Oldest, highest level reaching person you know

[HunterST]

In tennis, you've got to start young. We all know that. However, most of us haven't been playing hours per week sense we were 5. I'm just wondering, among the people you know, whats the most dramatic "started at age _____ and reached a _____ level" story.

I really don't have a good story because I only know a few players who are about 5.0s and they started when they were young kids. A friend of mine started tennis as a freshmen in high school and ended up winning districts his junior and senior year in doubles. He only equates to about a solid 4.0, though.

 

[Fuji]

My girlfriends Dad picking up play during his early 20's from some people from his work, and he actually got good enough until his mid 30's to play at Open level tournaments, until of course he met his wife and had his daughter. He's one of the best players I know!

-Fuji

 

[larry10s]

i took lessons with roscoe tanner when he was about 50
also mikael perfors in his 40s

 

[rkelley]

I play with a guy who didn't pick up a racquet until he was in his mid thirties. He's 47 now. He played 5.0 tourneys until a few years ago.

He's better than me, though I can usually hang with him and get my licks in. But a couple of nights ago he was on and I was off, and I got a serious, serious beat down.

 

[HunterST]

i took lessons with roscoe tanner when he was about 50
also mikael perfors in his 40s

Haha, sorry. The title is poorly worded. I mean the person starting the latest in life that reached a fairly high level (and the level they reached).

 

[HunterST]

I play with a guy who didn't pick up a racquet until he was in his mid thirties. He's 47 now. He played 5.0 tourneys until a few years ago.

He's better than me, though I can usually hang with him and get my licks in. But a couple of nights ago he was on and I was off, and I got a serious, serious beat down.

Playing in 5.0 tourneys is pretty legit! It's interesting that both guys mentioned in these comments took about 15 years to get to around 5.0.

Just curious, what level of player are you?

 

[highgeer]

I did not play in high school, but a rival school's number one player had only been playing for 4 years. He was a 5.5+. I grew up in the same town that Jimmy Conners is from, so tennis in Belleville was big in the 80's. This player always beat our best guys (who had been playing since they were 5). Our worst varsity player was a solid 4.5.

Mike

 

[5263]

I guess my story is rarer than I expected, as one who started late. I played some with girlfriends and such all thru HS and my Sr yr of HS we put together a team for a season. Never had a lesson till my early 30's when I started getting group lessons with my 3.5 team after not playing since high school I tested into USTA at 3.0.
I won some singles tourney's at 3.5 the next year and then at 4.0 a year or so later, along with our team moving to 4.0. Then by late 30's got bumped up and went undefeated for 2 seasons of Atlanta 4.5, not expecting to get much better at that age. Played #1 dubs position for an A1 City Champ team and went undefeated thru the season and playoffs around age 42.

But when I was around 44/45, I started playing Open with my 16 yr old son who I had coached to #3 in the state and GA Male Tennis Player of the Year. We only have lost one match ever together; an Open Final where we had beaten a dubs team in the simis with a former top 100 French pro only 6 months retired who was still top 160. We have played many college doubles partners/teams without a loss. I beat a bay area 5.0 champ on a SF trip, along with the local instructor Maui Open level Island champ in singles around that time frame as well. Won an Open tourney in Aruba on vacation there for a week age 46. Working with my son and daughter who both received D1 scholarships in tennis helped me for sure, but kept me from playing more events myself.
Now in my 50s I think I'm still moving up skill wise and play AA in ALTA, but need to get in better shape for singles. I can still go a set with the avg college players, but too heavy to go 2 sets of singles, lol. My oldest son and I beat 2 college players in straights this summer on his visit home. My 3rd child is 13 and I expect he and I will be playing Open together in a couple of years when he is 15.

 

[rkelley]

Playing in 5.0 tourneys is pretty legit! It's interesting that both guys mentioned in these comments took about 15 years to get to around 5.0.

Just curious, what level of player are you?

I don't know how long it took him to get to 5.0. I did tell me that for the first two years that he played he just hit everything as hard as he could but the ball didn't go in much. Now it goes in quite a bit. His forehand can be quite nasty. He has an excellent serve too.

My level? Well the last time I played I'd say about a -2.5. Seriously, I'd guess around a 4.5. My 5.0 friend is definitely better than me, but I'm usually competitive with him and can win rallies and/or games when we get competitive. I yet to take a set off of him, but I've been in the position on occasion to win and then I remember that I shouldn't be winning and choke. Super nice guy too.

 

[HunterST]

I guess my story is rarer than I expected, as one who started late. I played some with girlfriends and such all thru HS and my Sr yr of HS we put together a team for a season. Never had a lesson till my early 30's when I started getting group lessons with my 3.5 team after not playing since high school I tested into USTA at 3.0.
I won some singles tourney's at 3.5 the next year and then at 4.0 a year or so later, along with our team moving to 4.0. Then by late 30's got bumped up and went undefeated for 2 seasons of Atlanta 4.5, not expecting to get much better at that age. Played #1 dubs position for an A1 City Champ team and went undefeated thru the season and playoffs around age 42.

