Emira Stafford .....

[jigglypuff]

Originally Posted by klu375

I was tempted to mention Caroline Xie but others have already jumped in.
The Emira's video is titled "The best forehand in women's game". But you know what - Caroline Xie has a better forehand. But she also has a better backhand drive and slice. And she has great transition game and net game. And she is a great defender and counter-puncher. And she can pull opponents to the net and eat them alive there. And she has a decent first serve and very very good kick second serve. And I saw her match when she did exactly 2 unforced errors playing attacking tennis. But wait, there is more. She has a very high tennis IQ. During warm-up against unknown opponent she conducts real research and comes up with a game plan. So she may play totally different against opponent A and opponent B. She is 13. On the negative side she sometimes may be frustrated and lose her cool.
So there is a little bit of competition for the "next woman Federer" title or rather next Henin title. I doubt that Emira can do half of what Caroline can do on the court.

... and not many can have half the resources that Caroline has to work with.

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by ofcr17601

Hi TennisCoach I respect your opinion and advise on junior tennis. But don't you think at some point in all this character counts. Maria Shiskina shakes her fist and and shouts at her opponents nearly after every point. She questions obvious line calls made by her opponents and gets involved in verbal arguments with referees. One reviewer posted here we go again another obnoxious tennis kid. This type of behavior his taught by Coaches, Parents and institutions. I observed her Mother and Coach enthusiastically encouraging this type of behavior. May be I'm going overboard , but I think every thing is relative as in life. Sports don't make character, they reveal it. To be honest I don't respect the Coaches, parents and institutions( Nick Bolleterri) that teach this type of behavior.

I have to agree with you there. Maria Shiskina seems like a very obnoxious kid.

I hate to see little kids behave that way.

[willshot]

Originally Posted by Soianka

I have to agree with you there. Maria Shiskina seems like a very obnoxious kid.

I hate to see little kids behave that way.

Yes. She's cute but she looks like she wins with ugliness.

[willshot]

Originally Posted by klu375

I was tempted to mention Caroline Xie but others have already jumped in.
The Emira's video is titled "The best forehand in women's game". But you know what - Caroline Xie has a better forehand. But she also has a better backhand drive and slice. And she has great transition game and net game. And she is a great defender and counter-puncher. And she can pull opponents to the net and eat them alive there. And she has a decent first serve and very very good kick second serve. And I saw her match when she did exactly 2 unforced errors playing attacking tennis. But wait, there is more. She has a very high tennis IQ. During warm-up against unknown opponent she conducts real research and comes up with a game plan. So she may play totally different against opponent A and opponent B. She is 13. On the negative side she sometimes may be frustrated and lose her cool.
So there is a little bit of competition for the "next woman Federer" title or rather next Henin title. I doubt that Emira can do half of what Caroline can do on the court.

I guess we have to wait to see... Maybe both will quit tennis in a few years and this comparison will then be moot.

[tennisdad65]

What is Emira's local/national ranking? Hitting video's are ok, but match play video's are even better. Any match play video's available?

[mozzer]

There are videos of her playing points vs her coach.
Also, in one video, he says he is coaching her for the pro level and not to succeed at the junior level, or soemthing along those lines.

[SoCal10s]

Originally Posted by ofcr17601

Does anyone know how old Gabrielle Andrews and Mayo Hibi are ?

both of these girls are very young(around 14) and they are already winning in the 18s events including nationals ... Andrews is a 6 footer+ and has a complete game.. Hibi just knows how to win,she likes to come up to net too.. when the last time you see anyone taking the net? very hot SoCal prospects for pros ,but we have to see how they compete against international players..

[tennis-silver]

They forget the part where the Williams sisters did play juniors and only stopped after compiling a combined record of like 100-3 and beat all the top girls their ages. Then they went on to play every match they could against top girls and even boys like Roddick whenever they could get a practice match.

By 12 both Williams sisters were veterans of all sorts of junior match play and then pulled out of the rankings game.

You can not train and magically start competing at 15-17 and go anywhere, it just will not work and is not what Richard Williams did.[/quote]


Thanks for clearing all that up ..... again.

[justinmadison]

Great article. Here is a video of the brother Jabari who was 9 when the article was written Dec 13, 2004. I guess he is 15? I cannot find any record of match play on tennisrecruiting


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4dnA6q_lyo

this one video doesn't prove very much. it's like looking at a very small part of an elephant and then trying to figure out what it is. my first impression is that she has mechanical forehand. every ball was in her wheelhouse. she did not run. there are many other strokes we need to see....

