It's not Pickleball. It's not Padel. It's US. (Article 2/4)

It's not Pickleball. It's not Padel. It's US. (Article 2/4)

Come on guys!

If we imagined Tennis as a player we train, among many values it should possess to be a true competitor, we would ask for:

• Discipline; to sustain the task beyond daily moods or highs and lows of results.

• Consistency; to maintain the same willingness to pay the price, every day.

• Passion; to bring heart-fueled energy in every moment, every effort.

• Focus; to avoid distractions and keep sight of the ultimate goal: greatness.

• Energy; to convert desire into actions, and actions into transformation.

Tennis has always faced challenges. But every era brought people who responded with inspiration and creativity to take tennis to next level.

 Like Jimmy Van Alen, the Newport millionaire who watched a marathon final of H. Richardson and S. Clark 6-3, 9-7, 12-14, 6-8, 10-8 and said: we need something better. In 1965, he created VASSS, later known as Sudden Death, which evolved into what we now know as the Tiebreak, adopted by the US Open in 1970 to make shorter and more dynamic matches.

 Or Howard Head, HEAD founder, who worked with physicist Howard Brody to scientifically validate in 1974 a radical idea, a racket head size from 90 to 125 square inches. the Prince racquet became a breakthrough, changing how tennis is played. Today, most players use 98–100 sq. inch rackets. Innovation led to evolution.

 The same spirit lived in René Lacoste, a visionary out of the court too. In 1927, he built one of the first ball-machines. Later, he created the iconic T-2000 racket and Chemise Lacoste redefining tennis style.

 In 2008, Dave Howell, Alexandre Cancado, Darryl Cummings, as others launched UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) an algorithm that brought a "handicap" system to tennis, solving a key problem I had already written about it in my book Tennis Concept 6/90(2000).

 In the 1970s, Vic Braden took tennis to new scientific heights by founding Vic Braden's Tennis College in Coto de Caza, California, where biomechanics became central to tennis teaching.

 1976, Dennis van der Meer, from South Africa, created a universal teaching language for coaches, leading to the formation of PTR, a certification program that brought structure and consistency to tennis instruction worldwide.

 Every one of these leaders faced challenges.

They all overcame resistance.

They loved tennis deeply and believed in a better future.

They are all a source of inspiration.

There are many more leader's stories to tell who made a difference when tennis wasn’t even close to what it is now.

 So let’s be clear. The answers are within us.

Stop looking other ways. Let’s Promote tennis.

 I ask you:

• How long has it been since you created something new?

• How long has it been since you called your city council, or Tennis Committee, to propose something new, creative, innovative?

 This is our time to bring back the spirit, fight, and creativity.

 We are the heart of this game to everyone, everywhere.

Let’s act like that.

Fernando