Written by: Michael Emmett
__________
***Michael Emmett is the Director of Tennis Operations at all Mayfair clubs. He is a certified Tennis Canada Coach 3 with a Journalism degree from the University of Texas. Michael spent several years working in sports television at TSN and Sportsnet. Michael is a former National champion who finished his last year of junior tennis ranked #1 in Canada. Michael has coached several National champions when he worked for the All-Canadian Academy at the National Tennis Centre at York University in the early 90s. Michael spent 2 years traveling the world playing the ATP tour satellite circuit as a member of the Molson National Team in 1985 and ’86.***
__________
The rise of talented tennis players from all over Europe has been on display for some time now on the WTA Tour and the ATP tour. But never has it been more apparent than at the 2014 Australian Open. With the first major of the season now in the books it is very apparent that the ‘old’ days of the USA and Australia dominating the Grand Slams are long gone. Tennis is being dominated by the Europeans and the numbers are staggering.
68 percent of the singles draws were taken up by Europeans at this year’s Australian Open — 85 of 128 in the men’s draw and 89 of 128 in the women’s draw. Forty years ago, the European content was about 35 percent European and 65 percent the rest of the world. And the experts world-wide believe these numbers will continue to grow in favor of the Europeans. At the grass roots level we are seeing some of the better athletes pick tennis over soccer in many European nations. The coaching in tennis has become extraordinarily good – especially in Spain & France where the kids programs are at an all time high. No wonder these nations are dominating in every sense of the word.
And the best illustration of this superiority is in the latest ATP rankings. 9 of the top 10 men are from Europe – Argentine Juan Del Potro is the reason it is not 10 out of 10!
According to recent statistics, tennis is watched by 1.1billion fans world-wide with most of these spectators coming from Europe and Asia. And these numbers have grown dramatically in the last decade. Tennis was not a top 8 sport – but with the rise of Europeans (and their domination) the numbers are off the charts. No wonder the draws are so heavily dominated by the folks on the other side of the Atlantic. Tennis in Europe is appointment television and for this reason we are witnessing a transformation like never before.
In Paris, at the next grand slam event (with all or most of the wild cards going to French players); I expect we’ll see these numbers (European content) above 70 percent. This year, in Melbourne, there were 82 players of the 256 from the rest of the world minus Europe. However, 16 of those were Aussies who received wild cards into the field. So the numbers were a little bit skewed. If the draws were based simply on rankings we would see about 72.6 percent Europeans at the major championships. And the way things are going, it is not unreasonable to expect these numbers to be at 80 percent by 2020.
And the same can be said at the junior levels in the world’s biggest events. The Tournament Director of the largest junior tournament in the world – The Orange Bowl – says the number of foreigners has nearly quadrupled in recent years. Back in the 80s when I played the Orange Bowl the draws were predominantly North Americans and South Americans.
I’ve seen it throughout my career as a tennis coach – Eastern Europeans forge an unmatched drive and mental toughness, separating them from the players hailing from more prosperous nations. For many of these poor kids from Eastern European nations, this is their meal ticket to the so-called ‘promised land.’
“I think players from Eastern Europe are very, very determined to succeed. We are all big fighters and big competitors,” Ana Ivanovic explained after her round of 16 victory over top seed Serena Williams at the 2014 Australian Open.
There is also plenty of money to be made in tennis. And players from Eastern Europe – many of whom have so little – use this as motivation to break away from their lives of hardship.
Maria Sharapova is also a testament to this, as she is now the world’s richest female athlete on the planet with the latest estimates putting off-court endorsement deals at about $30-million a year. Her marketable good looks and on-court success have combined to reap millions of dollars in earnings and endorsements. Her beachfront home in Malibu, California, is worlds away from her birthplace in Nyagan, Russia.
Even in Canada the viewership is growing at astronomical rates. 1.6 Million people tuned in to watch Eugenie Bouchard on TSN in her dramatic march to the semifinals last week in Melbourne. These numbers are encouraging and will do nothing but elevate a sport that is definitely on the rise. Stay tuned and buckle your seat belts this is only the beginning.
