Todays Wimby Schedule - My Picks in yellow

CENTRE COURT - 1:00PM

1. Lukas Rosol (CZE) v Rafael Nadal (ESP) [2]

2. Angelique Kerber (GER) [9] v Heather Watson (GBR)

3. Gilles Muller (LUX) v Roger Federer (SUI) [4]

NO.1 COURT - 1:00PM

1. Serena Williams (USA) [1] v Chanelle Scheepers (RSA)

2. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) [5] v Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE)

3. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) v Maria Sharapova (RUS) [5]

NO.2 COURT - 11:30AM

1. Richard Gasquet (FRA) [13] v Nick Kyrgios (AUS)

2. Sam Querrey (USA) vs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) [14]

3. Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) v Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) [13]

4. Jerzy Janowicz (POL) [15] v Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)

5. Simona Halep (ROU) [3] v Lesia Tsurenko (UKR)

NO.3 COURT - 11:30AM

1. Milos Raonic (CAN) [8] v Jack Sock (USA)

2. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) [11] v Jie Zheng (CHN)

3. Karolina Pliskova (CZE) v Sabine Lisicki (GER) [19]

4. Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) v John Isner (USA) [9]

COURT 12 - 11:30AM

1. Jiri Vesely (CZE) v Gael Monfils (FRA) [24]

2. Andrea Petkovic (GER) [20] v Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU)

3. Klara Koukalova (CZE) [31] v Madison Keys (USA)

4. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) [19] v Ante Pavic (CRO)

COURT 18 - 11:30AM

1. Denis Kudla (USA) v Kei Nishikori (JPN) [10]

2. Zarina Diyas (KAZ) v Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) [15]

3. Marcel Granollers (ESP) [30] v Santiago Giraldo (COL)

COURT 8 - 11:30AM

1. Lukasz Kubot (POL) v Dusan Lajovic (SRB)

2. Julian Reister (GER) v Denis Istomin (UZB)

3. Donna Vekic (CRO) v Vera Zvonareva (RUS)

4. Belinda Bencic (SUI) v Victoria Duval (USA)

COURT 16 - 11:30AM

1. Petra Cetkovska (CZE) v Alize Cornet (FRA) [25]

2. Adrian Mannarino (FRA) v Tommy Robredo (ESP) [23]

3. Alize Cornet (FRA) / Caroline Garcia (FRA) v 

Hao-Ching Chan (TPE) / Yung-Jan Chan (TPE)

4. Bob Bryan (USA) [1] / Mike Bryan (USA) [1] v 

Matthew Ebden (AUS) / Samuel Groth (AUS)

COURT 17 - 11:30AM

1. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) [22] v Simone Bolelli (ITA)

2. Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP) v Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) [24]

3. Alison Riske (USA) v Camila Giorgi (ITA)

4. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) / Maria Kirilenko (RUS) v 

Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) / Kirsten Flipkens (BEL)

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS, WIMBLEDON 2014

INTENDED ORDER OF PLAY FOR DAY 4 THURSDAY 26 JUNECOURT 4 - 11:30AM

1. Andreas Siljestrom (SWE) / Igor Zelenay (SVK) v

Jonathan Marray (GBR) / John-Patrick Smith (AUS)

2. Liezel Huber (USA) [15] / Lisa Raymond (USA) [15] v 

Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) / Katarzyna Piter (POL)

3. Benjamin Becker (GER) / Oliver Marach (AUT) v 

Jaroslav Levinsky (CZE) / Jiri Vesely (CZE)

4. Eric Butorac (USA) / Timea Babos (HUN) v 

Philipp Oswald (AUT) / Yvonne Meusburger (AUT)

COURT 5 - 11:30AM

1. Santiago Gonzalez (MEX) / Scott Lipsky (USA) v 

Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) / Paul Hanley (AUS)

2. Mate Pavic (CRO) / Andre Sa (BRA) v 

Treat Huey (PHI) [10] / Dominic Inglot (GBR) [10]

3. Leander Paes (IND) [5] / Radek Stepanek (CZE) [5] v 

Mariusz Fyrstenberg (POL) / Rajeev Ram (USA)

COURT 6 - 11:30AM

1. Kyle Edmund (GBR) / Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v 

Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) / Igor Sijsling (NED)

2. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) [11] / Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) [11] v 

Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) / Shuai Zhang (CHN)

3. Rohan Bopanna (IND) [8] / Aisam Qureshi (PAK) [8] v 

Frantisek Cermak (CZE) / Mikhail Elgin (RUS)

4. Varvara Lepchenko (USA) / Saisai Zheng (CHN) v 

Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) [9] / Jie Zheng (CHN) [9]

