 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expansion, Player Influx has Saddlebrook Driving Pro Tennis
Posted on February 1, 2008
By Richard Vach
During December and the weeks leading up to Australia and the beginning of the 2008 pro season, there was a steady flurry of activity at Saddlebrook Resort, just north of Tampa in Wesley Chapel. The renowned training center remains the hub of American men's professional tennis, housing James Blake and the Bryan brothers among others.
John Isner, the 6-foot-9 breakout player of last year, unfolds himself from the driver's seat of his SUV and prepares to take to the practice court. He and roommate Amer Delic, who share a residence, are the newest high-profile additions to the Saddlebrook family. Delic had already left town to train in Hawaii at the invitation of Andy Roddick. Remaining is a diverse mix where observers could watch visiting British Lawn Tennis Association coaches Brad Gilbert and Paul Annacone running Brit pros through their paces, mixing with Blake or fellow American Mardy Fish, the visiting Canadian No. 1 Frank Dancevic, and college players from the University of Florida and Florida State.
"It's not unusual for Andy [Roddick] to say, 'Can I come in for a week or two because I need to get some practice with some top guys?'" said Saddlebrook Director Kevin O'Connor. He has overseen the training regimens of American former No. 1-ranked players Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Jennifer Capriati.
"Jim (Courier) was the first one, he did all the right things to make himself better. He raised the fitness level of the ATP tour," O'Connor said. "Then you started to see other guys, specifically Pete [Sampras] take that step themselves. I was fortunate enough to have a relationship with Pete that our team contributed to what his non-tournament [training] structure really was. They say it takes a village to raise a child, well, it takes a team to develop a player."
Now the Saddlebrook team will have additional resources with the announcement of the planned $7.9 million Pasco Tennis Center to be built adjacent to Saddlebrook. The Pasco Center is an outgrowth of a county study on how to spend accrued tax dollars, and provide a venue like Saddlebrook that an additional housing community could be built around. With the Evert Tennis Academy catering to juniors, Saddlebrook is in discussions with the USTA to possibly provide a USTA-sanctioned training center for older juniors and pros to strive for.
Along with the Saddlebrook expansion, O'Connor has some strong opinions on the course U.S. tennis development should take.
"The end goal of American tennis needs to be putting Americans in the second week of the US Open," O'Connor said. "That's the reality of it. And if we can contribute to that, and with the USTA's resources and expertise, with that partnership -- that needs to be the absolute message of what the end-goal is. We need to have 6-8 players starting that second week of the US Open, and the goal would be to end with four on that final weekend. That's a sound bite that just needs to be put up the flag pole. Cut all the bureaucracy apart, get it out of committee, get it out of the volunteer structure of thinking about it, planning for it and debating it then talking about it, and let's get it done with professional tennis. Because let's face it, it is the No. 1 economic driver of the USTA's business model. Membership is great, but membership grows when people have someone to watch to get excited for and cheer for at events, at Fed Cup, at Davis Cup, at the US Open."
Saddlebrook hopes that next-generation players such as Isner and Delic will contribute to the cheering in 2008, making up for a 2007 season where no U.S. man reached a Grand Slam final, no Americans reached the men's or women's final of the US Open, and no U.S. woman finished in the Top 5.
"Saddlebrook provides the absolute best training environment for the players on and off the court," Delic said of his new home. "Also the fact that all the guys that train there get along great helps the situation. It's like an athlete fraternity."
With the addition of the Pasco Tennis Center and an ever-expanding stable of stars, the Saddlebrook athlete fraternity house just keeps growing.
Play Tennis Florida magazine is gearing-up for two big months in March and early April, with distribution at Florida tennis events totaling over 400,000 spectators. Play Tennis Florida will be distributed on-site at five Florida events in March-April, in addition to the in-home circulation to all 50,000+ USTA Florida members, country clubs and organizations. The advertising deadline for the March 2008 issue is Feb. 13. For advertising information contact Janice Gendreau at janiceg@playtennisfloridamag.com or visit www.PlayTennisFlorida.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