But when I was around 44/45, I started playing Open with my 16 yr old son who I had coached to #3 in the state and GA Male Tennis Player of the Year. We only have lost one match ever together; an Open Final where we had beaten a dubs team in the simis with a former top 100 French pro only 6 months retired who was still top 160. We have played many college doubles partners/teams without a loss. I beat a bay area 5.0 champ on a SF trip, along with the local instructor Maui Open level Island champ in singles around that time frame as well. Won an Open tourney in Aruba on vacation there for a week age 46. Working with my son and daughter who both received D1 scholarships in tennis helped me for sure, but kept me from playing more events myself.
Now in my 50s I think I'm still moving up skill wise and play AA in ALTA, but need to get in better shape for singles. I can still go a set with the avg college players, but too heavy to go 2 sets, lol.

Thanks for all the info and stories! It seems pretty consistent that, despite age, if you get a good 15 years or so of play you can reach a pretty high level. The only limitation is movement and stamina and, as important as they are, they really only come into play when the skill sets are pretty similar. Plus, most of us aren't in flawless shape in our twenties. Therefore, if we commit to fitness, we can improve our conditioning and offset the natural physical losses that occur with aging.

I'm 22 and about a low 4.0. My goal is to get good enough to have a legitimate chance of winning matches at open tournaments. It sounds like it may not be completely unfeasible.

 

[5263]

I'm 22 and about a low 4.0. My goal is to get good enough to have a legitimate chance of winning matches at open tournaments. It sounds like it may not be completely unfeasible.

Well you are about 12 yrs to the good compared to my start and I've won a few.
Little doubt if you stick with it and continue to improve thru the years that you CAN do it.

 

[Off The Wall]

From an old post I made:

The best player to late start ratio I'm aware of was a guy who, as a senior in high school, was playing at about a 3.5 level. He just wasn't very good. His name is Harry Fritz.

He played for a junior college and after two years was at about a 5.0/5.5 level.

I think he spent one year playing for East Texas State U. Afterward, he worked full time on his tennis.

Ultimately, he played on Canada's Davis Cup team. He's even in the Davis Cup record book for number of games played in a match.

He wasn't even a stud athlete, but he had a great mind for the game.

He never got beyond the Satellite tour, but he traveled the world for a few years playing tennis.

 

[kiteboard]

I'm 55, and I am the first one to hit 100mph+ shots off both sides at that age.

 

[dr325i]

There is a guy in Boca Raton, playing for 63 (!!!) years. In 2009 (when I was there) he won one of the local tournaments and mentioned it has been 60 years since he won his first tournament! He is in his upper 70's now and still plays with the 4.5's and BEATS them. His shots are not fast and powerful, but very deep and super accurate. His anticipation is on par with the Pros allowing him to get to any ball. He is "slow" but moves better than any advanced 25-year old player at the local club.
I had a pleasure to hit with him for an hour and after that it felt like I was running a marathon. His shot accuracy is just amazing...

 

[gregor.b]

I picked up a racquet for the first at time after giving up speed skating at about 25 yrs old (now 42).Took a while but am now an ITN 4 (5.5usta) playing some open level tournaments against guys like Tomic ( 3 yrs ago) and Mark Draper (4 yrs ago), Paul Hanley (12 yrs ago).These guys(google them) are quality players and while way better than me these guys are now pros(Draper semi retired).Don't lose all hope because I have not hit as much as I would have liked.

 

[larry10s]

ive yet to here a story about guys who started in their 40s or 50s with no time spent from age 1-40
anyone who had some strokes prior to age 20 especially if between 5-15 has some muscle memory learned when things come "natural"

the 15 year thing i think has to go along with the 10,000 hour thing
i started at age 48 im 58 and a 4.0
i can play with the 4.5s but dont win
i cant handle the 30 year old 4-5.0
too heavy a ball for me

in 5 more years i think ill be 4.5 and competitive around my age group(40-70)

 

[ProgressoR]

I am 40 and picked up a racket first time last year at 39, I think I am doing OK. I will try to record myself some time and post it. My strokes are improving steadily what I really miss (and its taking a long time to get better in these areas) is court craft, strategy and things like anticipation, I literally have to wait till the ball is travelling is towards me to make a move towards it.

 

[WildVolley]

I know a guy who started in his sixties and is probably a 3.0, or at least close. His main problems are his lack of mobility and lack of flexibility on certain shots. I don't think he'll ever hit a good serve because he's lost shoulder flexibility over the years.

I think it would be possible for players to start at that age and play to the 4.0 level if they were in good shape and had no serious injuries which limited their movement.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

I think LeeD started tennis at 60, reached 6.5 shortly thereafter but now has plummeted to 4.0.

Seriously speaking off the subject, I have a friend who used to play golf for USC Div I and then went to Qualifying school afterwards. He said there was this one guy there who started playing in his 20's, and he lived at a golf academy playing from dawn to sunset everyday. In 2 years he went from starting golf to the Nationwide Tour.

