Bigger Better Tennis - Paul Dale

THE NEW GENERATION The established trio of Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer are under threat. A talented group of Next Generation players are breathing down their necks each week, and the Next Gen players know that the big three can be beaten.  But just who are the best Next Generation players around today?  My picks for the best of these Next Gen players, and possible future world number 1s, include Dominic Thiem, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Denis Shapavolov.  Other Next Gen players right behind them include Felix Auger-Aliasimme (20), Borna Coric (23), and Alex Rublev (23). They're all knocking at the door as well. For me, Jannik Sinner, from Italy, at 19 years old, is also highly talented and is currently the youngest player in the top 100 (ranked 78). He has the game and temperament to go to #1 and stay there. WHO CAN BE THE NEXT WORLD NUMBER 1? My answer as to who will be the next world number 1 player from our list... none of them! Well, certainly not a long-term

SPORTSMANSHIP "The roughest thing I ever said to an umpire was  'are you sure? "     -  Rod Laver OUTSIDER   "I'm not wanting to be understood or liked, like me or not, I don't care. I am an outsider, that is the way I was brought up'.  -  Jimmy Connors  FOCUS "The ideal state is to be physically loose and mentally tight."        -  Arthur Ashe COMMITMENT  "The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken was involved, but the pig was committed."   -  Martina Navratilova  STRATEGY "Never change a winning game, always change a losing one."  -  Bill Tilden  KILLER INSTINCT "When you've got your man down, rub him out."     - Rod Laver LOSING "You never really cancel the fear of losing, you keep challenging it."    -  Arthur Ashe  CONCENTRATION   "Concentration is born on the practice court... you must mentally treat your practice sessions as matches, concentrating

In 1988 I landed the job of Chinese National Junior Coach.  A total of 4 boys and 4 girls were selected from players from throughout the country and these players were trained for two months inside mainland China, at a small city called Chungshan.   This was the beginning of China’s emergence back into the international tennis mainstream after decades of isolation.  We later played junior ITF tournaments in Jakarta, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. Also at those same ITF tournaments was a junior Thai team under the management of a local ex-pat named Gordon U.E Martin.  I already knew Gordon from my time in Bangkok and also knew that he was a true tennis fanatic.  Gordon helped put Thai tennis on the map in those early days by bringing professional men's tennis to Thailand and by starting ITF junior events in Bangkok for the first time. Those early ITF Junior events started by Gordon are still held annually each year until this day.  Gordon was particularly interested in the history of Asian t

Before being escorted onto Wimbledon's famous Centre Court, Baron Gottfried von Cramm was told that he needed to take an urgent phone call. After the call, von Cramm again joined his opponent, Donald Budge of the US, and quietly informed him, "It was Hitler; he wanted to wish me well." Only moments after his phone call with Adolf Hitler,  Gottfried von Cramm (left)  and Donald Budge enter  the Centre Court at Wimbledon for  what was  to be "...the most beautiful match." Cramm started well in the match, leading Budge by 2 sets to love. But Budge managed to work his way back into the game by returning serve well to take the 3rd set and won a tight 4th set that could have gone to either man.  Now it was all tied up at 2 sets all, and they were into a deciding 5th set. The German shrugged off the loss of the previous 2 sets and again started to dominate in the 5th set, breaking Budge's serve and taking a 4-1 lead. Many watching thought the match was virtually ov