COURT 7 - 11:30AM

1. Julien Benneteau (FRA) [4] / Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) [4] v 

Daniele Bracciali (ITA) / Jonathan Erlich (ISR)

2. Max Mirnyi (BLR) / Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v 

Alexander Peya (AUT) [2] / Bruno Soares (BRA) [2]

3. Lyudmyla Kichenok (UKR) / Nadiia Kichenok (UKR) v 

Lauren Davis (USA) / Monica Puig (PUR)

4. Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) / Karin Knapp (ITA) v 

Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) [5] / Elena Vesnina (RUS) [5]

COURT 9 - 11:30AM

1. Bradley Klahn (USA) / Michael Venus (NZL) v 

Austin Krajicek (USA) / Donald Young (USA)

2. Eva Hrdinova (CZE) / Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) v 

Andreja Klepac (SLO) / Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor (ESP)

3. Vasek Pospisil (CAN) / Jack Sock (USA) v 

Robin Haase (NED) / Jesse Huta Galung (NED)

4. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) / Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) v 

Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) / Arina Rodionova (AUS)

COURT 10 - 11:30AM

1. Frank Dancevic (CAN) v Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ)

2. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) v Kaia Kanepi (EST)

3. Nicholas Monroe (USA) / Simon Stadler (GER) v 

Simone Bolelli (ITA) / Fabio Fognini (ITA)

4. Naomi Broady (GBR) / Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) v 

Raquel Kops-Jones (USA) [7] / Abigail Spears (USA) [7]

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS, WIMBLEDON 2014

INTENDED ORDER OF PLAY FOR DAY 4 THURSDAY 2

Wimby News

Well done young Aussie Nick Kyrgios who won his first round over night as did the Little Aussie Battler Lleyton Hewitt both in with a chance next match! I have to say how lucky is Andy Murray with draws have you ever noticed his easy run in many Slams! Well Gulbis is a character and here is a little from his presser commenting on Vampires ...I mean umpires!

And I always enjoy Rafa pressers

Looking fwd to overnight matches .

I pull my Hair out trying to understand Tennis in New Zealand- by Tony Osborne

I am really a fan of tennis but living in New Zealand its just a thought bubble that bursts rather quickly for most people.In fact the trouble with the governing body I am pretty sure they govern by thought bubbles.I try not to go on the TNZ website but I subscribe to the newsletter passing shots sometimes I think it should be named passing wind.I have not written for the eye for sometime but I thought I should once again add my opinions.I am disgusted that no Live Wimbledon is available for non Sky subscribers, I cant afford it and don't like giving money to tycoons like Rupert Murdoch.

Thanks Passing shots for keeping us up to date with Wimbledon airing maybe you were to embarrassed to publish the fact but then when the CEO newsletter has this to say "Whilst most of us are well and truly in hibernation mode for the winter, there are a number of Kiwi tennis players flying the flag in the northern hemisphere." Mr Johns have not you and your High Performance team thought that playing tennis for about 5-6 months of the year is a major problem we have in trying to promote and develop the sport and world class tennis players?.Now I just wanted to make sure that they had identified this in the new strategy papers and guess what NO! You made a correct call Mr CEO! tennis is indeed in Hibernation.

I have asked the "eye" could I include a response from former National tennis Coach Mike Mooney and below is his opinion and observations.

The near demise and extinction of the team events 12's 14's 16's along with the 18's several years ago .Basically wipes out any other system other than an elite pay as you can afford system.We see this in the elite schools now dominating sport.

No longer are players from lower social  economic backgrounds able to advance in the sport of tennis Money or the lack of it has cut funding to our National teams dismantled any level playing field.

Thanks to Mr Johns and the former Chairman successive chairs and CEOs we have a desert for opportunity.

Is it any wonder players are seeking other homes in other countries. So much for the rock Star economy

I constantly am in touch with other sports coaches and administrators and it is obvious we have a take over from the top down. Funding to pay the astronomical salaries of our so called elite administrators enables very little of the remaining funds to reach the development levels in the regions.

We are now seeing Regional program's being substituted by a National system which has become God in determining who will succeed . This system was tried and failed in the 90's failed No one can pick and choose who wins and who losers at the age of 7 or 8 years of age.

Centralization of the sports,many have been shifted to the Millennium center, ensures not only the rest of NZ being disenfranchised but concentrates all the decision making in one small area with a small group of elites.

Our own swim coach, surf life saving, CEO has unfettered license to further harm Tennis and our game.
When are we as a Nation going to understand centralization of power and resources only leads to more waste,less vision,corruption and fraud.

The current situation mirrors not just sport but our entire Westminster democracy.

We see less referendum less discussion and we are heading towards situation where all the assets accumulated over 160 years of sweat and blood are going to all end up in one balance sheet. Sparc or whoever they determine to call themselves. Re branding does not exonerate the sins of the past.