 

[kiteboard]

I've worked with LeeD and also seen him hit and play. He tries to help people and have a good effect on them, which is more than most can say here.

 

[Qubax]

I think LeeD started tennis at 60, reached 6.5 shortly thereafter but now has plummeted to 4.0.

Seriously speaking off the subject, I have a friend who used to play golf for USC Div I and then went to Qualifying school afterwards. He said there was this one guy there who started playing in his 20's, and he lived at a golf academy playing from dawn to sunset everyday. In 2 years he went from starting golf to the Nationwide Tour.

Wow, that's pretty interesting

 

[Deleted member 120290]

I've worked with LeeD and also seen him hit and play. He tries to help people and have a good effect on them, which is more than most can say here.

Yeah, it's all in good fun. Personally I have no beef with him or what he posts. And I've also found most of his input to be useful.

 

[Fugazi]

Martin Laurendeau, from Quebec (Canada), started tennis at age 14, reached the top 100 (or very close), and once reached the fourth round of the US Open. I also believe that Mardy Fish started quite late.

 

[tennis-kid]

I did not play in high school, but a rival school's number one player had only been playing for 4 years. He was a 5.5+. I grew up in the same town that Jimmy Conners is from, so tennis in Belleville was big in the 80's. This player always beat our best guys (who had been playing since they were 5). Our worst varsity player was a solid 4.5.

Mike

That guy who played only for 4 years became 5.5+ player? Imagine what could he have become if he started from 5 years old. He was pure gifted.

 

[dr325i]

Yeah, it's all in good fun. Personally I have no beef with him or what he posts. And I've also found most of his input to be useful.

I would not say MOST of it.
Some of it yes, the rest is a total BS, just like his viewes about his own playing...

 

[onehandbh]

I remember a woman who was in her 70's who was beating the #1 girl
on my HS tennis team. The #1 girl finally beat her by the time she
was a jr or sr. I'd say the #1 girl was maybe around a USTA mens 4.0?

In terms of fast improvement, I know a guy that started around maybe
14 and went on to play #1 for a pac 10 school.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

I would not say MOST of it.
Some of it yes, the rest is a total BS, just like his viewes about his own playing...

I'm not talking the posts about his own playing or his Herculean achievements but more so his feedback when people ask others to comment on their serves, BH, FH, etc. Most of those posts I find helpful.

In terms of fast improvement, I know a guy that started around maybe 14 and went on to play #1 for a pac 10 school.

Wow, that's some achievement.

 

[HunterST]

There was that kid named John Warden who started tennis as a freshmen and went on to be a 4 star recruit and play D1 tennis.

 

[onehandbh]

Wow, that's some achievement.

It wasn't like he suddenly just got good. He started taking private lessons
from this instructor almost every single day and practiced almost every day
as well. It was a very focused steady progress. He had good mental toughness
and was a good competitor.

 

[goober]

TT's own Peoplespeace started at age 40 and was 5.0-5.5 in 2 years by his own description. But you can look at the video he posted and judge for yourself.

There is a local teaching pro around here that started around early 40s after taking a junior college class. He went at it full tilt and even played on the JC team. He claimed that he became an open player and a 5.0. After watching him he is probably 4.5- which is still very good. He could probably do ok in age group tournaments, but I doubt he could get more than a round in a money open event.

 

[larry10s]

10,000 hour rule

 

[tennis_ocd]

Neat question! I took up game about 18 months ago at 51 y.o. to hit w/ hs age kid. Love it. Lost about 25 lbs and feel great. Couple group type lessons; much youtube and books; time w/ ball machine. Both our games have improved dramatically…. (and our relationship which is perhaps the biggest win.)

Now I realize I’m not ever getting that glorious ATP point or starting a tv show/blog on my tour experience but have been wondering what is the ceiling? Kid is able to now play a solid 2nd singles in HS and dreams of DIII play while I've wondered if it a realistic dream to ever be able to compete with the local club’s 35 y.o. 5.0 players?? – hey it's easier than an ATP point ;-)

 

[rkelley]

51 isn't that old. I'm almost 49 and I can say that whatever physical dimenishments I have due to age, they have almost no effect on my tennis. I have kept the weight off over the years and I haven't had any injuries to deal with. Go for it. Your goal is reasonable and wherever you end up you'll be better than you are now.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

HunterST, how is this relevant to Tennis Tips?

This past Spring the Mission College tennis team in Santa Clara had a retired physics instructor on the squad who was 72 at the time. Also, I met Alex Swetka last year -- he was still playing at 92. Alex has won numerous national senior tournaments.

 

[HunterST]

HunterST, how is this relevant to Tennis Tips?

This past Spring the Mission College tennis team in Santa Clara had a retired physics instructor on the squad who was 72 at the time. Also, I met Alex Swetka last year -- he was still playing at 92. Alex has won numerous national senior tournaments.

The question in the thread is about the person you know who has the highest age starting tennis to playing level ratio, not just the oldest, best player. It was difficult to word it in the title! So, basically, it's about improvement, which is relevant to the tips/instruction board.