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Hana Mandlikova: “American Juniors Don’t Know How To Work Hard”
16 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Former Grand Slam Champion Hana Mandlikova was asked recently by Totally Tennis Magazine why there aren’t more strong American players today. The Bradenton-based mother of twelve-year old twins who compete in USTA Florida section events offered her opinion…
“Everybody is asking that question. I think it’s…personally, I think they’re spoiled. I don’t think they know how to work hard. They get everything handed to them on a platter. It’s difficult, even with my own kids. I grew up in a middle class family and my dad had two jobs. We had to fight for everything. Kids now don’t have enough will and desire to reach their goals. And they’re not going to reach them with excuses. It’s in every business, not just tennis.”
As for what qualities separate elite players from the other pros who are also great players, the former coach of Wimbledon champ Jana Novotna says: “I think it’s the will to work hard. The seriousness. The talent. And technique. I saw a lot of good players growing up who became too satisfied too easily. They’d be happy to win one or two rounds of a Grand Slam and that’s it for them because they know they had enough money to buy a nice car and nice house and they’re satisfied. For me, I wanted more. My goal was winning Grand Slams, not just having a good living.”
Regarding her coaching time with Novotna, Mandlikova says: “I enjoyed it very much. She was a fighter. But when I started coaching Jana she was very lazy and overweight and it was very hard. After she won Wimbledon, I said, ‘I can’t do it anymore.’ I was done.”
Mandlikova, who won four major titles, think junior players of today should study and learn about the great players of tennis history. “When I grew up I wanted to know all about great players of the past – Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Billie Jean King – but a lot of these kids don’t even know who Kim Clijsters is. If you want to be a great player, you should know about players in the past. That bothers me and scares me (that many of today’s juniors don’t know about the great players of tennis history).”
Of her own kids, one who is ranked in the top 25 in the USTA Florida l4s: “They both have talent. I can give them the best preparation and coaches. But in the end, it’s up to the player.”
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Dan markowitz · July 17, 2014 at 2:22 pm
Interesting comments from Hana, but nothing new. I wonder if she coaches her daughters or farms it out? Tremendous advantage to have twins because they have omnipresent practice partner.
Scoop Malinowski · July 17, 2014 at 2:29 pm
Hana got her twins a scholarship to IMG but wasn’t happy there and after a year left and went to United Tennis Academy at El Conquistador about a mile away from IMG. They’ve been training at United for 3 years now. Petr Korda, Hugo Armando, Haas, Stepanek live close by El Con and are often at the courts.
Andrew Miller · July 17, 2014 at 4:05 pm
Hana may be onto something, especially since seven of the round of 16 junior boys remaining at Wimbledon were from the U.S.
Personally I think it’s a skill thing. The talented players aren’t hitting their backhands cleanly and like one other TP poster said it’s because very few U.S. players have EVER hit a nice backhand – Vahaly had a sweet two hander, Spadea, Agassi – Blake had a very decent one hander, Fish a nice two hander. And if they can hit the backhand well they tend to do pretty well.
BUT – I like Rubin’s BH and Kozlov BH, both hit clean, controlled and with some authority.
I think Hana doesn’t know enough. TP posters know more.
Andrew Miller · July 17, 2014 at 4:07 pm
While we are at it, what’s with the German tennis pro event being called the “BET AT HOME OPEN”? I mean at least it should have a sub-title like “BET AT HOME OPEN/CONFLICT OF INTEREST CHAMPIONSHIPS”!
This is right up there with Virginia Slims’ past sponsorship of the WTA tour.
Scoop Malinowski · July 18, 2014 at 7:45 am
Andrew, I think this interview with Hana was done before Wimbledon actually, so maybe the turning point will be Wimbledon. Let’s hope at least.
Scoop Malinowski · July 18, 2014 at 7:47 am
It’s really not a shock that Betathome is a title sponsor in tennis. NASCAR has accepted sponsors from alcohol companies like Budweiser, Miller, Bud Light, which contradicts driver safety, sports needs all the sponsors it can get today.
