Good news for Aussie tennis

[AndrewD]

Im not sure whether the Johansson job is only a part-time one while he's playing in Australia or if it's a full-time position. If it is full-time then I imagine Todd didn't find the role he was after here in Australia with TA and the media.

Havent' seen his name mentioned in relation to Tennis Australia so not really sure what his current status is. If he's available it would be surprising if they didn't have him on-board.

 

[killer]

All quiet on the Molik front?

Just thought I'd inquire if anyone's got updates on Alicia Molik, who had a fantastic run at AO 05 (quarters was it?), then developed a severe inner ear infection. She's got a fantastic game- loads of power, athletic girl with mental toughness to boot. Any news?

 

[Yours!05]

Just thought I'd inquire if anyone's got updates on Alicia Molik, who had a fantastic run at AO 05 (quarters was it?), then developed a severe inner ear infection. She's got a fantastic game- loads of power, athletic girl with mental toughness to boot. Any news?

Heard only that she might be helping out in some capacity this summer for Tennis Australia and one whisper that she might be commentating. Sure is being kept under wraps, and my fear is that it might be becoming evident that her career is over. Just MY guess. And I'll add this one too

 

[StraightSets]

Philippoussis pulls out of the Heineken Classic with a back injury sustained from the doubles in Adelaide.

 

[killer]

Heard only that she might be helping out in some capacity this summer for Tennis Australia and one whisper that she might be commentating. Sure is being kept under wraps, and my fear is that it might be becoming evident that her career is over. Just MY guess. And I'll add this one too

Thanks, Yours!05...I REALLY hope it's not the end of the career...seemed like she was just coming into her own...cracked the top ten, looked to be a serious threat for Lindsay, Justine et al...of course I wouldn't mind just listening to her either...she's a lovely girl.

 

[Yours!05]

Aus v Belarus to be at Kooyong

Hmmm. Is this a ruse to entice Lleyton to play far away from Melb. Park?
Is the Rebound Ace faster at Kooyong?
I think it only has about half the capacity of RL Arena.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18209732-23216,00.html

 

[Mugatu]

i hope it works. he's badly needed in that side

 

[Yours!05]

Newk on Gooch, Pratt on Fat. Where to now?

Newk says Gooch been badly coached and needs emergency remedial work: http://www.theage.com.au/news/tennis/cup-hero-flawed-newk/2006/02/18/1140151850812.html#

Pratty says the current female young prospects are all fat and unfit. Rochey has whisked Sophie Ferguson away, saying she’s a clay court player. I saw Casey Dellacqua, and talk about call Jenny Craig! Some things you can do nothing about, but to turn up to the AO very casual and fat…
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,17878883-5002324,00.html

Tennis Australia Seeking Athletes:
"What's happened?"
The obvious answer is "nothing".
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17880595%255E23216,00.html

Look to Schools, says Frase
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18017830%255E23216,00.html

I saw Coelho and Carsten Ball playing doubles. They acted almost as though it were a social game. OTOH Nathan Healey looked like he was going to die trying, so points for him.

I hoped Luczac would have enough momentum to give someone like Carlsen a big fright.
I didn’t think Stosur would fall to Harkleroad. Looks like she’s back to not being able to play outside of Oz. I think I heard she hasn’t got her new “entourage” full-time.

Will Lindahl make the grade? Or will we have to wait for these two?

"In ball boys’ blood

The names Mac Webster and Will Marshall didn’t exactly jump off the page when Tennis Australia officials made the final cut of court attendants for the Open earlier this year. But once training began, it emerged that the Melbourne Grammar School buddies have primo tennis pedigree. Webster’s grandfather is three-time Australian Open runner-up, Wimbledon and US Open champion Neale Fraser, and Marshall’s is Frank Sedgman. Neither 13-year-old mentioned their lineage in their applications, though Will did throw in that his mother was once a ball-girl at Kooyong.

"Dad kept telling me to say it, but I thought I’d do it my own way," he said."

