This is something I have been thinking about since the US Open. I would be interested to get the thoughts of Czech fans but also fans in general.
The Czech Republic have had incredible success the last few years as a team in the Federation cup, they are defending champions. Their players have had individual success; their number 1 player Petra Kvitova has won Wimbledon twice and earlier this summer Lucie Safarova made the final of the French Open and gave Serena a good run for her money.
But everytime I watch these players I feel a sense of frustration, in fact I am finding it more and more difficult to watch these players and be entertained. Then there is Korolina(?) Pliskova who has talent but is so hit and miss its untrue.
And that's what I want to ask you about. With the current crop of players, there seems to be a big element of lack of self control going, the players seem to make the same mistakes over and over and over again, without any element of wanting to do anything about it. Is it coaching? Do the coaches encourage the players to have a go regardless of the situation? Is it a lack of patience to build something, such like building points? Could these players do even better in their careers if there was more self control and tactical awareness?
I love to tell this story but before the 2011 Eastbourne final between Kvitova and Bartoli was about to begin, a friend of my friend asked me about the players, and I said "the memo on Kvitova is that she is either absolutely brilliant or absolutely rubbish!" What is a bit disconcerting is four years on and she plays almost exactly the same way, putting aside her health problems I see absolutely no tactical improvement.
What do you think about the way the young Czech players play tennis?
The Czech Republic have had incredible success the last few years as a team in the Federation cup, they are defending champions. Their players have had individual success; their number 1 player Petra Kvitova has won Wimbledon twice and earlier this summer Lucie Safarova made the final of the French Open and gave Serena a good run for her money.
But everytime I watch these players I feel a sense of frustration, in fact I am finding it more and more difficult to watch these players and be entertained. Then there is Korolina(?) Pliskova who has talent but is so hit and miss its untrue.
And that's what I want to ask you about. With the current crop of players, there seems to be a big element of lack of self control going, the players seem to make the same mistakes over and over and over again, without any element of wanting to do anything about it. Is it coaching? Do the coaches encourage the players to have a go regardless of the situation? Is it a lack of patience to build something, such like building points? Could these players do even better in their careers if there was more self control and tactical awareness?
I love to tell this story but before the 2011 Eastbourne final between Kvitova and Bartoli was about to begin, a friend of my friend asked me about the players, and I said "the memo on Kvitova is that she is either absolutely brilliant or absolutely rubbish!" What is a bit disconcerting is four years on and she plays almost exactly the same way, putting aside her health problems I see absolutely no tactical improvement.
What do you think about the way the young Czech players play tennis?