I am 14 years old and ive been playing tennis for a month now. Im playing everyday for two hours with my father (he is really my coach) I really want to be pro. but i dont think thatz my parent's priority since they would preffer for me to graduate then play tennis. I'm going to an IB programmed school and dont think will have as much time as players like Maria Sharapova spent practicing. I really need to know if it isnt too late to be a pro. when i graduate from university. Do any of you have tips for me?
Also, I'm planning to go to Harvard, is it possible to get a sports scholarship?
2007-08-21 11:12:11 · 11 answers · asked by !!! 1 in Sports ➔ Tennis
John McEnroe graduated from Stanford. Tiger also graduated from Stanford. Andrai gradutated from UNLV. Don't think it matters where you come from. Just come get it.
2007-08-21 11:30:54 · answer #1 · answered by ninety9point8 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Playing for a month? Firstly, stop getting coached by your dad. Find coach you dont know at all. They'll tell you what they think... honestly.
Yeah, you can go to uni and become a pro but you hav to think literally. Play a local regional tournament. If you lose, keep trying for a year. If you're not winning after about 7 months, you're stuffed and there is no way youll be a pro. I know you want some positive feedback, but hell, this is the TRUTH...
I cant beleive that youve been playing for a month and are considering going pro. It doesn't matter what age you start, the best players started when they were 16. But I would aim to be a pro at 19, 3 years won't get you good enough. Maria Sherapova can't play tennis properly. Neither can the Williams. If you want to watch some decent tennis, watch the guys or Justine Henin.
But hey, listen to what I said before about your dad. the last thing you need is parent pressure. Thats the killer for every 2nd good tennis career.
2007-08-22 23:40:34 · answer #2 · answered by banana 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Usually pro-level players start playing and learn the game at a very young age, between 2-8 years of age. But since you have high interest and motivation, you too can become a pro WITHOUT leaving school.
A lot of good players drop out of school based on their immensely recognized talent. They just don't drop out of school because they love the game and need time to practise. That would be foolish.
You should definitely join your school tennis team or a competitive league and try and outsmart players on the court.
Remember, practice without talent is useless. Practice can develop an existing talent, but if you have no talent you are risking losing out a great academic career. So first you have to find out what is your greatest strength in tennis. This will not need you to lose out on hours of school work, just a couple of hours of match practice every other weekday and every other weekend is good. So you will have ample time to study.
Just play recreational tennis and try to develop one or two huge weapons. Like a booming serve, or a heavy topsin looping forehand or a precisely accurately hard hit backhand or creating divine angles or being able to anticipate and cut of volleys like magic.
Then slowly work your way through small local tournaments. Once you have developed enough confidence winning locals, you can sign up for challengers. All this will take a good 3 years in total, so by then you would be 18.
At that point you can make bigger decisions, based on your performance on court and your academics off court.
I am sure you will do very well both in school and in tennis. Just be DETERMINED AND DISICIPLINED. Do not compromise on personal values. They go a long way.
Good luck & God bless.
Cheers. <3
2007-08-21 18:41:57 · answer #3 · answered by HOWDY101 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, if you've only been playing for about a month, that's not a very good start. I'm 15 years old and I have been coached by my dad too since I was old enough to hold a racket. Ever since then, tennis has become my life. I play everyday for several hours by myself, with the ball machine, or with someone else. I stay in shape, eat the right food, that kind of stuff. I went on to win a state tournament for high school this last spring.
Here's the real question, what do you want to do with your life? If you do go on to become a pro, your risking your emotional and physical well being. You're going to have to focus on tennis and nothing else. It takes so much out of you if you really give yourself to tennis. It's a mental sport, you need to be pretty much happy all the time, or you'll end up losing. If you go to school, the rewards are so much better.
If I were you, after playing a season of tennis in high school, watching the state tournaments too, that's when you should really decide if you want to be a pro.
Sports scholarships are only possible if you get a chance to show scouts of how good you really are. You have more of a chance to win academic scholarships.
Even after I won that state tournament, I still don't think I'm cut out enough to go pro. Get some real feedback as to how you play from peers and other coaches. Ask them if they think you can make it. If at least one gives you a legit answer, then go for it.
To tell you the truth, I think it might be too late for you. I'm only using tennis to try to get scholarships and to decorate a letterman jacket, I don't want it to be for the rest of my life. I want to go to school despite what my dad wants. Too bad for him, I'm sure he would have been grateful to have you as a daughter instead of me. Good Luck!
2007-08-21 18:29:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I started playing tennis when I was 6. I'm younger than 20 and tennis didn't make my grades worse. Don't worry-sports go perfectly well with school. I started learning German at the age of 5, French when I was 8 and I've been playing the piano for 8 years now. And I passed school excellent with no problems.
The only problem can b a lack of time for studying. U should have an organized schedule in order to do many things at a time.
2007-08-23 18:56:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never give up on a dream. If this is what you want then you have to work twice has hard as everyone else...no matter how long you have been playing.
Yes, you can go to college and then turn pro. Yes, you can get college scholarships thorugh tennis. From what I hear tennis/golf are the best scholarships to get. You have to get cracking on that now because a lot of colleges give their scholarships to foreign students. You want to be in tip top shape by the time you are 16 because that is when the scouts start seriously looking for players. Also going to a bigger college because it is an ivy league school doesn't mean you will get a lot of play time. Some times starting off at a smaller college and being able to play higher seeds will serve you better than the name of the college. Start checking out Harvards roster for their team. If they have tons of people that are from out of the country you are going to have to start making a name for yourself now.
Start playing in USTA tournaments. Start off with a few novice tournaments and then through yourself into the tougher tournaments. You have to get use to the pressure and mental game that goes hand in hand with tennis. In order to play USTA tournaments you have to be a member of the USTA. Their annual fees aren't too bad. You can sign up on the website. www.usta.com
You cannot play college level tennis and be pro at the same time. A guy who just graduated from University of Georgia is already making waves on the ATP tour. He graduated and then turned pro.
Tennis is a sport where it is never to late to make it. It is truly a sport that you can play for the rest of your life. Even if you decide not to go pro you can always become a tennis pro (coach) and believe me they make good money.
Good Luck!
2007-08-22 10:28:29 · answer #6 · answered by mamabee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would strongly suggest that you get into college and also try
to get the tennis scholarship. When you are playing at college
level, you can see where you stand with your game. If you are
really good, then make a switch turning pro at that time and
continue your college either later or in between.
2007-08-24 22:15:10 · answer #7 · answered by JustDoit 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i dont want to be negtive but im twelve ive played tennis as long as i can remmber i would like to go pro too but you gotta understand one month of tennis might be all glory for you right now but you have gotaa be iching to just get out on that court look up to the sky and say im next for for fedder honetly it might not be too late but it will be defucult being pro takes more than 8 years so if your willing to take every bullet of that and youd probably go pro at age 29 or 31 its as simple as that
2007-08-21 20:31:26 · answer #8 · answered by Davit I 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yeah its possible there are also flexible shedule you can do and its not late because when you are ready to become a pro you'll be more experienced in tennis, just look at Jelena Jankovic is still plays tennis and still goes to college.
2007-08-21 18:53:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it matters wat your national rank is top tier schools give out 20 scoholar ships a year for girls but most top 20 girls wont go to school so yeah it is very possible many pros did like andrei and mcenroe but if youve only beene planying for a month it is impossible did you even play one tournament r u even a memeber of the usta
2007-08-21 18:36:40 · answer #10 · answered by russ key 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