Dan markowitz · July 18, 2014 at 12:35 pm
Who do you like in their careers, Rubin, Kozlov or Tiafoe and what do you think their ceilings are?
Scoop Malinowski · July 18, 2014 at 1:01 pm
Virtually impossible to say Dan. Rios was the better junior than Guga but Guga had the better ATP career. Bjorkman wasn’t highly touted by the Swedish federation but he had a better career than most of his peers. Vince Spadea was told to go to college but he had the best career of his age group peers. It’s too early to tell about Rubin Kozlov and Tiafoe but they are all in excellent position to have good or maybe great pro careers.
Dan markowitz · July 18, 2014 at 3:52 pm
How about Zverev beating a Top 10 player first for a 17 yr old since Nadal did it in 2003 or 2004. I’m sorry I’m not buying on Rubin or Kozlov. The little I’ve seen of both neither strikes me as a great athlete or preternatural talent. They both look grinders to me. I haven’t seen a lot of Tiafoe either but he looks like the wildcard. Scoop, you going to Ranl’s Island on Aug. 21 to watch Rubin play Djoko?
Scoop Malinowski · July 19, 2014 at 8:49 am
I saw quite a bit of Zverev in Sarasota in qualies and main draw and was quite impressed. He was the guy Young was playing who frustrated Young to infamously yell out “Son of a biscuit.” The thing that most stood out besides the obvious talent and power and mobility for a big kid was watching his older brother Mischa Zverev during matches. No matter how dramatic or tight it got trying to close out, the older brother just sat there so calm, you could tell he had so much confidence and belief in Alexander, and also by his body language expressed a slight conveyance of “Man I wish I was that good and had such a bright future as my kid brother.”
Andrew Miller · July 19, 2014 at 12:01 pm
On the u.s. jrs tiafoe is in atlanta qualification round mist be his first atp tournament.
As for kozlov etc what surprises me is his serve and bh – how clean it is. Lots of versatility. He is getting taller likely dealing with that adjustment. I am sure to dans point that a lot of people saw sampras’ game as a serve and a forehand or chang as a counterpuncher. Didnt seem to slow them down much. At jr level kozlov is interesting because keeps getting better. He already played newport so you guys know better.
On zverev yeah – seem to have motivation tobe better than bis bro like andy and jamie Murray. Best performance since kyrgios at wimbledon. Inspired game also power and touch. Saw some clip vs lkozlov in Australia slam final.
Dan markowitz · July 19, 2014 at 12:37 pm
Look, please don’t put Kozlov in same sentence as Sampras and Chang . Those guys had supernatural skills, foot speed, focus and power. Kozlov hasn’t shown any great talent other than he’s a very accomplished smooth player. The younger bro out dueling the older bro is common in me’s tennis. Think of Blake, Rochus and now Zverev.
Scoop Malinowski · July 19, 2014 at 1:25 pm
Kozlov was really impressive last year at Newport he took Poland’s Michal Przsyzsieny to the limit, amazing match first on center court first day last year. I was amazed by his game maturity poise fight. That Pole took a set off Hewitt this year at Wimbledon and is a good player. Give Kozlov time, he’s just sixteen now, just imagine that upside.
Andrew Miller · July 20, 2014 at 11:15 am
Dans right. Kozlov doesnt belong in same sentance.my mistake.
But his game is pretty clean – not much risk in it but his mechanics on serve and bh are clean as a whistle. As everyone knows though the gap between juniors and pros is so large these days . That said u.s. players with patience and a nice serve bh combo are rare . We will see how much fight the kid has.
Tiafoe won his qualies match. Gets another shot today.
Zverev had a nice run. I think there is something up with competing in the family. Lots of atp players are that way.
Bryan · July 27, 2014 at 2:47 am
Was watching a documentary about Victoria Azarenka today talking about her childhood in Belarus. She’d work on her strokes hitting the ball against a wall up to 1,400 times in a row, counting each stroke. What American country club kid is going to count to 1,400 ever? She’s right, our kids are spoiled. And soft.