[ofcr17601]

Hi guys, I did a little research on Tennis Recruiting.net of some of the top 13 and 14yr olds in the country. Brook Austin has won just about everything there is to win since the age of ten. She participated in the U.S.Open this year at only 14yrs of age. This Summer she won a National level II 18's tourney and beat the #girl in the country 1 and 0!

One reviewer mentioned earlier, that no girl has a attacking game like Mayo Hibi. Shes also ranked very high Nationaly in the 18's. A proven winner, she either makes the finals or wins in just about every tourney she enters. She is ranked #2 in So Cal 18's.

Gabrielle Andrews is ranked #10 in the country in the 18's and is only 13yrs old. She won singles and doubles in Teen Tennis earlier this year in England. She then made quarter finals in France and won doubles with Brook Austin in the prestigous La Petit AS. Also participated in the U.S. Open.

Christina Makarova may turn out to be the best of them all, already won two ITFS this year, most recent in Canada.

These girls are proven winners, however nobody really acknowledges their efforts and accomplisments. Thay have proven credentials and potential. But their parents dont post them up on you tube and declare they are the next this or that. But I think their Parents prefer it that way.

[southerncross]

Originally Posted by willshot

Who ever said anything about "making" it. Define "making it"??

Regardless of tournys results, she's got some skills.

re my post above. "making it" was again in reference to her Dad's ambition for her to be World Number One. I should have expanded on Emira's 'story' that I was aware of, especially from the content of that Sports Illustrated article. (Which may or may not be exaggerated journo piffle)...

[tennis-silver]

RE: TCFLA

Not that I totally disagree with you, I do agree that playing and competing is good. I just don't understand why it matter so much to you with certain girls. So what if their parents scream it from the mountain tops that they have the next #1 player in the world. There are many different paths being taken and not one is the proven cookie cutter way. Kids are different, families are different, needs are different. I'm sure you know exactly what your kid needs at any give time - and trust me, this will change many times over the course of your path in getting him/her to the top. We have to assume that the parents of these kids are doing what they feel is best for them. And by the way - there are many top girls that became successful without playing USTA juniors - not just Venus and Serena - Maria Sharapova, Monica Seles (played very little). In fact, I have seen some of your posts where you stated that the top of the 10's, 12's, 14's, etc almost never make it as a pro. These girls are all still very young and have plenty of time to train and play. Just because they didn't compete in the 10's and 12's doesn't necessarily mean that they will not compete in ITF's . More and more parents are becoming frustrated with the USTA and would rather not play.
Not to mention taking into account for the type of game being taught to them. If they are being taught to have a big serve, big groundies, big weapons, etc then - as you have stated before - this will not translate at the junior level. I'll be anxiously awaiting your thoughts about this when your kid starts to compete.

[TennisCoachFLA]

Originally Posted by tennis-silver

RE: TCFLA

Not that I totally disagree with you, I do agree that playing and competing is good. I just don't understand why it matter so much to you with certain girls. So what if their parents scream it from the mountain tops that they have the next #1 player in the world. There are many different paths being taken and not one is the proven cookie cutter way. Kids are different, families are different, needs are different. I'm sure you know exactly what your kid needs at any give time - and trust me, this will change many times over the course of your path in getting him/her to the top. We have to assume that the parents of these kids are doing what they feel is best for them. And by the way - there are many top girls that became successful without playing USTA juniors - not just Venus and Serena - Maria Sharapova, Monica Seles (played very little). In fact, I have seen some of your posts where you stated that the top of the 10's, 12's, 14's, etc almost never make it as a pro. These girls are all still very young and have plenty of time to train and play. Just because they didn't compete in the 10's and 12's doesn't necessarily mean that they will not compete in ITF's . More and more parents are becoming frustrated with the USTA and would rather not play.
Not to mention taking into account for the type of game being taught to them. If they are being taught to have a big serve, big groundies, big weapons, etc then - as you have stated before - this will not translate at the junior level. I'll be anxiously awaiting your thoughts about this when your kid starts to compete.

silver...please reread my last post. I said no one knows what method makes a champion. I said maybe this method will work with these girls.

All I am saying is that these parents should stop saying they are doing what Richard Williams did....because the Williams sisters did play juniors for years.

These dads are welcome to shout from the mountains that they think they have the next # 1 player.....but they should not think they are following the Williams model with regards to juniors.

