Professional Tour’s Big-Bang start

There will be over 100 professional events in the World Tour this year. A sample of the crowded schedule came in the very first week of the year. It had to accommodate more than 6 events, only at the top end of the professional tour. It scattered the players. There were 3 Men’s events, 1 in Chennai, India, 1 in Doha, Qatar and the other in Brisbane, Australia. The top guns went to Doha where the prize money was more than double at US$ 1.3 million, compared with the other two. The Women’s side also had to scatter into 3 directions in the first week.

As for Tennis, the best came from Doha, in the finals between Djokovic and Murray. Fresh from recess, the two players produced Tennis which had speed and venom. The packed stadium was given its money’s worth. Djokovic came out winner with a narrow margin . The other two winners were Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in Brisbane and Spain’s Bautista Agut in Chennai. Most of the big names went out, unable to find their form after the recess. Their sights are set to peak for the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open in Melbourne, in a few weeks time.

I am here - Pliskova

On the Women’s side, Brisbane showed the trend that is to come this year. Heads rolled well before the Quarterfinals, which included World No.1 Angelique Kerber, last year’s Year-end winner Cibulkova, the evergreen Radwanska, former World No.1 Wozniacki and Russia’s Kuznetzsova. At the end, it was the Czech, Karolina Pliskova, one of the few players who could claim the No.1 spot at the end of this year, won the title. Her Tennis was flawless. She beat France’s Alice Cornet 6/0, 6/3 in the Finals. Cornet beat Spain’s Muguruza and Cibulkova on her way to the Finals. Cornet's run to the Finals may have exhausted her, as she looked helpless in the Finals.

Newcomers

At the beginning of the year, countries which have their development in place, could be easily identified. East European countries seem to roll out players more than any other region in the world. What seems to decide good outcome of development is the ‘access’ to playing facilities, comfort to train all aspects of the game, getting player commitment, availability of entry level open events and above all, good players to practise with.

It is not only Tennis that is attracting the talent anymore. Most internationally popular sports have strong programmes. The model that is most attractive to development in the world is Football. Football employs the best of management and have been very successful in providing schooling and career paths to players, than any other sport in the world.

Winners

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov has always been disappearing in the Quarters and Semis. In Brisbane, he changed that and overcame top 5-ranked Kei Nishikori in the Finals. Dimitrov came into the limelight a few Wimbledon’s ago, and could only lurk in the 2nd and 3rd 10 of the world since then. In Chennai, Bautista Agut had little resistance and won the title easily. The best win was that of Djokovic's, against Murray in Doha, Qatar. It sent a strong signal to Murray that his World’ No.1 position will not be easy to keep. By no means is Djokovic a spent force. Apart from that, there are other aspirants polishing their game to reach the top.

Tennis 2017

What would win in 2017? Whether it is the professional level or local city championships, every player will have to upgrade his/her Tennis, for it to be effective. The challengers are the ‘propellant’ of the standard of the game at all levels. The ‘development systems’ will have to singularly do a ‘talent ID’ and foster talent through turbulent development years. Most of the models now available in Tennis do not have this thought incorporated.

In the '40's and '50's, Australia’s Harry Hopman went to areas in Australia not known for Tennis, to pick good talent. He created a string of great players, using this method. He had an eye for talent. Today, in most countries, promoting bodies are waiting for talent to walk into their office. This is the reason for the low return on investment in sport, in many countries. The officials' seats have become more important and prominent than the players'.

‘A complete game’ is the formula to win from now on in Tennis. If players are good servers and ground- stroke players, their opponents will not challenge them in these areas, but in areas where they are not good. This is the first approach in tactic every player employs. This is why early talent drops out by the wayside, and overall, players appear late and last a lifetime.

From now on, the best players in the world will be in their mid20s. No.1 Murray is close to 30 years. Only in the last two years he has developed an overall game. Tennis needs a state where mind and body supplements each other. At that point, the overall playing ability in place must be sharp, with a tactical component to win. The packed World Tour will only accommodate such players in 2017.