Robert Lansdorp, the former coach of Tracy Austin, Pete Sampras, Lindsay Davenport and Maria Sharapova, reacts to TENNIS' "The State of the American Game," as featured in the magazine's November/December issue.
I read your article on the state of American tennis.
Oh boy, how many more excuses can we come up with! Ask all the experts!! If there is one person you should listen to, it is Billie Jean King. She is in it for the pure love of the game, the one who loves kids and who is not afraid to speak her mind.
There are thousands of kids in this country who just love to play tennis, love to compete and who want to become No. 1 in the world.
I have suggested for years to the USTA to start identifying young players from the age of six and up. Find out everything about them and then DEVELOP them.
Find someone who knows how to identify talent at a young age and who has shown that he/she knows how to develop and I mean DEVELOP youngsters.
I don't have time now to discuss academies' involvement but it is probably a conflict of interest, especially where IMG gets involved.
Stop throwing your millions in a wishing well and do something about it.
Sincerely,
Robert Lansdorp