Athletic skills help in tennis

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September 13, 2009

Anonymous The Joplin Globe Sun Sep 13, 2009, 11:52 PM CDT

Sweat. Everywhere. Headband, wristbands, shirt, shorts and socks. All soaked. That was me years ago whenever I walked off the court after two out of three grinding sets of tennis.

Today’s players, who you have probably noticed in the current U.S. Open, seem to seldom work up a sweat, even after five sets.

The difference? Conditioning. Although it's true that racket technology has come a long way, it is more certain that so have the athletic skills of tennis players.

Take the top player in the world, Roger Federer or that superbly conditioned athlete, Rafael Nadal. Is it just me or do these guys not perspire?

I can remember seeing old timers on the pro circuit like Stan Smith, Rod Laver, Kenny Rosewall and many more who would be drenched in sweat after their matches. I am not saying they were not in shape but, rather, that their athletic skills were possibly not as developed as today’s players.

Mike Wheelen, academy and program director at Millennium Tennis & Fitness Club, bears this out.

“Tennis and golf have a lot of similarities where technique is a big part of the game but the difference in golf is that technique will take you a lot farther than in tennis,” said Wheelen, a veteran college tennis coach who has also had a hand in preparing young players for the professional ranks. “In tennis the athletic side is so strong that you can overcome a lot of limitations.”

When Wheelen coached the men’s team at Florida Atlantic University, he got to see first-hand how well-conditioned the top women on the pro tour are when he was paid a visit by Venus and Serena Williams.

Even though the Williams sisters had not yet launched their pro careers, they were already showing signs of great physical conditioning.

“Their coach would bring them in so I could run them through the drills with my guys,” said Wheelen, in his first year as the girls and boys coach at Thomas Jefferson. “Venus was the typical good female athlete, while Serena was as good as any of the guys. She was as good as any female athlete I had seen as far as our physical drills in tennis. You can usually see the difference between the men and women in physical drills but, I mean, Serena was right there.

“It is rare for any sport to have sisters dominate like they have but the Williams sisters are bigger, faster and stronger.”

Wheelen said he has seen some pros, as well as really good college players, with bad technique do really well because they are so physically strong and focused.

Marianella Padron, executive director of tennis at Millennium, said just as the technology of tennis rackets has vastly improved, so have stronger methods of conditioning.

“The game is starting to get a little more physical,” she said. “Everyone is trying to find the edge that will make the kids stronger and faster.”

Rich Brown is a sports writer for the Joplin Globe. He may be reached at 627-7269 or through email at rbrown@joplinglobe.com

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