 

[Aussie Baseliner]

I believe tennis in Australia is not going so smoothly , it will take a long and winding road to fully recover from the apparent slump that tennis Australia has found themselves in . I come from a small community with alot of junior talent imo but the bigger picture is that these kids do not get the competition that is needed to excel them further in the sport. I believe talent gets wasted in Australia because they are overlooked , unorganised and unrecognised . I guess if you are in one of the major cities than you have more of a chance that someone will see your potential and help nurture it , full marks for Australian tennis tennis for involving Pat Rafter in there efforts it can only be good for the sport.

I think it will be another 10 - 20 years before we see some of the talent emerge from Australia. I believe we have the facilities but better co-ordination of the use would be appropriate. I believe in Australia and the talent that is here, lets not lose it.btw I am very passionate about Australia and Australian tennis.

 

[Yours!05]

Two Aussies in top 100

This must be the part where it gets a lot worse before it gets better. LOL

Hewitt's lonely at the top
By Leo Schlink
February 28, 2006

LLEYTON Hewitt and Sam Stosur are the only Australians among the tennis elite after Wayne Arthurs tumbled out of the top 100 yesterday.

Arthurs, 35 next month, plummeted 54 places to 145th in the world, well outside direct entry range for the French Open and Wimbledon.
He dropped to his lowest mark in almost a decade after the points he amassed for winning the Scottsdale tournament in Arizona last year dropped off his total...

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18291619-23216,00.html

 

[Yours!05]

Luczac still in it

Phew. I thought he'd never get past qualies again.

Luczak joins Hewitt in second round
March 1, 2006

PETER Luczak has joined fellow Auustralian Lleyton Hewitt in the second round of the ATP Tour tennis tournament in Las Vegas.

Luczak, one of Australia's Davis Cup heores in the undermanned side that defeated Switzerland in Geneva earlier this month, upset Dmitry Tursunov from Russia 6-4 7-6 in the first round today.

He will play Xavier Malisse from Belgium. Luczak is making the best of his good fortune after being added to the draw late to replace No.7 seed Tommy Haas from Germany, who withdrew with a right shoulder injury.

 

[Yours!05]

Hewitt to play DC v Belarus

Hewitt confirms cup availability
March 2, 2006

FORMER world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt has announced his availability for Australia's Davis Cup squad for the quarter-final against Belarus at Kooyong, Melbourne, next month.

Australia team captain John Fitzgerald said Hewitt had made a telephone call from Las Vegas, where the player is contesting an ATP tournament, confirming he would be fit to play against Belarus from April 7-9.
The right-hander was unavailable for the team that defeated Switzerland 3-2 in the first round in Geneva last month, due to an ankle injury.
"We had a good conversation and he's very keen to play," Fitzgerald said.
"He had issues with his ankle in San Jose (the week after the first round Davis Cup tie). "He played five matches there and he's had another week in between that tournament and now he's in the quarter-finals of Las Vegas and he said his ankle's been better this week."
[more] http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18324580-23216,00.html

 

[raftermania]

ohh la la. Looks like Roddick won't get the starless DC he was hoping for.

 

[Max G.]

Huh? What does this have to do with Roddick?

 

[raftermania]

Sort of tongue in cheek Max, not trying to troll here. I was referring to Roddick's greater focus on DC.

 

[AndrewD]

Tennis Australia will never get to the bottom of the problem, regarding our lack of success, quite simply because any investigation would thoroughly implicate Tennis Australia. The standard of coaching in this country has been woeful. The administration has been appalling. The game has been subjected to the 'old boys network' and, resultantly, is in pretty much the same state that Collingwood was in for almost 50 years.

All of that being said, I think they're on the right track in certain areas. Fast tracking ex-players into the coaching ranks is a good idea but, more importantly, they're forcing them to undergo proper training. What I would prefer to see, however, is a much more stringent set of tests and a system somewhat akin to the French where you need to serve an apprenticeship in order to qualify as a coach. I'm also in complete agreement with Craig Tilley when he says that coaches must be held accountable for their player's results, especially those in higher positions.

One thing that might provide a genuine boost for tennis in this country is the emergence of Marcos Baghdatis. A genuinely engaging personality who, if he remains successful, could prove an inspiration to our huge Greek/Macedonian/Cypriot community as well as those with a European heritage.

