Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 27, 1990 TAG: 9005270014
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Larry Lineberry
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Did you know that:
Studies from West Germany determine that among the physical factors in creating a well-rounded tennis player are coordination, 17 percent; speed, 14 percent; strength/speed, 13 percent; anaerobic endurance (using ATP), 13 percent; reaction speed, 10 percent; aerobic endurance, 9 percent; strength/speed endurance, 6 percent; anaerobic endurance (using glycogen), 6 percent; and flexibility, 5 percent. This information is important to know because it determines how we should train. For instance, since coordination is 17 percent and aerobic endurance is only 9 percent, learning to hit behind the back or playing with the opposite hand can be more important than spending the same time jogging three miles.
Water is, by far, the best liquid for the athlete. If you are going to drink a carbohydrate liquid during a match, drink it about half an hour before the anticipated point of fatigue. In a match, a good time for this is late in the second set. This will give you a good boost of energy for the third set.
Tennis is primarily an anaerobic sport, therefore to train for competitive tennis, you should do only as much aerobic training as necessary, but as little as possible.
\ In the 1988 U.S. Open Finals, Ivan Lendl vs. Mats Wilander, and Steffi Graf vs. Martina Navratilova, the following occurred:
Points lasting less than 10 seconds: men, 59 percent; women, 62 percent.
Points lasting between 10 and 20 seconds: men, 22 percent; women, 25 percent.
Points lasting more than 20 seconds: men, 19 percent; women, 13 percent.
Average length of a point: men, 12 seconds; women, 10.8 seconds.
How is this valuable? It tells us the necessary movements are strong first steps, quick recovery, fast change of direction, short bursts of energy. Drills that emphasize these actions are most important.
\ In 1984, John McEnroe had one of the most dominating years on the tour. He set an Open record with a .964 winning percentage (82-3), and he had an incredible .954 winner/error ratio (number of winners divided by number of unforced errors). A good world-class ratio is about .350 or .400. McEnroe's ratio was almost 1-to-1,meaning that for every unforced error he committed, he hit a winner. He was able to hit so many service, first-volley and service-return winners with his style of play. The only player capable of that today is Boris Becker on a fast court, and no on has come close to McEnroe's ratio.
McEnroe's 1984 Wimbledon win over Jimmy Connors was one of the closest-to-perfect matches ever in a Grand Slam final. He lost only 11 points in as many service games against the best service returner in the sport at the time. Connors won four games in three sets.
\ Dr. Renee Richards, whose last tournament victory was in Roanoke in 1981, was the 1980 U.S. Open 35-and-over women's singles champion. Richards is one of the most intelligent people I have ever met. She is a doctor of ophthalmology and has a practice in New York. She developed a surgical technique, the Raskin Procedure, which is widely used and is named for her former name.
I also think Richards is one of the most influential people ever in women's tennis. She changed Martina Navratilova from a great athlete who played tennis to a truly great tennis professional. Navratilova took the sport to an unprecedented level after being coached by Richards, and she raised the level of Chris Evert and all the other contenders, including Graf.
\ Helena Sukova, the No. 6 woman player in the world, played her first American professional tennis match in Roanoke. She played and lost in the first round of the 1979 Avon Qualifying of Roanoke, at Hunting Hills Country Club.
Others on the current pro circuit who have played in Roanoke pro events are Elise Burgin, Gretchen Magers, Robin White, Belinda Cordwell, Anne White, Catarina Lindqvist and Yvonne Vermaak.
by CNB