[tennis-silver]

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

silver...please reread my last post. I said no one knows what method makes a champion. I said maybe this method will work with these girls.

All I am saying is that these parents should stop saying they are doing what Richard Williams did....because the Williams sisters did play juniors for years.

These dads are welcome to shout from the mountains that they think they have the next # 1 player.....but they should not think they are following the Williams model with regards to juniors.

Yes, your correct, you did say that - sorry.

Can you post the Williams' junior record?

[TennisCoachFLA]

Originally Posted by tennis-silver

Yes, your correct, you did say that - sorry.

Can you post the Williams' junior record?

Serena was 46-3 and ranked #1 in her age group when Richard pulled her from juniors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serena_Williams

Venus was 63-0 and ranked #1 in the 12s when she stopped juniors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Williams

So my point is that if these parents think the Williams bypassed juniors they are wrong. They were hardened competitors before they were pulled and even after that never ducked a practice match against the very best girls.

Same with Sharapova....she didn't chase rankings but did play lots of junior tournaments around Florida. She would work her way through the draws. At 13 she won the Eddie Herr 16s. So she did play her share of other top juniors.

The girls who grow up overseas play the ITF tournaments. So I am curious as to how these girls do who will try to jump right into competition on the pro level without entering any junior tournies of note.

[tennis-silver]

Originally Posted by TennisCoachFLA

Serena was 46-3 and ranked #1 in her age group when Richard pulled her from juniors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serena_Williams

Venus was 63-0 and ranked #1 in the 12s when she stopped juniors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Williams

So my point is that if these parents think the Williams bypassed juniors they are wrong. They were hardened competitors before they were pulled and even after that never ducked a practice match against the very best girls.

Same with Sharapova....she didn't chase rankings but did play lots of junior tournaments around Florida. She would work her way through the draws. At 13 she won the Eddie Herr 16s. So she did play her share of other top juniors.

The girls who grow up overseas play the ITF tournaments. So I am curious as to how these girls do who will try to jump right into competition on the pro level without entering any junior tournies of note.

Thanks for the info but do you have the USTA record? I could up date their wikipedia if I wanted to - meaning - wikipedia is not that reliable.

For example - everyone knows that the sisters never played Juniors in Florida. Macci traveled to California to recruit them and once they came to Florida they never played junior tournaments. In fact, Macci tried to get them to play some for the experience but Richard refused.

My niece is the same age of Venus and played all thru the Juniors and it was always comical to her that everyone believed Richard when he said that Venus was top in the Juniors in California and all the top juniors knew she never played.

Anyway - not to keep the point alive - because I, like you, believe in playing.

Thanks again.

it seems odd that they would not want to measure their progress every 2 years or so by playing a tournament or two. Now I understand the Williams family did this kind of measuring. I am skeptical this family is not taking this route. I am also skeptical after seeing some of the youtube videos of the 15 year old boy. rafa and hewitt were starting their pro careers at 15-16. we don't even know if these kids like to "compete"....

[TennisCoachFLA]

Originally Posted by decades

it seems odd that they would not want to measure their progress every 2 years or so by playing a tournament or two. Now I understand the Williams family did this kind of measuring. I am skeptical this family is not taking this route. I am also skeptical after seeing some of the youtube videos of the 15 year old boy.

I too am skeptical and have been for years. We have 3 or 4 girls who are internet video stars but who never compete with top girls. The story is always the same, juniors are a waste and we are going pro.

A cynic might think the real reason is that dad wants to create and keep hype going without the bubble being burst by actual top competition.

After all, we have all seen kids who look like world beaters in a practice setting and who can not win a thing vs a real opponent with nasty intentions!

We all remember Jan Silva who looked at age 4-5-6 on video as if he would be destroying 10 year olds by age 7. He had academy training, personal massage, every advantage. Had pretty strokes with fed balls. Yet in the Norcal local tournies he has proven to struggle. Maybe one day he will turn into a great player but his videos showed the vast difference between practice and reality.

Practice players vs real players.....every parent must suck it up and find out if you have the former or the later.

[Number1Coach]

One minute you people say the 10's and 12's are meaningless and proves nothing then you say the Williams girls dominated the 10's and 12's then they were pulled out.

My question is how are these kids who by-pass the younger age groups doing anything wrong or do they have to dominate the 10's and 12's then they are on the right path ?

Do the 10's and 12's matter TCF or not ?