New coach, new tennis

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by hhollines

TCF, I don't know you and I mean no disrespect to you or GA. However, I've been around also and I understand the game (just new to this group). I don't disagree with what you said but I added my perspective. It is true that many 12s winning the wrong way don't change but some do and some develop late . . . our focus on solid technique and good footwork.

We need to give pushers some credit. They are usually better in mental toughness and are great defenders. If they have a good coach, they can improve their games by adding attacks or transition their game to hard grinding. The kids who have been trained "the right way" should learn how to deal with these type of players. The fact that a top 30 senior has beaten many good girls using high moon balls shows that they still don't know to deal with pushers.

[Chemist]

Originally Posted by coaching32yrs

Coach: Please provide a little background on Madison Brengle. Did she go to USTA HP? For how long? If not, where did she train. I watched her match at Aussie Open qualies last night and would be interested to know about her training.

Originally Posted by TCF

If I remember, she was coached mostly by her mom. But I think she also worked later on with Paul Roetert who is a USTA man.

Saw Madison played World Team Tennis, after she was back from AO several years ago. She had solid back hand, so so forehand and volley, and a very very weak 2nd serve. Yes, she was trained by her mom growing up. She benefited a lot by hitting with a few top high school boys. Had a feeling that she was not trained "the right way". Just looked at the stats of her match - she failed to win a single point on her 2nd serves (0/15), even though the average speed of her 2nd serves was 73 miles/hr, faster than she served at the WTT that looked like in 50s. Still remembered her mom was quoted in a local paper that her daughter lost her 1st RD of AO because her knee was injured. But she continued to play and won a couple of matches in junior AO. The mom was big in junior team tennis and she even tried to add her daughter on her team after she turned pro.

[crosbydog]

Originally Posted by ga tennis

check out www.strivetennisacademy.com It will make you wanna move. I just wish we were there full time. My daughter is in the academy but not on a daily basis.

Makes me want to move - unfortunately my daughter is a year too old at 11. Are they pretty adamant about being 10 or younger?

[ga tennis]

Originally Posted by crosbydog

Makes me want to move - unfortunately my daughter is a year too old at 11. Are they pretty adamant about being 10 or younger?

I dont think so. Give it a try.

[TCF]

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[klu375]

Originally Posted by TCF

Like I said, I would love to bottle the attitude....except the fist pumps towards opponent's face when they hit the net. That stuff bugs me. Honestly, for a smaller girl, I do not see a high level of athletic ability. The small and light girls practically explode around the court. We have 2 of them in our group, they do cart wheels during practice points! Their speed is off the charts. Their issue is they are just playing tennis because mom did in college but would rather be gymnasts!

There is nothing like an athletic 10-12 year old girl....the ones into competitive cheer, gymnastics, soccer. The taller ones gravitate towards volleyball down here. They have this explosiveness to them that is awesome. I just do not see nearly that level of athletic ability in any of the 12s tennis girls.

Then you need another Lauren Davis. Watched her in Tucson when she was 13 and watched her Wednesday night on the feed from Hobart against Stephens. Her court coverage is insane. By the way she won everything G12-18, stayed in regular school, even played HS tennis freshman year and was not trained by USTA. Now she sneaked into top 100 at 19. She is winning on athleticism, attitude and world class backhand. Should I mention that she is 5'2"? I am sure she did not practice 6 hrs a day at 11. Not sure but maybe she still played soccer at 11.

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by klu375

Then you need another Lauren Davis. Watched her in Tucson when she was 13 and watched her Wednesday night on the feed from Hobart against Stephens. Her court coverage is insane. By the way she won everything G12-18, stayed in regular school, even played HS tennis freshman year and was not trained by USTA. Now she sneaked into top 100 at 19. She is winning on athleticism, attitude and world class backhand. Should I mention that she is 5'2"? I am sure she did not practice 6 hrs a day at 11. Not sure but maybe she still played soccer at 11.

She is a lot of fun to watch.

[TCF]

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[10ismom]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvPkVnPBWfY
Here is a part of that match. I think everyone agrees that Sloan shouldn't be bothered by this. The in your face fist pump might have looked better if it's not toward the opponent IMO.

Congrats to a 19 year old Sloan Stephens who just beat Serena in 3 sets QF at the Australian Open. I guess they both learned from the last meeting and there was no drama between the two this time. Serena had a brief back spasm twisting at the net. It affected her serves a few games in the second set.

The US teenagers are quite promising on the women side. Seventeen year old Madison Keys also reached 3rd round but she lost to Angelique Kerber. She showed quite promising form... big serves and ground strokes. Her movement and mental is not at Sloan's level yet.
Sloan will break into top 20's and Keys in the top 100's.

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

Congrats to a 19 year old Sloan Stephens who just beat Serena in 3 sets QF at the Australian Open. I guess they both learned from the last meeting and there was no drama between the two this time. Serena had a brief back spasm twisting at the net. It affected her serves a few games in the second set.

The US teenagers are quite promising on the women side. Seventeen year old Madison Keys also reached 3rd round but she lost to Angelique Kerber. She showed quite promising form... big serves and ground strokes. Her movement and mental is not at Sloan's level yet.
Sloan will break into top 20's and Keys in the top 100's.

I can tell you don't like Serena much. Her injury and its affect on her game was a lot more serious than you describe.

Congrats to Sloane Stephens but all of the "drama" in the last match was caused by her.

[10ismom]

Originally Posted by Soianka

I can tell you don't like Serena much. Her injury and its affect on her game was a lot more serious than you describe.