What we have here is less democracy more centralization. My only suggestion is if NZ Tennis continue to refuse to listen to the voices of discontent common sence and will not acknowledge the dire state of the game and here I Quote Onny Parun we sit at the edge of oblivion. Then oblivion is what we reap.

Then I say there is only one solution get out and stop feeding the parasite that is making a meal out of our game its history and the good tennis people who still process a passion for the game at the grass roots level.

Ask one simple question for all my compliance costs and my fees what have I really got that is worth staying in the system?

Vote now for tennis and for all those in other sports watching their sports be hi -jacked by Govt or Corporate interests I say do the same. Begin again at the bottom where it all began any way.

Leave,starve the beast.Go back and concentrate on the clubs save the affiliation fees and put them into players and player's development.

I say the same for all the other sports.Diversity of thought and practice is what made us successful. I have no desire to be cloned into NZ Tennis image of where they think the game should go.Vote with your feet and your money save it for groceries or your kids

Please comment it is still your right to have an opinion
Michael Mooney former NZ player and coach

I found the above very interesting and also more of CEO John's newsletter

"Tennis NZ recently received praise for its new Participation and Coaching Strategies. Both strategies have been listed in a new “Planning in Sport” document published by Sport New Zealand as being examples of “best practice” in the sector."

I am now starting to worry about this as I have read the strategy's and if they have been praised did people who have read them really and truly take this as gospel and Sport New Zealand do you really understand Tennis in New Zealand?If you did then you would know their are very large black holes in each document! The recent National Juniors Teams event not one mention of it being part of the High Performance Strategy!In fact you may as well say it was overlooked and tried to be put in hibernation permanently.

Michael touched on the expense of tennis , not one plan to keep Juniors involved in this sport.Again coming back to the newsletter I was ashamed and embarrassed that TNZ has to resort to this "Last week, our Boys 14U NZ team of Finn Reynolds, Macsen Sisam and Chris Zhang, departed for Europe to commence preparation for the 2014 ITF World Junior Tennis World Finals in Prostejov, Czech Republic (4-9 August). This is the first time since 2006 that a Kiwi boys team has qualified for the World Finals where they will compete against 15 other nations to determine the World Champions for 2014. We wish the team and Captain Marcel Vos, all the very best for the tournament. As we mentioned last week, we are trialing a new fundraising strategy for this tour via Givealittle. Please visit the View the Tennis NZ 14U Boys Team cause page for more information. Thank you for your support! "

So with interest I went to the site and the headline was this

NZ UNDER 14'S BOYS TEAM TO WORLD FINAL

Now I congratulate all the boys who achieved this a great effort but I condemn TNZ for not financing this and asking for donations!I really could help in freeing up finances for TNZ 

Stop  the waste and if you want an example flying and accommodating the special Think tank group in Auckland just Skype! The think tank group is made up off TNZ selected people from each region.This is on top of regional CEO's meetings which should of already discussed regional matters and idea's. This is  just one I have a few more.

As I read further I started pulling more hair from my head! While in Europe, the boys will be joined by targeted athletes Valentina Ivanov, Tiana Windbuchler and Tharubphet Homkrun. Also joining the tour is Emelia Price from the Southern region and Tennis NZ coach Lan Bale. The Europe Tour is considered an important piece of Tennis New Zealand’s new Players Development Strategy, giving New Zealand’s top juniors the opportunity to train and compete on clay, an unfamiliar surface to most Kiwis.

So I did some research on these players one is only 10 or just turned 11 can I ask which sensible Coach or National body would suggest an undertaking of this magnitude for a junior such as this that still cries under duress of matches! This is a big mistake Tennis NZ and Sport New Zealand...simply at this age they are not ready and who knows what true potential will be! 10 and 11 and even 12 are way to young , even Tennis Australia do not take this on for this age ...gets me thinking that's why parents with stars in their eye will go for this...( current NZ But can change citizenship at a later date)

Some  cannot beat their peers locally in Australasia and until that can happen in the 14 age group forget 150 in the world.Now I also found out Lan Bale is not there until after Wimbledon commitments with Michael Venus who is playing doubles.They get a replacement some local yokel from the South Island instead of the experienced Bale.

This week I again mistakenly read Passing Shots and I found a report on what is happening with the targeted tennis players in Europe who after reading the strategy papers will be Top 150 in 6 years time ...did you read this Sport New Zealand?

If only Marina Erakovic had these strategy's when she was young she could be world number 1 not hovering around 50 .

Tennis New Zealand High Performance Coach Marcel Vos reports from Holland.

