Rogers Cup Tennis

Well, it's been a while since I've posted to this site and it's about time to get back after the heat of the summer.

I've spent a good part of the week at the Rogers Cup Tennis Tournament here in Toronto and have some observations for all you tennis nuts out there.

The men have resurrected tennis significantly since Roger Federer has become king. From the first round of play, there were competitive matches and players such as Lleyton Hewitt were life and death to get out of the first round. While the women whine, moan and complain of injuries, the men trek on and tennis is better off for it. Roger Federer IS the best tennis player who has ever lived and you will all be agreeing with me in the next 3 years. Too bad Pete Sampras isn't around, because he would get a lesson from Roger on how to play the game AND how to act as an ambassador for the game of tennis generally. I run into so many people who have had personal contact with Federer and am astounded by the rave reviews he gets as a person who is compassionate, approachable and understanding of his place as the #1 tennis player in the world. Something Pete never understood, which is why I preferred Andre Agassi.

Speaking of #2 players, Rafael Nadal is a real physical freak of nature. His rivalry with Federer will be classic for several years, unless Nadal gets injured, and when I look at his technique, I worry that his left shoulder is going to become part of some court some day. But can he ever run!!! Always a genetleman, he is mature far beyond his years and will always pose a serious threat to anyone on clay. But he's not just a clay court player. He is effective on all surfaces because of his athleticism and grit, and he will become one of the all time greats in a short time.

The Canadian contingent has been disappointing once again. I watched Frank Dancevic play last night and am convinced he has neither the athleticism, nor the weapons to compete with the top 50 in the world. Tennis Canada continues their record of being unable to raise talent of a world wide calibre and fails to see that until you raise the levels of all players in Canada, you will not discover a true champion, capable of competing at the world level. Wildcard entries were given to young players who may or may not becaome good professionals while players such as Rob Steckley and others who compete at the college level in the United States were ingored, or, in the case of Steckley, forced to play the qualifying rounds. Steckley deserved a wildcard entry - he is better than Polansky and Bester and has paid his dues. Let the kids work harder before you give them these carrots. The people in charge of player development at tennis Canada are highly capable people - I can't explain the rationale for the manner in which they deal with this situation.