 

[Yours!05]

AndrewD

Did you see anything, or anyone, interesting at the AO? I saw a bit of the Nathan Healey match - until the heat got to me! Quite stirring it was...

is in pretty much the same state that Collingwood was in for almost 50 years.

Nooooo!

 

[AndrewD]

Did you see anything, or anyone, interesting at the AO? I saw a bit of the Nathan Healey match - until the heat got to me! Quite stirring it was...

Didn't really see anything interesting Im afraid although I wasn't too happy with the crowd behaviour during Healey's loss (reminded me of a couple of night sessions I attended at the US Open although, thankfully, not as bad).

As for the tennis, I think Tilley is an excellent choice and the best decision TA have made in years (possibly the only good decision they've made). Now all they have to do is bugger off and leave him to run things. Unlike every other member of TA he's shown he can get results.

Happy to see JA get the flick and very happy to see Stoltenberg and David Taylor be given the top jobs (mens and womens). Strangely, I could have sworn we were suggesting those exact same changes a number of months ago.

 

[bertrevert]

One thing that has continued throughout this slump is that Australia still has had (somehow against all the odds) players with their names up in lights. Just one or two or three, but we have still had major headliners.

What I mean is that tennis is still important in our culture even if the organisation behind it is inept. The charisma of Baghdatis recently showed what can happen....

I predict just as the soccer beauracracy got its house in order, if TA can do the same then there will be the same surge of interest.

I just wish they wouldn't media-train tennis players. It stunts their character when a microphone is shoved before them. I mean in interviews Molik sounds like Hewitt sounds like Guccione sounds like Luczak...

What I mean is that somehow we've had these tennis stars yet they haven't seemed to ooze personality. I'm afraid in this media world for young players to really believe they must necessarily look up to their stars.

 

[Yours!05]

One thing that has continued throughout this slump is that Australia still has had (somehow against all the odds) players with their names up in lights. Just one or two or three, but we have still had major headliners.

What I mean is that tennis is still important in our culture even if the organisation behind it is inept. The charisma of Baghdatis recently showed what can happen....

I predict just as the soccer beauracracy got its house in order, if TA can do the same then there will be the same surge of interest.

Too right Bert. It's not the same as the US situation. The latent interest is still there, and I too believe will respond to any signs of life. I think about 3.5 mil watched the final on TV.

 

[bertrevert]

I think of that Eng cricketer with his blue hair - Kevin Pietersen - then suddenly you see kids dieing their hair in a cricket match. Cricket has always cherished its characters. Tennis in Aus needs same. (Maybe watching Molik dance on TV as she is is the start we need!)

It's almost as if despite TA, Australia can still boast of some tennis stars. As earlier perhaps Tiley can make the difference:
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17880595%5E23216,00.html

Basketball interest has plummeted in Australia, and no-one would want that to happen to tennis as well. It feels like Aus is at a tipping point. It could go either way.

Certainly the infrastructure underneath hasn't been operating well - no-one has come along behind Hewitt and several "blooded" players have faded - and while it crumbles underneath it's only later TA realise that there's no new stars.

Sorry I hate to keep saying "stars" but what I mean is that they are absolutely and inherently necessary in a cultural way - that's the nature of the system. Our playwrite David Williamson recently wrote eloquently about Federer's tears
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/...3-and-the-tears/2006/01/30/1138590440557.html

 

[Yours!05]

I think of that Eng cricketer with his blue hair - Kevin Pietersen - then suddenly you see kids dieing their hair in a cricket match. Cricket has always cherished its characters. Tennis in Aus needs same. (Maybe watching Molik dance on TV as she is is the start we need!)

It's almost as if despite TA, Australia can still boast of some tennis stars. As earlier perhaps Tiley can make the difference:
http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17880595%255E23216,00.html

Basketball interest has plummeted in Australia, and no-one would want that to happen to tennis as well. It feels like Aus is at a tipping point. It could go either way.

Certainly the infrastructure underneath hasn't been operating well - no-one has come along behind Hewitt and several "blooded" players have faded - and while it crumbles underneath it's only later TA realise that there's no new stars.

