Tennis Q & A

[Corbon]

What's the earliest time for a player to turn pro? I remember some players turning pro at 13, is there a restriction?

[Vieira151]

And on the opposite end of the scale, what is the latest age a player can turn pro?

[Corbon]

I don't think there's any restriction on that.

Trying your luck?

[Vieira151]

Well, might as well. I feel I could, if I was to play tennis more often. I'm just put off by my sheer laziness and lack of fitness.

[Tamthewasp]

Well, might as well. I feel I could, if I was to play tennis more often. I'm just put off by my sheer laziness and lack of fitness.

To many rolls and square sausages son

[Vieira151]

Indeed, indeed.

[Corbon]

Has there ever been a player in the Top 50 who at one point changed from a one-handed to a two-handed backhand or vice versa?

[Rob ITST]

Has there ever been a player in the Top 50 who at one point changed from a one-handed to a two-handed backhand or vice versa?

Sampras changed from a 2-hander when he was 13.

[Corbon]

Is there footage of him playing two-handed? I wonder what caused the change.

[Rob ITST]

His coach suggested it. The thinking was that 1-handers have better volleys, and he was trying to develop a more attacking style.

[Corbon]

When he was 13, that was in 1984, McEnroe's best year. Although in the end he would adopt a playing style more similar to Becker.

[ICEMAN_9588]

What's the earliest time for a player to turn pro? I remembe some players turning pro at 13, is there a restricton?

I don't think there's some age restriction when a tennis player turns pro. Nadal turned pro when he was 15, but it's not the best example, cause he is a phenomenon, with his particular physical characteristics.
Boris Becker won Wimbledon at 16, but in female tennis we have other great campions like Steffi Graf, Jennifer Capriati, Tracy Austin, Martina Hingis, Venus and Serena, who turned pro very young and even started to win before 17-18.

Now it's very rare to see a "child" become a pro, cause tennis is becoming more physical day after day, and these guys must take care of building their body to be competitive in a totally different world (pro world).
By the way, ITF Junior Circuit Regulations 2012, Article 5 (Players Eligible), says:

Only boys and girls who are under the jurisdiction of a national tennis association
affiliated to the ITF and who are born between 1st January 1994 and 31st December
1999 may compete in any of the tournaments that comprise the 2012 ITF Junior Circuit. [...]
Players may not participate in any ITF Junior
Circuit Tournament unless they have reached their thirteenth (13) birthday before the
start of the main draw.

For what concerns retirement, actually there's not a limitation too. Connors played until 39, Leander Paes is 38 years old and he has no intention to stop, Bhuphati is 37, Zimonjic is 36.
But, for example, Roddick retired last september after his 30th birthday, Sampras retired at 31, Safin at 29.

Talking about retirement, I think a quote by Safin himself could help figuring what tennis is today: "At 25, it seems like 40!"
Marat strikes again

[Corbon]

Players who are almost solely committed to playing doubles like Paes always "last" longer. They play fewer sets and rallies are far less demanding. It's like being a goalkeeper vs a field player in football, if your reflexes and eyesight are still top, you're good to last. Look at the Bryans, 32 each and still kicking major ass.

I just checked some Navratilova statistics (born 1956), look at her last 5 mixed result dates

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martina_Na ... statistics


Edit: Sampras had a horrendous doubles career which I find a bit surprising considering his playing style.

[SlicerITST]

I remember something with Djokic being too young to receive price money for her run in the Australian Open many years ago. Not to sure about the details anymore. Anyone remembers that and is it still something younger players face nowadays?

[ICEMAN_9588]

Players who are almost solely committed to playing doubles like Paes always "last" longer. They play fewer sets and rallies are far less demanding. It's like being a goalkeeper vs a field player in football, if your reflexes and eyesight are still top, you're good to last. Look at the Bryans, 32 each and still kicking major ass.

I just checked some Navratilova statistics (born 1956), look at her last 5 mixed result dates

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martina_Na ... statistics


Edit: Sampras had a horrendous doubles career which I find a bit surprising considering his playing style.

Yeah, Martina is been kickin asses for 30 years
Anyway yes, it seems only-double players last longer than others.