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Former ATP Player: “I Don’t Recommend Tennis.”
27 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
We see the glory and glamour of winning titles on the ATP World Tour. But there’s also the dark side where all the players who dedicate their lives to tennis success fail to experience the fruits of their labors.
One former American Division I and ATP ranked player, who asked to remain anonymous, elaborated on his sincere frustrations and regrets about sacrificing a significant portion of his life to trying to win tennis matches and achieving a professional career…
“Tennis is such a toxic sport, marathons are so much better.”
“I’m not really interested in tennis very much.”
“I think tennis is messed up. I honestly should have never played tennis.”
“Running marathons builds you up, they don’t take you down.”
“Tennis has been stress for nothing more or less, some bad people in tennis.”
“I don’t recommend tennis. I think it was a bad decision.”
When I mention the Martin Redlicki quote, “Tennis is a vicious sport”, the player replies, “Yes it isn’t worth it. I’ve experienced some amazing things – four years Division I varsity letters, the opportunity to play ATP 250 main draws… at the end of the day it wasn’t worth it.”
“I have no regrets, I just don’t recommend it.”
“In hindsight I wouldn’t have done tennis.”
Scoop Malinowski · October 29, 2025 at 1:28 pm
Very rare that any player is so honest and candid about his or her career in tennis. We have heard glimpses, I remember Todd Martin saying how he had mixed emotions about Pete Sampras his friend, because he broke his dreams of winning a major title. Learning former Grand SLam doubles champ Byron Black never touched a racquet after he retired. Former ATP player Horst Skoff supposedly committed suicide at age 39. Tennis is a beautiful but also cruel sport.
Steve · October 29, 2025 at 8:13 pm
The former Div 1 players seem the most bitter of them all They often HATE tennis afterwards whereas the Div 2 players I’ve met have more realistic expectations from tennis and still like the game.
Scoop Malinowski · October 29, 2025 at 8:54 pm
For sure, I know two female D1 players who totally quit after their last matches in college, didnt touch a racquet for years. One got into coaching though three years after completing four years at Michigan.
Scoop Malinowski · October 29, 2025 at 9:00 pm
This player in the article tried competing years after college and his ATP experiences but had poor results, losing to 4.5 and 5.0 players in USTA tournaments and also struggling in practice tiebreakers and baseline games against a certain 4.5 grinder. He totally quit tennis and only jogs marathons now. Totally burnt out.
Steve · October 30, 2025 at 11:50 am
I think I know this certain 4.5 grinder. Friendly chap with a hat!
Scoop Malinowski · October 30, 2025 at 12:08 pm
No he does not play at Overpeck or Votee anymore, he’s retired from tennis. )
Cory · October 30, 2025 at 9:24 pm
Gotta be Noah Rubin. Not putting you on the spot if it is… but that’s my guess.
Cory · October 30, 2025 at 9:25 pm
From NY?
Scoop Malinowski · October 31, 2025 at 8:37 am
No it’s not but Noah may actually have the same private sentiments, as many outstanding juniors who were only mediocre as sub journeyman professionals. It’s an interesting discussion. I have never heard a name pro reveal such strong feelings about his or her failure as pros. They just quietly carry on or fade away.
Scoop Malinowski · October 31, 2025 at 8:38 am
Not from NY or Eastern section but not far away either.
Sam · November 2, 2025 at 3:39 am
Former ATP player Horst Skoff supposedly committed suicide at age 39.
That’s sad to hear. But is there any indication that his supposed suicide was directly related to his tennis career?
Sam · November 2, 2025 at 5:18 am
Here’s an interesting relevant article I read recently:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/202209/kids-want-cooperate-we-make-them-compete
Money quote:
Those [kids] who consistently “win” may continue on with some energy (often mixed with cynicism), not so much from real interest in what they are [doing] but more because they enjoy winning and the adulation that comes from it.
Scoop Malinowski · November 2, 2025 at 7:42 am
No but there was a girl who tried to commit suicide back in the day at NBTA, fortunately she failed but she was never seen again at NBTA. Skoff had a small academy, maybe it was struggling and that was a factor, or gambling debts. Just speculating. A famous boxing referee Mitch Halpern commited suicide by gunshot at age 37 in Vegas. Might have been gambling debts.
Scoop Malinowski · November 2, 2025 at 8:21 am
Sam. I can’t imagine the pressure young Andre felt, his father tried to make his three older siblings top pros and they all fell short so it all came down on Andre to make it big. With all that pressure he actually not only did it but became an all time great champion. He could have so easily packed it in in the first six months at Bollettieri. Or even earlier at home having to hit four thousand balls a day. Little Andre had so much more pressure to make it than Pete or Chang or Courier or Federer or Nadal or McEnroe or Connors. Of course Andre did not push his kids into tennis.
Sam · November 11, 2025 at 2:38 am
No but there was a girl who tried to commit suicide back in the day at NBTA, fortunately she failed but she was never seen again at NBTA.
Ouch. Well, I hope she’s still alive and doing much better. It would also be interesting to know if there was any abuse going on at NBTA that led her to attempt suicide.
Skoff had a small academy, maybe it was struggling and that was a factor, or gambling debts. Just speculating. A famous boxing referee Mitch Halpern commited suicide by gunshot at age 37 in Vegas. Might have been gambling debts.
Really sad stories. 😢
Sam · November 11, 2025 at 2:45 am
With all that pressure he actually not only did it but became an all time great champion. He could have so easily packed it in in the first six months at Bollettieri.
