the technique to their backhand is wrong. The backhand consists of two different types of hits. The one-handed backhand and the two-handed backhand. The two-handed backhand is known as the reliable and efficient backhand and almost all players use it. The one-handed backhand does not give as much power and precision as the two-handed and some players see it as a "lazy" backhand. However, it can be used effectively. Roger Federer uses a one-handed backhand a majority of the time and obviously, he's pretty good. This is a video that shows the proper technique for a two-handed backhand:

Paris Masters

Novak Djokovic continued his roll of victories as he won the Paris Masters this Sunday. Djokovic was ranked third and fought through Nadal and Monfils for the victory in Paris. This victory gave him back-to-back tour titles. The first being against Federer in the Swiss Indoor finals. Beating Nadal and Federer meant that Djokovic beat the #2 and #1 ranked players in the world. Novak has showed is potential in the past and he is beginning to come into his own. He has showed that he can play and beat the best of the best but one thing he hasn't shown is that he can beat them on the major stages. In the U.S. Open, Djokovic fell short as it seemed like he gave up on winning. His emotions can take over and he can lose all motivation in a match. Even in the matches that he has won, Novak has hot and cold streaks where it seems like he could just as easily win as he could lose. In his match Sunday he had 21 unforced errors. If Monfils and Djokovic play each other again in a few years, this match will go very differently. Monfils has the potential to be an amazing tennis player. He has a height and wing-span that gives him a huge advantage and as soon as he gains the skills to use them, he will be unstoppable.

Many players must come into their own as a player. This is not a fast or easy process. Players must work to be confident and consistent on the court, especially in tough situations on big stages. Seeing players make that transition is an awesome sight. They mature in front of your eyes into a professional player with physical and mental attributes needed to be the best.

The Power of the Serve

One of the most important parts of tennis is serving. For some professionals, it can be the most important part of their game. A serve can win and lose a match and the perfection of serving is vital to the game. A good server can place the ball where ever they want and put a tremendous amount of power behind it. However, sometimes the secret to a good server isn't power, it's consistency. If a server can put the ball in play on their first serve every time then they have a much better chance of winning. It's amazing to see how powerful and fluent professionals are at serve. They make it look so easy! But the fact is, it involves technique, time, and repetition. Then more technique, time, and repetition. Here is a video that helps teach how to serve:

The Racquet

Only a few brands dominate the courts of professional tennis. The main brands you will see on professional courts are Wilson, Head, Babolat, Prince, and Dunlop. Many people look at these brands and try to find the best one; the one that all the pros use. The truth is, none of them are better than the other. The top racquets from each brand all have the best basic technology in them. Professionals don't all use the brands. The secret is finding the racquet that you play best with. Some brands might differ in small innovative technologies but none of these are necessary to be a better player. Each player must find the racquet that fits them and the size, grip, and weight that they desire. Professionals are sponsored by the brand they play with but that is because these professionals have chosen that brand to play with. Just as they have done, people must ignore what is popular and looks cool and instead, they must find the racquet that fits them.

Take It To Court

Everyone knows that there are different types of courts that people play on. If you turn on a tennis match you're likely to see players on a clay, solid, or grass court. What many people don't realize is how much the courts change the way people play their matches. Players even have to change what they wear. Shoes are vital in gripping the different surfaces.

Grass courts are the fastest type of courts and they consist of grass grown on very hard-packed soil. This leads to many factors that affect how a player will play. Factors like how well the grass is kept up, how worn it is, and how freshly it has been cut. Solid courts are the second fastest. They can vary in speeds but the speed of a court will stay consistent. Almost all recreational and school courts are solid because that hold up well and are easy to maintain. Clay courts are the slowest courts. They are made of crushed shale, stone or brick. Red clay is slower than green clay. These courts slow the ball down but it produces a high bounce when the ball hits.

Players must train on all of these courts, especially right before matches there. They must know how the courts play and what to expect. This is another reason why professionals are so amazing. They have mastered the ability to play on all kinds of courts. The diversity of their skills is astonishing. What can we do!? Just sit back and enjoy the show.

The Williams Sisters

The Williams sisters are two of the most recognizable faces in tennis and for good reason. It is rare to see two siblings be professionals in the same sport, and even more rare that they are spectacular players. Venus and Serena started playing tennis at an early age. They were coach by their father, Richard Williams and still today, they are coached by him. They have become dominant singles players and doubles partners. Both have multiple championships in singles and doubles as well. The sisters have both been ranked #1 as singles players and have even had to face each other in the finals of some grand slams. The sisters are almost even in the number of grand slams they've won. Venus has won 7 singles titles ans Serena has won 11. One would think that these players were very similar since they both do so well, but in actuality, they are total opposites. Their personality and style of play differs tremendously. Venus is a passive, laid-back player and Serena is a fast, active player. They are a foil as they bring out each others attributes. They compliment each other and work together to make their game as successful as it is. Where one of them lacks. The other compensates. However, one thing that both of the possess is an unmatched power in hitting the ball. They let everyone know it too as the boast a loud grunt every time they hit the ball. Maybe that's just a psychological tactic to their game? Who knows? But they are known as being some of the loudest players out there. They are still playing as strong as ever and they are on their way to being legends of tennis.

