I am not sure what you mean by a "world class junior" under 16.
Nadal was the ninth player in the open era to win an ATP match before the age of 16. That would make him a 6.0+ at 16.
The top 10 USTA 14 and under juniors are 5.0
The top 10 USTA 16 and under juniors are 5.5+
Hi,
When Nadal was 16,I wonder how did he get his ranking so high to get in the main draw of an ATP event?
Hi,
When Nadal was 16,I wonder how did he get his ranking so high to get in the main draw of an ATP event?
Nadal played a few Futures events at 15 1/2, and then received a wild card into the Mallorca tournament just before his 16th birthday. This was at the time Mallorca had an ATP event. He was ranked 762 at the time. He played Futures and a few Challengers (all in Spain) for most of the year past that...Demonstrates the huge advantage aspiring players from Spain have because of the sheer number of pro events held in that country (practically a Futures event somewhere every week).
That explains everything !
If one lives in a country with very few pro events,he can just forget about it.
Then again,the US is so big,why has so few pro players ?
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.
If Mike Agassi really did say that I find it sad. If "he" did it all over again... I was hoping he'd say, I'll let Andre decide what he wants to do. If Andre did it all over again, I wonder what path he'd really pick.
Pro tennis is a tough gig period. Nowdays, a 150 ranked player can barely make a living. If you get injured, your screwed. If you have true passion for the game and have the talent, athletic abilities than i say go for it.
Pro tennis is a tough gig period. Nowdays, a 150 ranked player can barely make a living. If you get injured, your screwed. If you have true passion for the game and have the talent, athletic abilities than i say go for it.
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 :?
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?
I think its both difficult. Even the women are getting bigger and stronger nowdays. The other countries are simply "hungrier".
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.
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