Sorry I hate to keep saying "stars" but what I mean is that they are absolutely and inherently necessary in a cultural way - that's the nature of the system. Our playwrite David Williamson recently wrote eloquently about Federer's tears
http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/the-force-behind-the-serve-133-and-the-tears/2006/01/30/1138590440557.html

Interesting points. About basketball: it's an alien sport that didn't "take".

Pietersen/stars factor - agree. Whether they are "over-coached" or inherently lack charisma, don't know. Possibly Guccione is a great Aussie dag beneath the public persona, but apart from him, only Molik has genuine star quality. When she's being "herself" she's a true Natural IMO. Not that Healey's relevant to the future, but various attempts to make him seem interesting, eg at the beach with gf, didn't really come off. Luczac & Stosur zero charisma. Even Hewitt doesn't have the requisite outgoing nature - not that we want to go there, lol.
Did you see Post #108 which covered most of the AO washup?

 

[AndrewD]

I think one of the biggest problems you have, in tennis world-wide, when it comes to 'personalities' is that the players are too young to have anything worth saying and, by the time they gather enough experience to be interesting they're completely jaded by the media or, as Bert suggested, media trained to the nth degree. In the days of Emerson, Ulrich, Segal, etc, etc they were men when they started to get results, not children. So they had the luxury of time to develop their natural personality and not feel the need to either alter it to suit a television audience or hide it away. One reason why the old World of Sport footy panel (older, developed personalities) was infinately better than the current Footy show (stunted, media trained personalities).

Moving away from the 'personalities', I think that TA needs to focus its energies on re-building the game from the very bottom up. If the game flourishes then champions will emerge. I know that sounds very simple but I think it has been overlooked by previous TA regimes. We all want to see an Australian win the majors and more of our players ranked up the top of the list but, concentrating all of our focus on that is putting the horse before the cart. I don't expect tennis to usurp Aussie Rules, rugby or cricket and I don't think that should, necessarily, be the aim.

What tennis needs to do is ensure that all of those athletes who are drifting off to other previously minor sports (where the skills are transferable to tennis) aren't allowed to drift. It needs to re-establish itself as the genuine no.3 sport for every child and, more importantly, the number 1 or 2 sport they play in school. If McDonald's can arrange to have a part-time job counted towards a kid's school marks then, surely, TA can come to some similar (but far healthier) arrangement. Organise for tennis coaches to take over some PE classes in the primary school system. Put funding towards free or heavily discounted tennis lessons. Be pro-active in the local communities to ensure that tennis courts aren't bulldozed.

Those are all basic functions of a Public Relations practitioner and I can state, categorically, that Tennis Australia has had no-one qualified to fill the role.When I was completing my initial degree(Public Relations/Communications with a minor in Marketing) I approached TA regarding a placement. They didn't even have a Communications division and the best they could do was Marketing: run by a coach.

Looking over their website I can't see anything to suggest that things have changed.

 

[Yours!05]

I think one of the biggest problems you have, in tennis world-wide, when it comes to 'personalities' is that the players are too young to have anything worth saying and, by the time they gather enough experience to be interesting they're completely jaded by the media or, as Bert suggested, media trained to the nth degree. In the days of Emerson, Ulrich, Segal, etc, etc they were men when they started to get results, not children. So they had the luxury of time to develop their natural personality and not feel the need to either alter it to suit a television audience or hide it away. One reason why the old World of Sport footy panel (older, developed personalities) was infinately better than the current Footy show (stunted, media trained personalities).

Moving away from the 'personalities', I think that TA needs to focus its energies on re-building the game from the very bottom up. If the game flourishes then champions will emerge. I know that sounds very simple but I think it has been overlooked by previous TA regimes. We all want to see an Australian win the majors and more of our players ranked up the top of the list but, concentrating all of our focus on that is putting the horse before the cart. I don't expect tennis to usurp Aussie Rules, rugby or cricket and I don't think that should, necessarily, be the aim.