It's All in the Grip

Tennis can be a very technical sport. Especially for beginners that are trying to learn the correct techniques. The secret to hitting the ball properly is how you grip your racquet. The handle on the racquets have 8 different sides called "bevels" and this is the base for all the grips. There are different grips for the different shots a player wants to do. Learning and perfecting these grips will greatly increase the rate of improvement of any player. The continental grip is the most common grip. It can be used for almost any shot and every player uses this grip. However, tennis has evolved and newer grips have come along to replace the continental grip in some areas. Other grips include the eastern forehand grip, the semi-western forehand grip, the western fore-hand grip, the eastern and extreme eastern backhand grip, and the two-handed backhand grip. Here is a video that explains the necessities of the grips and how to do the continental grip:

Keeping it a Secret

Everyone knows about the numerous injuries that come along with playing tennis but for professionals, this is an even bigger deal. Tennis players have to deal with injuries while also keeping the details of the injury a secret. Players that have injuries that put them out of playing for a while often tell the press what their injuries are but for players that can still play, their injuries are their secrets. This is due to how tennis is played. If a player knows their opponents injury then they are able to expose it while playing. Opponents can target injuries as they hit the ball in locations where the injured player has difficulty reaching it. If the player can't reach it then the opponent can easily win the match and the injured player can worsen their injury because of the repetitive motions. Professionals must look and act like they are not injured and tell the press that whatever is going on is confidential. The Williams sisters are constantly asked information about their injuries on TV and every time they say that they can not talk about it. Often players tape themselves to help their injuries and this gives opponents a little insight into the injuries but they still must play as if the other player is 100%. Opponents don't know anything until the match is being played and they see how the other player is handling the match. This is another reason why tennis is such a demanding sport. It requires strength and perseverance of every player.

Why Do They Make that Noise?!

"Grunting" is a familiar sound when it comes to tennis. It's a unique quality of the sport that is welcomed by some and hated by others. The grunting of players differ from player to player. Some players don't grunt at all. Some grunt only on serves. Some grunt the entire match. People opposed to hearing players grunt say that it is disrespectful to the other player and to the sport. They say that players only grunt to annoy the other player and to get a psychological advantage over them. This can be true. When I play people that grunt, often I get annoyed by the sound and it throws me off my rhythm.

However, grunting does have an advantage to the sport of tennis. Some tennis academies even teach players how to grunt while they play. This is because grunting gives a physical advantage to the player. When a player grunts, air that is in their lungs is released. This makes for less tension in their body and they are able to hit the ball more precisely. Therefore, players that grunt are able to hit the ball more effectively and place the ball better.

It is a tough skill to conquer. I have tried grunting many times and it can be difficult. It can be distracting to the person grunting because they aren't used to the sound and action. It takes time to see the results of grunt but it does offer a physical advantage to the players.

The Plague of Injuries

The professional realm of tennis is known for the extreme wear and tear it puts on the human body. The average tennis career is short lived. This isn't the end for the people that play but it is the end of their professional career. No tennis player wants to end their career, but sadly, they are forced to. Injures plague their joints to the point where repeated strain is too much. Knee injuries dominate many injuries in tennis. Ligament injuries to the knee are very common. Extreme forces on the knee can result in torn ligaments. The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the medial collateral ligament (MCL) are the most often injured. Torn knee cartilage is usually a torn meniscus. These injuries can be fixed by surgery but a full recovery is not always the case. Injuries that involve the shoulders and arms can be very detrimental to a player. A torn rotator cuff can end a tennis players career for good. Other injures allow for full recovery. One injury that is widely known by all is tennis elbow. Tennis elbow is a common term for a condition caused by overuse of arm and forearm muscles that results in elbow pain. Tennis elbow is caused by either abrupt or subtle injury of the muscle and tendon area around the outside of the elbow. Still, with time, players can recover. Even though tennis is a demanding sport, it doesn't take away from the pure joy of playing. Tennis will continue to be a love for many.