Scoop, that’s impressive. But maybe he should’ve put that same kind of effort into his marriage with Brooke Shields. She’s made some very candid admissions about what a dud he was as a husband. 😐
Of course Andre did not push his kids into tennis.
Glad to hear that. Hopefully he and Steffi acted like fairly normal parents and didn’t push their kids into anything.
Scoop Malinowski · November 11, 2025 at 8:07 am
Sam, there is a dark side to the academy but I can’t go there.
Scoop Malinowski · November 11, 2025 at 8:11 am
Sam, The OPEN book portrayed Shields as a gold digger who mainly used Agassi’s fame and popularity to promoter herself and rebuild her broken career. She maximized the opportunity to the tune of a Broadway show and then an NBC sitcom series. Agassi made it clear he felt she didn’t really love him but more what he did for re-launching her career. Agassi was so popular back then many women wanted to hitch their wagons to him to promote themselves, Streisand was another, and I recently learned Sheena Easton tried the same thing but it didn’t work out.
Sam · November 21, 2025 at 2:50 am
Sam, there is a dark side to the academy but I can’t go there.
😨
Sam, The OPEN book portrayed Shields as a gold digger who mainly used Agassi’s fame and popularity to promoter herself and rebuild her broken career.
Well, Scoop, Agassi admitted he was a crystal-meth head who lied about the whole thing. So, I have difficulty believing anything he says.
She maximized the opportunity to the tune of a Broadway show and then an NBC sitcom series. Agassi made it clear he felt she didn’t really love him but more what he did for re-launching her career.
There’s probably some truth to that (even big liars tell the truth sometimes), but I think Shields’ account about the failure of their marriage is at least as believable.
Agassi was so popular back then many women wanted to hitch their wagons to him to promote themselves, Streisand was another, and I recently learned Sheena Easton tried the same thing but it didn’t work out.
Interesting. And he goes for Steffi Graf instead?? 🤔
Sam · November 21, 2025 at 2:58 am
But with Djokovic I still love to see him play, it doesn’t have that feeling that he’s lingering on too long. The sport needs him.
It sure does. And once he retires, I will have great difficulty finding reasons to follow tennis at all. And if I do happen to find any, the Alcaraz-Sinner “rivalry” probably won’t be one of them. 🤮
Sam · November 21, 2025 at 3:05 am
If the players listen to [Martin], which even John McEnroe admitted was a problem for him when he tried coaching Bruguera, Philippoussis, Raonic.
Is that a common thing on the ATP tour—players not listening to their coaches? 🤔
Sam · November 21, 2025 at 3:16 am
Becker and Courier both alleged in press conferences when they were active players that Nike controlled the sport and got special privileges and advantages for Agassi and Sampras. No player would dare to make such an allegation today.
😬
Sam, well they all play the same baseline style anyway, so yes I mean personalities.
Scoop, then of course it makes sense what you said about the lower-ranked players being just as interesting. In fact, I would say there’s little if any correlation between the prowess of an athlete and how interesting their personality is.
Maria Sharapova once said she got the same questions at every tournament and she didn’t even have to think abut how to answer, she would just go on some kind of verbal auto pilot and answer without thinking.
Hard to blame her.
I did a Biofile early in my career with Chris Evert and mid interview during “Favorite athletes to watch” question she said to me, “You ask great questions.”
Yes, I remember you mentioning that. 😏
I have done around 1000 Biofiles with tennis pros and all were positive experiences, they all enjoyed it. I can’t remember one negative experience but a lot of good ones with McEnroe, Wilander, Lendl, Vilas, Evert, Court, Venus, Vesnina, Kirilenko, Mirza, Hsieh, Federer, Nadal, Murray, Djokovic, Connors…
Glad that all those Biofiles have gone so well for both you and the interviewees. 👍
Just curious—have you ever interviewed Sinner?
Sam · November 21, 2025 at 3:21 am
Tennis needs this kind of unique innovations instead of the same old same old tournaments and exos. I hope Djokovic and PTPA read this.
Scoop, well, if you want, I could forward it to them. 😹
Sam · November 21, 2025 at 3:27 am
Sam, we never hear love ballads anymore, why not? Is it because the demonic music industry wants music to focus on more negative agendas?
Scoop, well, there’ve been plenty of drippy ballads from the past that I wouldn’t mind never hearing again, but as for why love ballads in general are disappearing (which I didn’t know about), no idea. However, I do know that today’s “music” is almost entirely devoid of melody and personality, and it all basically sounds the same—and is positively swimming in vulgarity. 👿
Scoop Malinowski · November 21, 2025 at 8:09 am
Yes those corny love ballads back in the day are much more appreciated now. Spandau Ballet True, George Michael A Different Corner, are classics.
Scoop Malinowski · November 21, 2025 at 8:09 am
Not a bad idea Sam. )
Scoop Malinowski · November 21, 2025 at 8:16 am
Sam I find all pro tennis players are excellent Biofiles all in their own ways, and sometimes the players I thought were boring on court were a shockingly excellent Biofiles such as Vince Spadea, Todd Martin, Thomas Johansson, Elena Vesnina, Heather Watson, Ivo Karlovic. Tennis players were made to be Biofiled ) Never had a chance to speak with Sinner, almost did at Miami Open the year after the virus at the new site but it was too hard to get one on one access then. Saw him play US Open qualies when he was like 17 and beat a veteran and his reaction was like he expected to win, that always struck me but I didn’t pursue a Biofile that day. Should have.