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***Pierre Lamarche has been an outspoken proponent of Canadian tennis and how the sport should have a major place in the Canadian sport landscape. He believes this lofty ambition can only be achieved through the combination of success on the international professional competitive scene, with the required domestic infrastructure and a true partnership between Tennis Canada and the tennis private sector.
His comments are often taken as critical by those who feel targeted by his questions. His background as a player, coach, and leader [see background] in the sport and coaching industry warrants that his views, which are shared by many others, be given due process by anyone [or organization] who really wants to help Canadian Tennis achieve the proper national status it deserves in the sport community.***
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The Bear: First of all, no offense, but who is Jack Sock? A kid from Nebraska, who is 19 years old with a 332 ATP singles ranking. He was not developed at the USTA training center, but in Nebraska. But you are right in your comment that she reacted to her competition. There should not be any competition between the private and public sector, only cooperation. Then, by maximizing our Canadian resources we will have a chance to succeed.
The Bear: I think everyone agrees that competition amongst private clubs and academies is healthy. The problem is when competition occurs between the public sector (Tennis Canada) and the private sector (academies and clubs). The problem is magnified, when Tennis Canada uses public funds to compete with the private sector that develops the players for them. This is somewhat similar to killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. It becomes really a problem, when the competition is structured in a way that mostly only players from the public academy can receive funding for international travel. Then, if rankings at Nationals are based on international results, you can see that this system becomes completely unfair. All clubs and academies offer scholarships, some in excess of $100,000.
Bob: Actually, Casey Curtis developed Milos! He was 17 when he went to Montreal.
The Bear: You are correct, Casey Curtis did develop Milos Raonic untill he was 17. Louis Borfiga and Guillaume Marx of the National Center in Montreal must be given the credit for convincing him to try the pros, rather than the US university he had committed to in Virginia. In the next period of development, he spent a lot of time on the road, competing, learning his craft on clay courts, as well as hard, before finally moving on to Spain. This transition to the pros was due completely to Tennis Canada’s management and financing. In other words, Tennis Canada took a good prospect at the age of 17 and provided him with the proper opportunities. Nobody can disagree with this and the fact that Tennis Canada should do this.
The Bear: Of course, Tennis Canada should provide the competitive and training opportunities to talented players. The question is: “If that player is training in a proper environment, like Bollettieri in Florida, should he be entitled to receive the same touring opportunities, as a player training at a National Center? If a 14-year old player is in an environment, which is good for his development, with a Tennis Canada certified coach, willing to work with the assistance of national coaches, should he be entitled to receive financial assistance from Tennis Canada for tournament travel and for extra lessons with his coach? The environment a child grows up in can determine greatly his future well-being. All things being equal, why would you want to uproot a youngster from his coach, friends and family?
The Bear: There are a few points that need to be addressed: Peter Polanski, Frank Dancevic, Philip Bester, Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil are all products of the private sector, as Milos was until he was 17. Approximately twenty Canadian players in the last 20 years in the top 200 ATP or WTA have been developed in the private sector. Girls side, Dubois, Fichman, Marino – were all developed in the private sector. Nobody questions that the National Center is a great resource and that Tennis Canada should be involved in providing all the required services, only whether all deserving players should be able to access them regardless of where they train. Many believe cooperation is a better and more cost efficient way to achieve the same objectives, without creating dissension. Your comment on Milos is addressed above. He was developed until 17 years of age in a private club. Players of that age certainly should be assisted in their transition to the pros by Tennis Canada or whoever can provide the required services. Of more interest would be the question of how you would have felt as an Under 14 Champion if you would not have been selected for the National Center, because you did not meet certain subjective criteria. You should note that Frank Dancevic, your age, and Peter Polansky, younger, who were both from Ontario and of your generation, did make it to the pros.
The Bear: The segregation and profiling of young players is one of the most troubling side effects of the present identification system of Tennis Canada. The same results can be achieved through a more inclusive system, which would respect the recommendations for the fostering of self esteem in youth. I also agree with you that policies for U14 players (pre high school) should be different than for transition players (after high school) over 17. The high school period should provide a hybrid system of cooperation between the private (training) and public sector (regrouping and touring). Your comments on the need of a proper cost-efficient competitive schedule highlight the greatest area of need in this country.
The Bear: Thanks, Alex. This is a difficult question to answer. Yes, it would be great to have larger events, but the format of doubles and consolation limits the size of the draws given time and court constraints. It should be noted that a few provinces did not fill their allocated spots at the recent Under 16 Nationals, which were taken mostly by Ontario and Quebec. As many coaches and administrators have commented on, the tournament structure for tennis in Canada is in dire need of revamping. The greatest obvious change must occur with the summer scheduling of Nationals in early August, which translates in Provincials being held in early July and Selection events held in May and June. Outdoor tennis starts in some part of Canada in middle May, so the kids don’t have time to adjust to outdoor play, must play Selections during preparation for finals exam and finally, play the Provincials the first day of summer vacation [in Ontario]. If a child does not make the Nationals, his competitive peak is the first week of the summer, when it should be in the last week. The summer competitive period and its preparation is a major development tool which is not maximised with the present schedule.