For The Young And Old

Many people look at tennis as a sport that has short lived careers with injuries plaguing every player til leave retire. Tennis does put a tremendous strain on the human body and the careers are way shorter than other sports. But what is not looked at, is the fact that tennis players range from 5 year old to 80 years old. While I was at a tennis match in high school, I was able to look across the road and see 7 year olds practicing their serves and running frantically around the court. As I looked at the courts beside ours, I saw a seniors league play. The average age of these players was close to 80. People of all ages are addicted to playing. Peoples love for tennis pushes them to constantly play and overcome obstacles. For many elderly people, the obstacles are their physical abilities. They can't move as fast and as agile as the used to. These players have to use their other abilities to still play tennis. Although tennis applies alot of strain on the body, there are ways to play that don't strain. They rely on their ability to place the ball in order to win. They don't apply much force on the ball but instead they use soft, finesse hits that still show their skill. The sport of tennis will continue to instill inspiration in the youth of the world as the elders of the world hold on to that same inspiration. Tennis connects people of all ages and brings a common ground to the world.

Woods and Federer

Many people choose their friends because they have something in common. This is usually like a favorite sport, hobby, or general interest. It's not common that that common connection is being a modern legend in your own sport. Not only are they both experts in their sports but they also have a little competition between themselves. They have both won many major titles and Woods is only one major title behind Federer. Needless to say, it's just a friendly competition. Through Nike advertising and Gillette commercials, Woods and Federer have gotten to know each other. They have invited each other to watch themselves play tournaments and over time, they have grown to respect and admire the other persons skill and determination. A determination that they find in themselves as well. Their relationship has grow far beyond the realm of sports. When Federer and his wife were thinking about starting a family, he called Woods, a father of two, to ask for his advice. Their friendship has moved past the publicity and drama of normal celebrity friendships to what is a true friendship. They have been able to offer support to one another as they both struggle with the publicity of being one of the best professional athletes of all time. They have an unlikely friendship, but at the same time, they show everyone else how two people are able to come from completely different backgrounds and support and care for each other.

She's Back!

Maria Sharapova has been out of the lime light for almost a whole year. Her shoulder injury prevented her from even touching a tennis racquet for 9 months. Before her injury she was one of the best in the world and one of the most talented players ever. However, after her injury she has been struggling to gain her skill and abilities back. After being knocked out of many tournaments, Sharapova finally grabbed a championship after her injury. Maria beat Jankovic in the Pan Pacific Open for the championship early this October. Jankovic had been ranked #1 in the world earlier this year so this was a very impressive win. Maria Sharapova is only 22 years old and already she has achieved the rank of #2 in the world, fallen out of the top 100 because of injury, and then fought back to beat one of the worlds best. She is truly a tremendous athlete. Although her injury has set her back, Sharapova still displays the skill and talent of a world-class player. She still has the potential to have the #1 rank in the WTA if she can stay injury free and keep her playing consistent. She is an example to all tennis players struggling with injury and to any one else, as she shows that with hard work and dedication, any one can fight back to where they were, just like she has done. Even though the rest of the WTA got to rest for a while as Sharapova recovered. It's now time to get serious because she is back.

Showin' Some Love

Rafa Nadal had an unexpected surprise at this years U.S. Open. I've seen some pretty enthusiastic fans but this tops them all. During one of Nadal's matches a crazed fan came onto the court, ran up to Nadal, and kissed him on the cheek. Nadal told reporters that the man said he loved him and then proceeded to kiss him. He said that the man said "I love you" in english but Nadal understood what that meant. Nadal wasn't upset by this and that was a good reaction. There's no need to be upset with a fan of yours. Especially one bold enough to do something like that. Even though tennis is a proper sport, sometimes it's okay to express your emotions; if those emotions are positive. Sadly the man was arrested for his actions but at least he completed his goal. Here's a news video that shows footage from the match:

The Improved Andy Roddick

For many years, I didn't know much about tennis. I was interested in playing and I liked watching it on TV but i didn't know where to start. I was only familiar with a few professionals like the Williams sisters, Federer, James Blake and Andy Roddick. Obviously they were all very impressive athletes since they were professionals but every time I heard anyone talk about Andy Roddick, someone would always chime in and say something about how all he had was his serve. Andy Roddick does have the fastest serve in tennis and he is more of a power player than a topspin or slice player. This does separate him from a lot of the other famous players, besides the Williams sisters. In many of his matches he would win on his serves but fall short when the other player served and this gave him the reputation of "only having his serve" that made him good. For a while, I believed this to be true. Roddick would never win a grand slam event yet he had the most powerful serve in tennis. However, Wimbledon 2009 ended that belief. It seemed like a "coming out" party for Roddick as he displayed the skills and tenacity of an amazing player. He was able to control tempo, precisely aim backhand and slice shots, and volley at the net like a monster. I was shocked as I watched him defeat Andy Murray, not at the fact that Murray was losing but at the extremely high level Roddick was playing at. Roddick soon had to face Federer in the finals. If he would have beat Federer then that would have truely been a testimony to the new Andy Roddick. However even in loss, the match still showed how skilled Andy Roddick really was. He has been a new player since Wimbledon and he has potential to be a great tennis player.

