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Monday, July 17, 2006

Triple A Tennis


The San Jose Mercury News has a preview of the $75,000 Challenger in Aptos this week and it's not your standard "Rising-Stars-Play-At-Local-Club" look at tennis' minor leagues. Instead, the headline is DREAMERS WAITING ON TENNIS' OUTSKIRTS, and it centers on the hopes and disappointments of being outside the ATP Top 100.

Robert Kendrick, Jeff Salzenstein, Paul Goldstein and Lesley Joseph are all quoted (unfortunately I missed the New York Times article about Joseph back in May and it's no longer available for free) on the arc of their careers, the pecking order of tennis, and the very big difference between a short stay at this level (think Andy Murray or Sam Querrey) and years and years of scraping by.

Part of Andre Agassi's legacy is his reinvention of what it means to be old in tennis terms, at least for generations who don't have any memory of Rosewall or Connors. Justin Gimelstob, for example, just reached his first ATP tour final at age 29, and he's probably played nearly as many Challengers and Futures as Goldstein has. Maybe 32-year-old Jeff Salzenstein's best tennis is in front of him. He's certainly seen enough of his competition to be the most accurate judge of that.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know it doesn't make for a 'sexy' kind of article but I do often wish writers would acknowledge the graft that goes along with the glory. Kendrick and Gimelstob - as well as Robbie Ginepri during his 2005 spree- have all come under the wing of the same trainer and achieved their best results to date. Hardly a coincidence. While it may well have been dreams that began them and other of tennis' 'fringe dwellers' on the tennis journey, hard work, not merely talent and a bit of luck, are what will get them (or got them) to the end.

Anyone waiting for a breakthrough would be well advised to consult with Vladimir and Estragon and learn how ultimately futile it is to wait for something that never arrives of its own accord.

Anonymous said...

Colleen,

Why did Dennis Nevolo retire after only 5 games yesterday at the Clay Courts? I know your not there til Wednesday so you probably don't know either, but will you remember to ask when you go. I just think its odd he would go all the way there injured knowing he would do that, and I doubt the heat got to him after only 5 games, maybe sprained an ankle trying to slide or something.

Anonymous said...

"Lesley Joseph, who is 24 and ranked No. 303, recently told the New York Times, 'It's a very big struggle. Me and my parents pretty much put up all the money for me to go places. I've played four years, and I haven't made any money.'" ... He actually turned pro early, after his junior year at Georgia - hello??????

Anonymous said...

I called you Colleen, sorry Colette

Anonymous said...

I think that Tennis Week article overstates its case. Look at the last 10 #1 Juniors:

Gael Monfils (FRA) 2004
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) 2003
Richard Gasquet (FRA) 2002
Gilles Muller (LUX) 2001
Andy Roddick (USA) 2000
Kristian Pless (DEN) 1999
Roger Federer (SUI) 1998
Arnaud Di Pasquale (FRA) 1997
Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) 1996
Mariano Zabaleta (ARG) 1995

The only true bust is Pless.

I would draw the conclusion that it is unusual for a #1 junior to wash out completely.

But Donald Young may just do that.

I hope I'm wrong.

Anonymous said...

Pless isnt a complete bust. He has been as high as 65th in the world. Wesley Whitehouse, Todd Reid, Ytai Abougzir, Levar Harper-Griffith and Brian Baker are complete busts. Abougzir is actually playing at Florida State now.

And Agassi is a horrible example. He is one of the most talented to ever play the game. He only had that one quick stretch of being ranked low, he isnt some guy grinding it out on the Challenger circuit most of his career. Paulie Walnuts(Goldstein) is the best example to use. Playing best tennis ever at what should be nearing the end of his career. And players used to play longer because the game wasn't as physically demanding as it is now. Today everyone gets injured because of the power, the players are like F1 cars, really amazing, but will break if they hit anything.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I was wrong about Pless.

And that supports my point all the more.