27 Responses
In my opinion, this is an inaccurate presentation of Eastern Europe in general. As you probably know (or maybe you don’t) many countries in Eastern Europe are now part of the European Union. People from Eastern Europe can travel and work legally in any other country within the EU. So what “promise land” are you talking about? North America?
Those kids are more successful just because they have programs to support them… They would work hard to succeed in any field, as anyone would do.
Just to conclude, comments such as “poor kids from Eastern European nations” or “their lives of hardship” are not only inappropriate but inaccurate.
I disagree with the “poor east European kids” definition.
As a former tennis player from East European country and holder of Master Degree of Coaching studies I can say that the secret formula for the success of those “poor countries”is actually very simple:
1. Highly educated high performance coaches – you need a minimum of Bachelor degree of PE and coaching to be hired as a coach.
2. Sport Science and Annual Planing along with very strong fitness foundation including track&field
3. Nations with solid high performance culture and tennis clubs build around juniors (which are the future of each Nation) and not on ladies leagues and potlucks events.
4. Last but not the least – those countries have a real PE at their schools, so kids can build from young age the foundation. Actually the key word should be – physical literacy.
Guten Tag! Ich habe Ihre site für eine extensive looking Through year already und at einige Point obtained braveness in die Richtung Of transfer Forward und offer You oneself einen Shout out Against Kingwood Texas! Accurately Desired in Richtung Of convey, by Yourself preserve very Good do den Job!
You are right, it seems to be all people talk about. So, Everyone Counts, Be Heard.
Hey there. Did you know steps to make an internet site cell pleasant?
I’m looking for a concept or plug-in that could possibly fix this challenge. If you have any suggestions, please share.
Easy question that’s thoroughly off of subject matter.
My web page appearances strange when searching.
nice article tahnks for your times and goo lck for you next article !
You would never think that you might find content such as this. Compared to the many other posts I’ve read today, this one is the best.
The original relieve connected with “Majora’s Mask” offered concerning 3. thirty six trillion duplicates globally. Critics termed the action “the ideal experience your Nintendo sixty-four provides, ” and also “one of the most extremely innovative driveway in all of video gaming. inches
Get properly prepared to pass your drug test
Now i’m really glad I found this posting. It’s nicely written plus the content is great. I am hoping to find more like this.
This is exactly what I call content. This person definitely knows how to keep visitors on their page. The topic is helpful and well thought out. In my opinion you might want to do more blogposts like this one.
You hardly come across content like this nowadays. I recall when you could find one or two topics like this in less than 10 minutes but now it’s substantially harder.
Now this is what I consider an easy to follow posting. Very clear and to the point. I will have to definately keep a look out for more posts like this.
I have to admit this is one of the more exceptional postings I’ve discovered concerning this subject. I’ll definately follow your posts.
This post is just what I consider a well thought out posting. Straightforward as well as the point. I’ll certainly keep a look out for more material like this.
Based on the number of opinions, this is definately a very engaged topic. Everytime I revisit this post there’s an interesting guest post better than many of the earlier ones.
That is great content. One of the better blogposts I’ve found today. Continue the nice work.
This page is quite engaging. I will definately be returning your website.
Very good submit. It looks like much time and energy went towards this one.
This wasn’t the web page We were looking for but I’m glad I came across it. I realize it is quite popular on the web. Good job.
This kind of page is quite involving. I am going to certainly be coming back to your website.
I’m definately going to save this page. It’s not something I would typically be interested in however you just can’t ignore the fact that it’s really great site content. Only if other folks would put this sort of work in their content.
Excellent material compared to most of the similar posts I’ve read. Carry on the nice work.
Hello Alyssa,
We are not familiar with muscovado sugar; however, the original master cleanse recipe calls for Grade B Maple Syrup. Molasses or agave nectar have been substituted in certain cases, such as when someone is diabetic, since they are rich in minerals & vitamins and have a low glycemic index. Other people also choose to use these alternatives because they prefer their flavor. Good luck with your cleanse.
It’s awesome to pay a quick visit this web site and reading the
views of all mates concerning this piece of writing, while I am also zealous
of getting knowledge.
Hi, how are things? I recently mentioned this post along with a friend, we’d a nice giggle.
Sketches are really pleasant source of instruction instead of passage, its my knowledge, what would you say?