What tennis needs to do is ensure that all of those athletes who are drifting off to other previously minor sports (where the skills are transferable to tennis) aren't allowed to drift. It needs to re-establish itself as the genuine no.3 sport for every child and, more importantly, the number 1 or 2 sport they play in school. If McDonald's can arrange to have a part-time job counted towards a kid's school marks then, surely, TA can come to some similar (but far healthier) arrangement. Organise for tennis coaches to take over some PE classes in the primary school system. Put funding towards free or heavily discounted tennis lessons. Be pro-active in the local communities to ensure that tennis courts aren't bulldozed.

Those are all basic functions of a Public Relations practitioner and I can state, categorically, that Tennis Australia has had no-one qualified to fill the role.When I was completing my initial degree(Public Relations/Communications with a minor in Marketing) I approached TA regarding a placement. They didn't even have a Communications division and the best they could do was Marketing: run by a coach.

Looking over their website I can't see anything to suggest that things have changed.

Total disbelief! I didn't think to look - just assumed. Isn't marketing in the template for organisation overhaul?

Edit:

by the time they gather enough experience to be interesting they're completely jaded by the media or, as Bert suggested, media trained to the nth degree

Oh yes, most embarrassing oft repeated mantra (Aussies as well): "I played unbelievable." LOL

 

[AndrewD]

Yours05,

I certainly hope there is an overhaul of the entire infrastructure. One of the halmarks of a struggling or cheap organisation is that they dispense with their Public Relations or Communications division but retain Marketing. That is a mistake as a well-qualified PR practitioner is trained in Marketing (as well as Advertising) but a well-qualified Marketing practioner is only trained in Marketing. The mistake is to think that you succeed by generating revenue but not through communication. A well-run organisation (assuming it's large scale) will have both.

Although I don't know for certain, I would imagine TA outsources their Public Relations. Again, that is a mistake for a body like TA or any large sporting organisation. As an example, the AFL includes:

Broadcasting, Strategy & Major Projects General Manager
Broadcasting, Publishing & New Media Manager:
Manager of Strategic Planning:
Manager - Major Projects:
Strategic Planner:
Broadcast Co-Ordinator:
Marketing and Communications General Manager
Media Relations Manager:
Publicity & Promotions Manager - Southern Markets:
Publicity & Promotions Manager - Sydney:
Commercial Operations General Manager
Broadcasting, Publishing & New Media Manager:
Internet & Statistics Manager:
Events Manager:
Community Development Manager:
National Coaching Development Manager:
Game Development Events Co-Ordinator:
Business Analyst & Projects Manager:
Administration Manager:
Media Relations Manager:
Publicity and Promotions Manager, Southern Markets:
Publicity and Promotions Manager, Sydney:

Excuse the long list but I thought it was very revealing (and that's only about half of the actual list). The AFL is a domestic competition while tennis is an international sport. The AFL is flourishing and has been for the last 30-odd years while tennis has been in the doldrums for about the same length of time. I think that list, especially if you compare it to the structure of TA, gives you a very good idea why.

 

[Yours!05]

I'm hoping they thought it prudent to stage the changes, and that there are more to come. Mismanaged change is everywhere.
As you say the AFL is very successful - in spite of many missteps over the years.
Well that impressive team has failed to convince me that the game needs a Lloydy Rule. Shot Clock? Perhaps the Rules Committee just ran out of self-preserving ideas.

 

[AndrewD]

Yours,
The AFL is a very well run business but they've definately stuffed up the game as a whole. Can't fault their organisational skills but I really have a problem with their direction. Far too 'knee jerk' for my tastes. Actually, if I could do one thing only to the AFL it would be to disband the rules committee. If I could do two things itd be to make Ian Collins admit that the surface at Telstra Dome is rotten LOL

 

[Yours!05]

Just heard McNamee is departing. AO to be run by TA pro tem. Press speculation is that the Hewitt saga was the last straw.

 

[equinox]

Heh, Hewits demanding fix the bloody courts or i'll never play davis cup again until you resign.

 

[Yours!05]

Heh, Hewits demanding fix the bloody courts or i'll never play davis cup again until you resign.

