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Philosophy
A former top junior player from
Portugal, Goncalves grew up playing tennis on iconic red clay
courts, known for slowing the play of tennis down and elongating
the duration of point play. Due to the nature of these courts,
many players who learn tennis on clay are great defensive players.
However, because the speed of the game is getting faster (due
to technology in the racquets and overall increased athleticism
of professional athletes), a more aggressive style of play is
needed. Goncalves spent years analyzing play on the tour, training
on clay as a junior player and hard courts as a college player,
and noticing the nuanced evolution of the top players in the
world to develop his new style.
"I believe that players
who grew up learning the game on clay understand the “game”
of tennis much better," stated Goncalves. "The points
are always long and creativity is necessary to win. You are forced
to win points using angles, touch, and pure endurance as points
are likely to go for over 2 minutes. This is opposite of hard
courts, where a powerful serve and forehand can win points very
quickly. The Defensive Fighting methodology utilizes creative
play on all surfaces, which gives my players a unique edge on
their opponents.
Defensive Fighting
An integral component to my Defensive
Fighting method is staying focused and disciplined for long periods
of time. My unique style of training as a junior with Portugal’s
Davis Cup Coach Jose Vilela (1998-2003) has also helped me develop
this in a Defensive Fighting player. At the beginning of every
practice, we were partnered up and expected to have a 100-ball
rally. It didn’t matter how long it took us to get there,
the task needed to be completed before moving on with the practice.
This type of practice not only trains players physically, but
mentally as well. I coach my players that focus is a muscle,
and that you must constantly stay engaged in the task at hand
in order to improve focus."
Goncalves' innovation is coming
through at an all-important time for American tennis, where many
are posing the question “Why doesn’t the United States
have any of the top professional players today?” Outwardly
it appears that the US is not successfully developing the same
caliber of players like they did in the early 1990s like Pete
Sampras, Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Lindsay Davenport, or Jim
Courier. These players were powerful at a time when it was less
common in the sport. As players haved developed more powerful
styles of play and with the continuation evolution of racquet
technology, it is no longer unique. Goncalves affirms that players
today need both powerful play with consistency, endurance, stamina,
and mental toughness.
Joao Sousa, current 44 ATP, and
Gastao Elias, 152 ATP, are both Portuguese Davis Cup players
that have made vast improvements and made significant jumps in
their rankings after implementing Goncalves' Defensive Fighting
method of play.
Goncalves' junior programs also
draw players from around the world to Crandon Park to train and
directly benefit from having professional players also practicing
in the facility and using the Defensive Fighting methodology.
Some of his top juniors include: Alex Knight, Jemina Rodriquez,
Richard Torres, and Sophia Morales.
It remains Goncalves' passion to continue to coach the Defensive
Fighting style of play to American juniors and help bring American
Tennis back to the top of the game.
Cliff Drysdale Tennis
Founded in 2001 by International
Tennis Hall of Fame member Cliff Drysdale and partner Don Henderson,
Cliff Drysdale management (CDM) specializes in daily tennis and
fitness operations and management for resorts, hotels and private
clubs; sports design and construction consultation for companies
interested in building world-class facilities; educational programs,
summer camps, clinics and retreats; and resort, hotel corporate
outing planning and leisure operations. CDM is dedicated to growing
the game of tennis and strives to develop, promote and teach
new programs that bring more tennis to more people.
As the sport continues to grow,
as does the CDM commitment to hire, educate and advance talented
tennis professionals that provide service excellence both on
and off the court. Cliff Drysdale Management’s property
portfolio currently boasts 30 tennis facilities nationwide, including
multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal ranked tennis resorts
on Tennis Resorts Online’s Top 100 list. For more information,
visit www.cliffdrysdale.com
In addition to the Miami Open,
the Crandon Park Tennis Center also hosts fourteen USTA-sanctioned
Junior Tournaments and two USTA adult tournaments. The facility
boasts 26 courts in total on four surfaces (grass, hard court,
American green clay and European red).
TheCliff Drysdale Tennis Program
at Crandon Park is comprehensive, offering instruction for all
ages and abilities. The Summer Tennis Camp/Academy becomes home
to hundreds of kids locally, nationally, as well as internationally,
where juniors hit the courts from 9am-3pm and meet daily in the
Players Lounge for chalk talks, stadium court exhibitions and
an overall world class program, which is captured on a video
each week and available to campers to see themselves in action
and take a memento home. |
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