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Re: US OPEN/USTA PLAYER
DEVELOPMENT
Sadly, as I reflect on the US
OPEN and USTA PD I cannot believe we are still here. Please read
the Dear Anonymous letter from Wayne Bryan Jan 2012. As I researched
all the post USOpen EXCUSES of 2019 made by the USTA, USTA executives
and Martin Blackmon for the last few years, I realized one thing
is crystal clear...they pay everyone who works for and with the
USTA far too much money and the up and coming players see none
of it. Not a penny. Thus the product they are giving us.
Currently, SEVEN US Pros are
in the top 100. During the 2019 Open, there was a spirited marketing
campaign for a "coaches' program" to get all the coaches
to be on the same page and to make it harder to be certified.
That's the problem! Not Green dot, or next gen or the parents.
It must be the coaching. The USTA always rolls out some dog and
pony show to try to cover up their own futility.
In 2012 it was the U10 initiative.
The fact that there are articles that ask how the USTA could
have missed Naomi Osaka illustrates exactly what I am talking
about. A little known secret is how the USTA missed the entire
2019 graduating class from Southern California. There are 10
-15 pro prospects that currently hold ATP points. In addition
to the outliers that joined that group from the 10s to the 18s
(players that played up like Svajda and Nava, Molina, Kummar,
etc.)
When you look back on the top
25 of the boy's 14s in mid-2015 you have to scratch your head
and ask what were they thinking? or drinking? A chance to develop
a dynasty just slipped bye. A legitimate chance to silence the
Nay-Sayers. But they continue to search for ONE player to get
the 65 Grand slam monkey drought off their back. Thank God for
Larry Ellison and Jim Courier who have identified the problem
and are trying to do something about it. Yes, a minor league
system like they have in third world countries like Tunisia.
Having an ambassador like Sloane
will not change the landscape. Great potential has only been
rewarded by rich white men like Rick Macci and Patrick Mourataglou
who finance Americans. They actually put up their money for the
players, period. In the US Tennis Players go broke and when they
get accomplished enough they leave the State and the United States
for Egypt, Hammamet, Turkey, where the Clay is red and there
are 45 tournaments in a row limiting travel.
The Bottom line is the non-profit
USTA that makes over 300 Million last week will find a way to
waste money, lives, efforts, and potential with arbitrary decision
making that bypasses bumper crops on their way into the ditch.
They need to fire everyone and start all over again. Get rid
of the entrenched inner structure and clean house starting with
the heads of Player Competitions.
Anonymous |