Now I've had time to hatch a Conspiracy Theory: This is only two days after the DC v Belarus announcement (maybe McNamee had to wait for a meeting, lol). I reckon Hewitt's said no AO next year then, and instead of calling him on it (Hewitt already forced the Kooyong choice) nerves have shredded in the tennis establishment, Paul's phone has melted (calls from people who blackballed him for CEO of TA) and - resistance was futile.
Be interesting to see if we have to wait until next January to find out about the courts, or if they try to spin a speed upgrade sooner. Wouldn't please everyone as there seems to be a view that this is just the place for the slowest Slam.
Does anyone know if the Kooyong Rebound Ace is faster or slower? I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Edit - From an interview in Las Vegas yesterday : "They can't rip it up and put something else down but a medium pace would be fair to everyone," he said.
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18346739-23216,00.html

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Now I've had time to hatch a Conspiracy Theory: This is only two days after the DC v Belarus announcement (maybe McNamee had to wait for a meeting, lol). I reckon Hewitt's said no AO next year then, and instead of calling him on it (Hewitt already forced the Kooyong choice) nerves have shredded in the tennis establishment, Paul's phone has melted (calls from people who blackballed him for CEO of TA) and - resistance was futile.
Be interesting to see if we have to wait until next January to find out about the courts, or if they try to spin a speed upgrade sooner. Wouldn't please everyone as there seems to be a view that this is just the place for the slowest Slam.
Does anyone know if the Kooyong Rebound Ace is faster or slower? I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Edit - From an interview in Las Vegas yesterday : "They can't rip it up and put something else down but a medium pace would be fair to everyone," he said.
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18346739-23216,00.html

Doesnt Hewitt realize he did not do well in Australia since he is not in good form so far this year and it has nothing to do with the surface? Look at his results this year, they pretty much should sum it up.

I am cranky right now too, my 3 favorite athletes are all sinking like the titanic, maybe there is a conspiracy theory against me as well.

 

[Yours!05]

Doesnt Hewitt realize he did not do well in Australia since he is not in good form so far this year and it has nothing to do with the surface? Look at his results this year, they pretty much should sum it up. LOL, that would mean it isn't someone else's fault.

I am cranky right now too, my 3 favorite athletes are all sinking like the titanic, maybe there is a conspiracy theory against me as well.

Even Hoogie? (Not been following swimming lately - but Thorpe will probaby pull out of Commonwealth Games with a virus.)

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Even Hoogie? (Not been following swimming lately - but Thorpe will probaby pull out of Commonwealth Games with a virus.)

S1utskaya was unfairly judged at the Olympics. She was put 2nd for a short program that should have had her first by 5 points or more, and even with the two other contenders making mistakes in the long, the judges gave scores in each category that meant she had to be perfect to barely win over them with their big mistakes. She got discouraged by the unfair judging I am sure and flubbed her performance as a result and settled for bronze. Russia had already won the first 3 events, and the judges did not want a 4th Russian gold and were going to make it very hard for her.

Federer just lost to Nadal today, and has not been playing up to his last years level yet even though he has successful results.

Hoogie lost to some no-name American at the American invitational about a month ago, and his times right now are all slow in all his events, even for this point in the year. I hope he swims well at Europeans though. Sorry to hear about Thorpe's situation BTW, the Commonwealth Games should be held in the summer anyway though, what ridiculous dates they chose for it this year.

So yes my 3 favorites are all sinking, I think there is a conspiracy against me perhaps, it is about as logical as hewitt's thinking.

 

[AndrewD]

Now, this is only my opinion but, surely Australia is the perfect place for a very fast court. Putting aside all arguments suggesting that the athletes should be able to play through extreme heat, wouldn't it make far more sense, given the extreme heat we do get in summer, to speed the courts up rather than slow them down? Another question to ask, in determining the speed of the courts, is 'how many injuries occur as a direct effect of fatigue'?

Actually, the one question I'd love answered is 'why does tennis have to be slower?'

 

[Andy Hewitt]

Woah woah woah, Hewitt is threatening to not play AO until they change the surface?

 

[Yours!05]

Actually, the one question I'd love answered is 'why does tennis have to be slower?'

