World Class Juniors

[tennisdad65]

Originally Posted by jdawgg

Just think how amazingly good at something you have to be to be 150th in the world at anything... the 150th best player at baseball/football/soccer is probably making millions

if money is the goal, then tennis is not the sport to get your kid into..

Just look up the money list for the ATP and the PGA tour.
PGA 100 ranked = 840K in 2009
ATP 100 ranked = ~200K

PGA 150 ranked = 450K in 2009
ATP 150 ranked = 50-100K

[warmsurfing]

Originally Posted by get it in

That's a complex answer. One big reason is because tennis is not as big in the US as baseball, football, and basketball. The reality is that you can make more money in minor league baseball than you could in minor league (futures) tennis- and you don't have to travel around the world most of the year. Granted, some people enjoy the travel. It's just very expensive to produce a pro tennis player. You can get a lot of training for free/low cost in baseball or football (think college scholarships) for sure. It doesn't have much to do with Americans not having talent or skills. It's just that the road to a pro tennis career is very long and fraught with uncertainty. That shouldn't deter anyone and for those truly interested, they should continue in it.
I'll finish with this: Andre Agassi's dad once said that if he could do it over again, he would have had Andre play baseball. We're all glad he didn't but think about the implications of that statement.

Do you think for women try to get into WTA is easier than men try to play ATP?

[willshot]

Originally Posted by warmsurfing

Do you think for women try to get into WTA is easier than men try to play ATP?

I think its both difficult. Even the women are getting bigger and stronger nowdays. The other countries are simply "hungrier".

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by willshot

I think its both difficult. Even the women are getting bigger and stronger nowdays. The other countries are simply "hungrier".

I know my son has a better chance of winning the lottery twice than making it as a pro tennis player.I think my daughters chances are a very very very small percent better.The depth on the mens side is ridiculous!!!!

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by Tennis_Stringman

I heard Mike Agassi speak at the Easter Bowl some years ago. Yes he did mention golf as the preferred route as the career is longer. In his book he said he trained Agassi to S&V like the previous great and told Nick that he was disappointed that Andre never came in anymore and wanted him to attack the net more.

Let me say this, no one in his (rational) mind would choose men's Pro tennis as a pro sport. It's too damn expensive, no safety net if you get injured, and too competitive worldwide. Choose a sport that is sponsored and paid for by the school system like baseball, basketball or football. Golf is like tennis but at least you have an idea when you get to go home unlike tennis where you have to pay exhorbitant change fees when you bomb out.

Ehem! Physical size is much less important in golf and tennis than it is in football, basketball and baseball. If you're a gifted athlete and 5'8", 150lbs, you're not likely to go far in football or basketball (unless you're Spud Web). You'll have a slightly better, but still remote, chance in baseball..

[get it in]

Originally Posted by jdawgg

Just think how amazingly good at something you have to be to be 150th in the world at anything... the 150th best player at baseball/football/soccer is probably making millions

Originally Posted by tennisdad65

if money is the goal, then tennis is not the sport to get your kid into..

Just look up the money list for the ATP and the PGA tour.
PGA 100 ranked = 840K in 2009
ATP 100 ranked = ~200K

PGA 150 ranked = 450K in 2009
ATP 150 ranked = 50-100K

So true. I think baseball players that are in the top 150 in salary get paid close to 1 million a year- guaranteed. Football contracts are not guaranteed and the sport has a very high injury and dropout rate. Baseball is really competitive, though. Guys that are starters on div 1 teams like Texas still don't even make the minor leagues. Golf is so expensive to start. My daughter was taking golf lessons and it cost me quite a bit of money. Good thing she figured out early that it wasn't for her.
Regardless of money, if you have a passion for it then you should do it. Never pursue a field simply for the sake of money. It's not worth it. Find what you like to do and do it to the best of your ability.