The Monthly Maestro #2
Lately, I've been thinking about the growing popularity of padel and, to a lesser extent, pickleball. In today's (ever-changing) sports landscape, should we embrace the rise of these sports?
As a tennis purist, it's worth considering whether we should welcome the ascent of our fellow racket sports. Obviously, it’s a great thing to see more and more people picking up their rackets (no matter what kind) and get their daily dose of exercise. The fun and social aspects of these games, mostly played in doubles, seem to captivate players on the courts, offering a unique and engaging experience. I cannot help but wonder, though: what’s happened with tennis?
Here in the Netherlands, where I’m from, it’s mostly padel that has seen an explosive growth the last couple of years. Now the fastest growing sport here, padel ambassadors believe that it is a potential Top 5 sport globally. Personally, I genuinely love the game and its playful character. I just don’t love it as much as tennis. That’s why I do not support indoor tennis courts making way for extra padel courts, a transformation which can mostly be attributed to the possible revenue per square meter. To make it even worse, pickleball courts take up even less surface area, offering an even more fruitful investment for the commercially driven ones.
Advantages in doing other racket sports
However, I see some chances here. These sports happen to offer unique opportunities for skill development that can seamlessly translate to the tennis court. Picture this: by engaging in the fast-paced exchanges and strategic shot placements of padel, you'll sharpen your reaction time, honing those lightning-fast reflexes that are essential in tennis. The same can be said about pickleball, where the close-quarter battles demand nimble footwork and precise volleys.
Embracing these sports can possibly broaden your arsenal of techniques, refine your shot placement, and enhance your ability to adapt to different playing styles. So, consider the advantages of venturing beyond the game of tennis and embracing the dynamic challenges presented by padel and pickleball – it might just be the key to taking your tennis game to new heights.
The underlying principle here is the one of skill transfer, a scientific term used to describe performing a skill in a setting, while it was implicitly learned in another. In my second online course for tennis coaches, which I launched earlier this year, I delve further into what this phenomenon is and how you can use it to enhance your game.
This Month’s Maestro
Honestly, I couldn’t resist going for the alliteration with last month’s Maestro. This month, it was nothing of an easier battle. The story how Lucas Pouille overcame his alcohol addiction en made it through the qualifying rounds of Roland Garros is heartbreaking. Next to his own demons, he faced the German Rodionov twice, both in the last qualifying round as in the first round. He won both.
Eventually, it had to be one of the French sons to win this month’s title. The way Arthur Fils won the tournament of Lyon, starting out as a qualifier, is a unique story as well. To make the choice even harder, nobody less than Gaël Monfils recovered from a sick 0-4 fifth set deficit in the first round of RG against Sebastian Baez. The highlights merely scratch the surface of how crazy this turnaround was. Although Pouille wins this month’s Maestro title, consider checking out Monfils’ match and vote for yourself.
Newsletter tip
Let me tell you about Adam Grant's newsletter, Granted, written by the author of the best-selling book Think Again, one of my personal favorites. Grant has this cool way of shaking things up and getting you to think differently. When I read his writing, it's like a wake-up call for my brain. He challenges the norm and encourages you to challenge it too. In a world where we often just go along with things, his newsletter reminds us to stop, think, and reflect. If you feel like you sometimes want to escape your own stubbornness, consider checking it out. It will make you question some of your own core beliefs (like whether you should embrace padel and/or pickleball or should stick to tennis).
Links worth checking out
Break Point part 2 - The second part of one of the coolest behind-the-scenes documentary about the tour is coming out June 19th.
Roger Federer Playing Padel - Just the Maestro avoiding the walls for a full minute.
Pouille and Federer warming up - This is truly insightful to watch if you’re looking for correct and advanced ways to warm up prior to playing.
Best,
Erik