A New Age: Young

When I began playing tennis, at the age of 18, I soon realized that I had lost my chance. The great warriors of tennis don't start playing in high school or middle school. The best players are are born with racquets in hand. They are reared on tennis courts; learning precision form and taking lessons from highly qualified instructors. I never knew this was the case til I saw just how good some high school players are. One high school match I went to was right across from a tennis academy and we could see 5 and 6 year olds practicing precision serves and backhands as we struggled to put power into our forehands. It's amazing to watch players who have played since they were that young. They have a gifted flow in everything they do. Theses gifted athletes are also going pro sooner than ever before. Melanie Oudin was only 17 when she turned professional and she appeared in Wimbledon and the U.S. Open as a fierce competitor. This shows that a younger generation is coming through the ranks and this generation possesses the same strengths and skills as the modern stars of tennis.

The Diversity of Tennis Fans

The U.S. Open was a prime example of the diversity of tennis fans around the world. All you have to do is look at the fans that come to the 4 Grand Slam tournaments to see how different fans can be. The major difference is between fans from the United States and fans from Europe. Since tennis originated in Europe, so did the etiquette and respect that comes with the game. Fans from all over Europe keep the etiquette of the game as they stay quiet and respectful when watching tennis and cheering at the appropriate times. You almost never hear fans yell during serves or insult players. Fans from the United States treat tennis matches a little differently. As I watched the U.S. Open, I heard fans yell repeatedly during serves and insults the players and officials. I was astounded to hear fans actually "boo" the Chair Umpire for delaying a match because of rain. What are these fans doing? This isn't a football game or a baseball game! I understand a fans disappointment but rain causes a necessary delay and that delay should be taken with respect. It's common to hear "booing" at a baseball game but fans need to understand the values of tennis. Also, fans need to know when to be quiet. Fans should always be quiet during a serve as a respectful courtesy to the players.

However, fans from the U.S. bring a spirit to a tennis match that you won't find anywhere else. Tennis players that give their all on the court will instantly make fans and gain support at the U.S. Open. Fans will fall in love with players that they've never seen before because they admire the players efforts and want to support them. Since the mental aspect of tennis plays a huge role, support from the crowd can win the match from any player.

Tennis Etiquette

Tennis stands as one of the oldest sports in history. Tennis was and is played with etiquette and manners and everyone who plays is expected to uphold that tradition. The U.S. Open showed a different story. Roger Federer and Serena Williams shocked the tennis world when they both used profanity with officials during their matches. Serena Williams lost self control as she threatened to shove the ball down the officials throat after Serena was called for a foot fault. Roger Federer was complaining about Del Potro taking too much time to call for review when he used profanity with the chair umpire. These two players should have been punish more than they were. It costed Williams the match but it should have costed her the entire tournament. Including her doubles match. Federer was only fined $1,500 for his profanity. Although his use was small it should not be taken lightly in the sport of tennis. These players need to have more respect for the officials of the game. I can see a new age of tennis coming that is changing the historic values of tennis. This modern age is one without respect for tennis in its proper form. Players are focused on doing whatever they can to be the best. Its all about themselves and not themselves and the game of tennis.

U.S. Open History Made

The towering, young Juan Martin Del Potro surprised everyone when he won the U.S. Open Championship almost a week ago. he humbly accepted his trophy and spoke to both the crowd and his Argentines at home. I could tell he was emotional as he accepted the award, thanked the crowd, and tried to combine words to explain how he felt in the moment, but when he spoke to his fans in Spanish, he immediately began to cry with joy. He Brought pride back to his native country, Argentina, when he became the first Argentine to win the U.S. Open since Guillermo Vilas in 1977. Del Potro and Vilas are the only two from Argentina to ever win. But what is so amazing, to me, is that he is only 20 years old! While I go to a tennis P.E. class to learn a forehand, a guy one year older than me is defeating legendary players in one of the four major Grand Slams in tennis. His skill combined with his height of 6 feet 4 inchers makes him a deadly weapon on the court. He is one of the few that have defeated both Nadal and Ferderer in the same tournament. Del Potro has an extremely bright future and with his talent, he could be placed among the legends of tennis.

Introduction

For the past few years I have become consumed in tennis. I love watching it and recently, I've started playing. I've swam competitively my entire life and after a few months of tennis, I'm ready to forget about swimming and focus completely on tennis. It's amazing how addicting tennis can be. The pros definitely make it look easy, but just like every other sport, you just have to work at it to get better. Tennis involves a lot of muscle memory so repetition is the key. The more I get into tennis the more I find out how technical it is. Good form is vital to a beginner. Once you have the basic form down you can then work to improve strength, speed, and precision. After that, you can work on being the best!