How old are pro players

[christos_liaskos]

This probably isnt somethin that many people think about but every so often it pops up in my mind. Obviously we all know how old the players are but when I think about it, straight off the top of my head I would say many seem more like late 30's and into their 40's. When I think of Federer I certainly dont think of a 25 year old. I have friends who are that age and they seem so young, yet when you think of a Federer or a Sampras, players who are creating history, I have an image in my head of a much older and wiser person, not a 20-25 year old who is just leaving university and seems to have no life experience etc.

Then there are players like Djokovic, who come across as younger, but still not as young as there actual age. I am a year younger than Djokovic and Murray and some of my friends of my age just seem so completely immature and clueless as to what they are doing with their lives and act immature in general.

I know one main reason is that players have to, in many cases leave home at an early age and therefore have to mature much faster than most people but I feel like there may be more to it than that, although I am not quite sure what.

Another idea I have is that as players and people get older, they become better players, even past their 'prime' years and going into their 40's and 50's. The only thing they lack is athleticism and speed which they lose as they get older. As you get older you understand things more and inevitably, through time, you find how better ways to do things. Tactically as you get older, surely you must get better? I think that when players like Mac say they feel they are hitting the ball as well as ever, they are probably right. I dont think its necessarily better equipment, just natural evolution. The only thing stopping these players from competing at a top level is their speed and athletecism. Someone mentioned seeing Gilbert hitting with either Agassi or Murray, cant remember which, and they thought it was improvements in rackets that meant Gilbert was hitting the ball maybe better than ever. Again I think its just improvement with age.

What do you guys think? Firstly do you guys get this same feeling when it comes to players' age like I do, with players 'seeming' older than they are, or is it just me being weird:grin: ? Also what do you think about players HITTING better with age, not moving better. Also tactical improvement with age.

P.S I could think of a good title, I am sure someone will point out some obvious one though, I wasnt feeling very creative at the time of writing.:grin:

 

[SlapShot]

I'm not sure that this answers your question, but I may have some insight on the issue of maturation.

When I was in college, I played in a band that had aspirations of making it big, so we decided to tour. It's a tough time trying to subsist on your own at age 19. I grew up more during those 3 small tours than I ever would have in my 4 years at college.

I do think that being away from parental support and having to make your way definitely ages a person quite a bit.

And I do think that people progress as tennis players much after most pros retire, because as it has been said, tennis is a game of running, not of hitting.

I'd bet that if golden-era Sampras had the tactical ability that he has now, he'd have had a couple more Grand Slam titles to his credit. Same with Mac, and BG may not have referred to his strokes as "ugly."

 

[chaz_233]

Yeah, it's kind of hard to think of them as the kids they are. Somehow we think of them as men battling each other.
I'd also add that since it's a game that requires quite a bit of willpower and physical power while they are playing, they seem stronger, more imposing, and mature than they are and would behave out of court.
Do doubt that things get better with age. In additional to just competing to win, you see the bigger picture of enjoying yourself and the company of others. Instead of trying to figure out how to put reigns on your power and body, your body starts imposing limits on what you can do, that frees you up to play more creatively. And as with everything, with more experience you get a better sense of what works and doesn't.

 

[christos_liaskos]

No one else really have same feelings as me then? Obviously I mean apart from the two guys who have posted already.

 

[fgs]

first, about these youngsters looking and being more mature than others at their age - these people have made a commitment to top level sports, meaning that they will have to not do a lot of things "normal" youngsters do most of the time. they do this because they decided to dedicate to this endeavour. now, we usually see them in a competitive environment and there they simply have to be focused on their job. in this i don't see much difference with other people preparing for an examination in high school or college. the difference is in the time off - after you've done your "homework" you can go hanging out and have a beer with your chaps, while they will watch their diet and do some physical conditioning work. it's just a matter of dedication. i'd say there's quite a few murray's, nadal's and djokovici's out there, but they lack the determination and every now and then they prefer the "beer" over just another workout.
second, people in their 40's. it's the lack of athleticism and speed that gets you down and the more frequent injuries (see agassi) if you try to keep up with that level of physical work. your aging body won't take it anymore. tactically you would be a lot smarter but to what avail if you don't make it to the ball in time. just as a sort of anecdote - i'm 42, and last year i decided i'd play also a few open tournaments since i felt i was hitting quite well again (after some 19 years away from tennis). i played a 17 years old in the first round (top 100 in the country) and in the first set, i lost 6-3, i could keep it up pretty well. it was quite close and with a little bit of luck i could have even won that set - i got broken once, and had myself the possibility to break twice. but in the second set i just ran out of steam and he gained confidence after winning the first one - so i ended up being bageled. i might give it a try this year too, just for the fun of it, but even if i make the first set this time i'm pretty confident that i'm going to be sent packing because my feet won't carry me through at that level of play.

 

[drakulie]

twenty one

 

[illkhiboy]

Sampras: (paraphrased) 2000/01 Sampras would kick '94 Sampras' ass.

 

[slice bh compliment]

first, about these youngsters looking and being more mature than others at their age - these people have made a commitment to top level sports, meaning that they will have to not do a lot of things "normal" youngsters do most of the time. they do this because they decided to dedicate to this endeavour. now, we usually see them in a competitive environment and there they simply have to be focused on their job. in this i don't see much difference with other people preparing for an examination in high school or college. the difference is in the time off - after you've done your "homework" you can go hanging out and have a beer with your chaps, while they will watch their diet and do some physical conditioning work. it's just a matter of dedication. i'd say there's quite a few murray's, nadal's and djokovici's out there, but they lack the determination and every now and then they prefer the "beer" over just another workout.
second, people in their 40's. it's the lack of athleticism and speed that gets you down and the more frequent injuries (see agassi) if you try to keep up with that level of physical work. your aging body won't take it anymore. tactically you would be a lot smarter but to what avail if you don't make it to the ball in time. just as a sort of anecdote - i'm 42, and last year i decided i'd play also a few open tournaments since i felt i was hitting quite well again (after some 19 years away from tennis). i played a 17 years old in the first round (top 100 in the country) and in the first set, i lost 6-3, i could keep it up pretty well. it was quite close and with a little bit of luck i could have even won that set - i got broken once, and had myself the possibility to break twice. but in the second set i just ran out of steam and he gained confidence after winning the first one - so i ended up being bageled. i might give it a try this year too, just for the fun of it, but even if i make the first set this time i'm pretty confident that i'm going to be sent packing because my feet won't carry me through at that level of play.

Florin, is that you?

 

[fgs]

slice bh compliment,
no, it's not florin (which one by the way since there are quite a few).

 

[tuk]

"Practice Makes the Master", so they are not better because they are older but because they have more experience and have been practicing for more years...of course some older guys feel like their strokes are better than when they were younger....let's say you have been playing for forty years, you must have learned something during that time so maybe your strokes are better than when you were younger but you have lost speed which is much more important...

 

[slice bh compliment]

slice bh compliment,
no, it's not florin (which one by the way since there are quite a few).

Sorry, you sounded like a Rumanian guy I knew who played satellites years ago.

Oh, and about the 'age' of players. Yeah, road years. And sun damage.
Just to echo, I did more growing up those two years traveling/playing tennis than I did in 4.5 yrs in college.
Noone knows me at all, but I think people assumed I was 28 or so when I was 24.
Now, I'm close to 40, but I feel closer to 30. Age is just a number.