Aha! So the Emperor's got no clothes?
A. To suit the "European" prevailing influence (but you know that, lol).
"They" forced the Wimbledon speed change too, which I'm not much happier about.

 

[Yours!05]

Woah woah woah, Hewitt is threatening to not play AO until they change the surface?

No Andy. Just a joke.

 

[Yours!05]

Now, this is only my opinion but, surely Australia is the perfect place for a very fast court. Putting aside all arguments suggesting that the athletes should be able to play through extreme heat, wouldn't it make far more sense, given the extreme heat we do get in summer, to speed the courts up rather than slow them down? Another question to ask, in determining the speed of the courts, is 'how many injuries occur as a direct effect of fatigue'?

Makes perfect sense. How to infiltrate you into TA?
And I, of course, would add, on a blazing summer day, who wouldn't rather be sitting, standing, running (and playing tennis - but that's just me) on GRASS?

 

[bertrevert]

Paul McNamee has resigned as director of the AO, whoa. "There's something goin' on and you don't know what it is, do you, Mr Jones..."

 

[raftermania]

Paul McNamee has resigned as director of the AO, whoa. "There's something goin' on and you don't know what it is, do you, Mr Jones..."

Doesn't this belong in the thread, "Bad news for Aussie tennis"?

 

[AndrewD]

I didn't think MacNamee's resignation was a complete surprise. He had flagged his intentions a while back and Im sure TA knew it was coming. Regardless, he's never struck me as the type who wants to stay in one job for an overly long period of time and stagnate. More a high-energy person who gets restless and bored relatively quickly so needs new challenges.

Yours,
Not only did they force the Wimbledon change and, I suspect, the Aus Open change but also the US Open which is slower than in previous years and utilises an extra heavy-duty ball (for the men only) to reduce the pace.

I can understand the Aus Open bowing to pressure (given how much the European players have done for the tournament, the dearth of Australians and the absence of Americans) but Wimbledon is a surprise (although not telling anyone about opening the balls in advance isn't) and the US Open is a shock. I really thought that the Americans would, if anything, up the pace as slowing things down seems, to me at least, to be the antithesis of them as a people.

 

[Yours!05]

Aww stop debunking my conspiracy theory. My next one, if I ever get around to formulating it, will be about homogenisation, even pasteurisation, seemingly driven by claycourters. How inimical is that to the main aim - bums on seats? On the one hand, didn't the ATP last year try to promote its stars with woeful "Attila the Hun" style names (not understanding that these must arise spontaneously) - all of which I forgot immediately, and on the other they want to level out the playing field to the point where you can't distinguish one tournament from the next, one player from another.

...US Open is a shock. I really thought that the Americans would, if anything, up the pace as slowing things down seems, to me at least, to be the antithesis of them as a people.

Baffling.

 

[Yours!05]

Doesn't this belong in the thread, "Bad news for Aussie tennis"?

Please! Rose-coloured glasses required to enter here.

 

[raftermania]

Sorry!!!! But where do I go with these beer goggles???

 

[AndrewD]

Yours,

Second question:If we slow down the courts to make it fairer on the clay-courters, are they going to speed up the clay courts to make it fairer on the hard-courters?

In other words, why was it deemed fair (and by who) to disadvantage players from North America, Australia, Asia (most grow up on hard-courts) and any other nation whose traditional surface is a fast court?

Hmm, is that what happens when you don't have a strong union or the one you've got is crooked?

 

[bertrevert]

Crikey I'm not going to argue whether McNamee resignation is good or bad news... it's change.

Look I think the next appointment is going to be crucial. We have the best grand slam - and yet our tennis seems to be trailing off. I can imagine that the next director will have to position the AO as a pan-Asian slam for it to survive here, for it not to have to go overseas lets say to Singapore. I think the next director will have to have some vision...

Part of that vision might be to position the AO for a distinctive surface - one that reflects our tennis culture/history. Why should we ditch what is unique? Aust tennis hails from a lineage of fast and hard - our grass has always been hard underfoot, baked hard, slick fast - why ditch that? And everyone plays on artificial grass here - let's have hardcourts which match that and reflect what we play on, just as clay is the French heritage.

