| It is a question that must be in the minds of many | | | | as by-products of such a grand scheme.In the USA an |
| coaches and federation leaders around the world. At | | | | identical phenomena happened with the death of Mr. |
| the French open in 1984 I was approached by the | | | | Harry Hopman in 1985, players went looking elsewhere |
| head of the Australian junior development program | | | | for new training havens. A large sports management |
| R.R. at the time and was asked if I would like to join | | | | group very intelligently bought a tennis academy in |
| the AIS junior development coach team, the reason | | | | 1987, then started and to this day continues to furiously |
| being: "we need to develop the "Spanish" clay court | | | | herd present clients and every future tennis star to |
| game in our juniors". My answer was, "I am honoured | | | | train there, as well as promoting itself with magazine |
| with your offer but you must keep in mind that I am a | | | | ads, magazine and TV interviews and various other |
| strong believer in the all-round game as well as in the | | | | connections its power within the sport of tennis allows |
| teachings of Mr. Harry Hopman". Needless to say, I | | | | them. With this huge marketing machine and new |
| never heard from AIS again for years to come.The | | | | clients being scouted, signed up and pumped in from |
| Australian Open went on to adopt the slow surfaced | | | | around the world, the dawn of baseline robotic tennis |
| rebound Ace tennis courts that totally handicapped | | | | and two handed backhands supported by excellent |
| their marquee players Patrick Rafter, Mark Phillipoussis | | | | forehands was at hand.Fortunately, players like John |
| and of late a French clay court especially developed | | | | McEnroe, Pat Cash, Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker, |
| for Australia is at Melbourne Park. "Tennis Australia | | | | Michael Stich, Pat Rafter, Pete Sampras and now |
| officials like to refer to the particular blends of red dirt | | | | Roger Federer escaped the onslaught and were |
| as 'Factor X'." (Investment in French clay By Margie | | | | privileged to have Coaches/Teachers that offered |
| McDonald December 16, 2005 "The Australian, | | | | them the option to fully develop their games with one |
| Australia's national daily newspaper"). This would be | | | | handed backhands, the serve and volley and the |
| pretty harmless if the likes of Richard Fromberg 6'5'' | | | | all-round game.Australia and the USA, as dominant |
| (195 cm) a baseliner, Lleyton Hewitt 5'11'' (180 cm) | | | | tennis nations for many years, were the standard that |
| defensive baseliner (counter puncher) would not show | | | | others followed to develop their players. |