Don’t Train Like a Tennis Professional

The most over used, misused, and abused word in sport is ‘Talent’.

In my opinion, the word ‘Talent’ is probably the most over-used, misused, and abused word when it comes to describing an athlete. What many don’t see is ability & hard work. When someone calls an athlete who is good ‘talented’, it’s almost an insult. It comes down to the effort, hard work and what that athlete used with their ability. Talent does not cover the passion, hunger and desire it takes to get to a good level. When it comes to ‘talent searching’, rather adopt ‘Hunger, attitude and effort searching’.

The biggest mistake tennis coaches and players can make is copying what professional tennis players do. The problem with copying what the tennis pro’s do: When I see a video or piece that says: “Train like Roger Federer” or “Play like Serena Williams” I want to hide it from anyone who plays tennis. I’ve just seen a clip on JM Del Potro training. Sure, it’s nice to see how the pro’s train and what they do. But the problem is this: We get tennis coaches and parents taking those same drills and exercises and implementing them into their kids training programs thinking this is what they should be doing.

What they fail to understand is that this particular tennis professional has been through years and years of progressive training to get to that level and capability. They are an adult, they have fully grown. They are also of a different genetic type. Giving a child what these professionals are doing in their routines is like having them drive a formula 1 race car before a cart – It’s dangerous – Period. By copying programs, you aren’t being smart and getting the best exercises, you are being careless, increasing the risk of injury and jumping the vital stages of a tennis player progression.