 

[Yours!05]

Sorry to mention this, but TA is using my Conspiracy Theory as an Action Plan :

TA comes to grips with court speed
Margie McDonald
March 6, 2006
AUSTRALIAN OPEN officials are trying to remedy the varying speed of the Rebound Ace courts but deny it is in response to protests from Australia's No.1 player Lleyton Hewitt.
http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18358554-23216,00.html

And Hewitt's man Schlink's view:
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,18357549%255E3162,00.html

Edit: also from Schlink:
Several Australian tennis figures were yesterday touted as possible successors to McNamee.
Mark Woodforde, who has made no secret of his ambition to run the Open, and another former player Peter Johnston currently share the tournament director's job at the Adelaide International.
Johnston also served as McNamee's Open assistant.
ATP powerbroker Brad Drewett, pivotal to the successful staging of the Tennis Masters Cup in Sydney and Shanghai, commands backing on all sides of tennis. But it is understood Drewett is unlikely to be a contender.


Bert
I think McNamee has done his actual job very well. The attendance figures tell the story. I don't know why such a Mexican Jumping Bean stayed quite so long - except that he probably has been lobbying for both the TA and ATP jobs for a while. As for why he didn't get them, well there's always Hewitt's b****y remark yesterday to consider: "I don't think Paul saw eye to eye with a lot of people."
As for a return to our natural surface, I think the grass horse has bolted in Aus, but I sure would love to see a proper grass season in the UK before Wimbledon.

How to keep this Slam here? What I think we, small and insignificant, need most is a lot of support from an influential regular spectator group. I was amazed to find, what with all the European backpackers, that foreign attendance at the AO is only 5%. And the group we need is Americans. As you know there is a huge reservoir of affection for Oz tennis and players (with one exception), that is reiterated often on this board.
I am a crowd watcher and those Americans I did see looked like they had a day pass from the Queen Elizabeth (anyway that huge liner), i.e. rich and old. I also discovered that the packages offered from within the US are astonishingly expensive, and rather "fauna reserve" focused for non-tennis entertainment. Quite unimaginative. (Never mind, they'll respond en masse to "Where the hell are ya", not. )
Still solution oriented, lol, I studied the surrounds in Melbourne Park. Looked like seaside Carnival tat to me. Almost shabby, not classy.
In conclusion (phew), so that the 4th slam doesn't turn up in Beijing on fast carpet indoors, we need Marketing and PR vision of exceptional quality.

Andrew
I hope you know the answers to the questions you pose.

Second question:If we slow down the courts to make it fairer on the clay-courters, are they going to speed up the clay courts to make it fairer on the hard-courters?

In other words, why was it deemed fair (and by who) to disadvantage players from North America, Australia, Asia (most grow up on hard-courts) and any other nation whose traditional surface is a fast court?

Inspect the Share Register of AV Syntec Pty Ltd (Rebound Ace) at the time the decision was made? Someone in Brissie should do that.

Hmm, is that what happens when you don't have a strong union or the one you've got is crooked?

Is the IOC somehow involved? Kevan Gosper?
Seriously, do you have theories?

 

[bertrevert]

Not a return to grass - I meant hard and fast - and as its Rebound Ace that the tournament is played on then that should be tuned to hard anf fast. I mean the heritage of grass should be modernised and recreated in whatever hard court surface is now used. Big servers don't rule the game anymore as the return-game has upped the ante so a hard and fast hard-court would be fine. Ah well I guess I'm agreeing with Hewitt heh heh.

Tennis tourism oz-stylee? Sounds really old fashioned. Where the bloody hell is the bloody swearing

 

[bertrevert]

from the Sydney newspaper
"However, the new Tennis Australia administration that has taken shape over the past eight months - which followed a damning report by the Australian Sports Commission into how the game had been run - seems more disposed to Hewitt's view that conditions should be doctored to suit the locals."

Has anyone read this "damning report"? It would be interesting...

 

[federerhoogenbandfan]

Changing the surface to suit the local players is awful IMO. I would never support that concept. There is already a fast hard court slam with the U.S Open, so a slow hard court slam like the Australian Open is good.