Congrats to Sloane Stephens but all of the "drama" in the last match was caused by her.

I watched the whole match. Serena split, slipped and twisted a few times. Of course I felt sorry for her hurting which supposedly "back spasm" as per MD's comment. It only affected her serves in a few games since her serves resumed all form and heat the 3 rd set. Don't think Sloan just got lucky because of Serena's injury. Last matchup Serena won in 3 set without injury.

Just report to the board that the US has some promising youngsters on the women's side. I don't think everyone get a chance to watch the AO matches.

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

I watched the whole match. Serena split, slipped and twisted a few times. Of course I felt sorry for her hurting which supposedly "back spasm" as per MD's comment. It only affected her serves in a few games since her serves resumed all form and heat the 3 rd set. Don't think Sloan just got lucky because of Serena's injury. Last matchup Serena won in 3 set without injury.

Just report to the board that the US has some promising youngsters on the women's side. I don't think everyone get a chance to watch the AO matches.

Serena won her previous match against Sloane in 2 sets.

Last night, she was playing on an ankle injury that occured in the first round and was reaggravated the day before in doubles..and oh yeah, that "supposed" (LOL) back spasm.

Sloane played well but Serena was nowhere near the level she has been at the last 8 months because she was injured.

[10ismom]

Originally Posted by Soianka

Serena won her previous match against Sloane in 2 sets.

Last night, she was playing on an ankle injury that occured in the first round and was reaggravated the day before in doubles..and oh yeah, that "supposed" (LOL) back spasm.

Sloane played well but Serena was nowhere near the level she has been at the last 8 months because she was injured.

Serena said after her 1st round she would play unless she's close to death. It continued to show each match that how great a fighter she is.
I don't think anywhere in my comments indicated that Serena was bad. The level of tennis in last night match was high. I pointed out that Sloan and other young Americans such as Madison Keys are promising.

Are you trying to say I have "no respect" LOL for Serena?
Plus there was no in your face fist pump yelling out common last night so I'm a fan of Serena.
Got to give Sloan some credit when it's due.

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

Serena said after her 1st round she would play unless she's close to death. It continued to show each match that how great a fighter she is.
I don't think anywhere in my comments indicated that Serena was bad. The level of tennis in last night match was high. I pointed out that Sloan and other young Americans such as Madison Keys are promising.

Are you trying to say I have "no respect" LOL for Serena?
Plus there was no in your face fist pump yelling out common last night so I'm a fan of Serena.
Got to give Sloan some credit when it's due.

I think Serena has been very decent to Sloane, and I noticed that she didn't have any loud come-on's either. Perhaps out of respect for Sloane or maybe because she was in pain. Who knows.

I think Sloane played one of her better matches, but Serena played pretty badly compared to what we usually see. She is normally able to serve her way out of trouble, but she was throwing in 70 MPH serves last night. Had her serve been working, she would have won in 2 sets having been up 2-0 in the 2nd and she didn't seem to be hitting very penetrating return of serves either.

I am just not that impressed with Sloane yet.

I was much more impressed with Madison Keys' game. Madison looks like a potential great to me. Plus she really reminds me of Alexandra Stevenson, who I think had the talent to go a lot further than she did.

Oh well...we will see how Sloane does tonight against Vika. I'd love to be pleasantly surprised but I have a feeling that Sloane is going to get thoroughly whooped tonight.

[10ismom]

Originally Posted by Soianka

I think Serena has been very decent to Sloane, and I noticed that she didn't have any loud come-on's either. Perhaps out of respect for Sloane or maybe because she was in pain. Who knows.

I think Sloane played one of her better matches, but Serena played pretty badly compared to what we usually see. She is normally able to serve her way out of trouble, but she was throwing in 70 MPH serves last night. Had her serve been working, she would have won in 2 sets having been up 2-0 in the 2nd and she didn't seem to be hitting very penetrating return of serves either.

I am just not that impressed with Sloane yet.

I was much more impressed with Madison Keys' game. Madison looks like a potential great to me. Plus she really reminds me of Alexandra Stevenson, who I think had the talent to go a lot further than she did.

Oh well...we will see how Sloane does tonight against Vika. I'd love to be pleasantly surprised but I have a feeling that Sloane is going to get thoroughly whooped tonight.

I like Madison Keys a lot plus she is younger. I think she has better serve weapon than Sloan but Sloan is definitely a better mover and perhaps more athletic. I watched the match between Madison and Kerber. Kerber was more defensive and kept the ball in play pressing Madison to hit in awkward positions or late for the ball.
Personally, I think Stephens and Keys will do well on big stages rather than Oudin, Lauren Davis and Grace Min.

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by 10ismom

I like Madison Keys a lot plus she is younger. I think she has better serve weapon than Sloan but Sloan is definitely a better mover and perhaps more athletic. I watched the match between Madison and Kerber. Kerber was more defensive and kept the ball in play pressing Madison to hit in awkward positions or late for the ball.
Personally, I think Stephens and Keys will do well on big stages rather than Oudin, Lauren Davis and Grace Min.

I agree. I just think it will be hard for Oudin, Davis, or Min to overcome their size disadvantages, but still it would be nice to see at least one of them breakthrough any way.

In any case, there are so many young Americans with potential. It is kind of exciting to see how things shake out. Where will Townsend fit in this equation? What about Coco Vandeweghe. Coco played so well at Stanford last year. It would be nice to see her live up to her talent.