 The training here at the Academy in Amsterdam is a fantastic opportunity for Tennis New Zealand’s Targeted Athletes to train, adjust to claycourt tennis, and prepare for the upcoming tournament schedule. Its a fantastic facility with 16 outdoor clay and 8 indoor courts, gym, physio, basketbal, table tennis and a great restaurant. We have been running a full time tennis program which includes physical and mental support as well as yoga sessions. 

There is also a brand new on court analyses tool available to us which is an amazing new tool measuring everything you can imagine. 

This new feature, PlaySight TM Smart Court, is installed on 2 courts and features a game changing after action review system. With just 4 fully automated cameras PlaySight Smart Court gives real-time and after action review with complete debriefing solutions, auto stats, biomechanical analysis and 3D tactical game management. All your activity and motion are automatically recorded, analyzed and uploaded into the PlaySight.com where you can review your performance instantly and share it with others.

Sounds like they are having a wonderful time at Disneyland, nice restaurant, 

and the Playsight Ride hope they use the fast pass for that. If only this was a

around when Rafael Nadal was younger he would of become World Number 1 .

whoops he is World No 1.Maybe NZ players are like the British 

Britain's young tennis players are too soft and lazy to make it to the top says the new chief of the LTA

Michael Downey says talented youngsters have it too good in this country and must toughen up and learn to fight for their lives

LINK WILL LET YOU READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE ..JUST CLICK ON Link.

Well tomorrow I'm going to submit Part 2 . But this is enough hair pulling for one day!

The Rest of the World Knows Wimbledon has started - Does New Zealand

Thank goodness I have ESPN as their is know free to air Coverage of Wimbledon in NZ this year.An utter disgrace by TV1 and further Embaressing Tennis in New Zealand.Have not heard much noise from TNZ about this. I have been a little quiet lately , one pleasing aspect is that the National Junior Teams event will go ahead next year! Thanks to all that signed the petition and left comments it helped show how much this event meant to players and parents and coaches.
Ok some quick Wimbeldon notes, firstly hope Thomas Berdych does not turn up in his Birthday Suit to play as featured above.My predictions below
*Rodger Federer will not add to his Wimbledon Titles
*Andy Murray will not be regaining his title this year.
*Sharapova will not win the title .
Over night Sam Stosur went out, loved how the Aussie commentators and media talk her up ..Fails all the time. Will be more regular, stay tuned!

Posted with Blogsy

2014 FRENCH OPEN - Champions prevail

The sounds of Maria dominated the women's event and congratulations Maria never my favorite but well done!



Rafa Nadal beats doubters to lift the trophy for the 9th time.Never bet against Nadal.

The Exclusive Tennis New Zealand Pathway !

First of all thank you to all that have signed the petition re the National Junior Teams event , and those that took time to add comments some of which have been enlightening ,Coaches Parents, PLAYERS and supporters a big thank you keep spreading the word.

Here is the latest link to an article in the NZ Herald calling for "Heads to Roll" in the current Northern Administration.LINK

A big thank you to Clint Packer Central's regional Head Coach for allowing me to use his comment he left on the Petition yesterday. His thoughts are very logical and I think practical and hence my Topic Exclusive vs Inclusive.

In the past decade I’ve noticed a growing trend -

- we continue to lose our best coaches to overseas positions – or worse, they quit coaching all together

- internal structures are dying or failing such as National events and Regional strategies

Last year we had 7 National selectors not reapply for their National selector roles (I was one of them) and now we are on the verge of losing another important event, the National team’s event.

5 years ago, with the support of an incredible Tennis Central staff, I knew our region required a change and a new challenge for the both the players and the coaches. I introduced 4 new events and a point’s race with a final Masters event in order to select our Central Team to compete at the NZ team’s event. Some of the events have evolved and possibly require further adjustments, however since –

- Events/Tournament numbers continually improved

- Under performing Tournaments received more support

- Players “earned” their way into our team – no one is a “targeted athlete” and

automatically selected regardless of their performance (TNZ)

- New coaches emerged and regardless of what they individually thought of each other or

me personally as the Performance Coach, they now had an event structure to coach

towards to develop their own culture in a competitive environment

- Mini tennis climates and training grounds were noticed and rewarded

- Tennis coaching ‘brands’ are now everywhere in Central

- Most Coaches/players all support our Performance Centre

(35 from 38 local reps train in our RPC – 5 years in a row)

TNZ need to understand that coaches at the coalface are their biggest asset for building the game from the ground up. The NZ team’s event will reward our kids for their efforts and provide our young coaches with further opportunities. It’s a culture building opportunity for everyone in our Region as it should be across our sport within NZ.

Tennis New Zealand’s very first objective in their HP strategy is -

“To have a performance driven program with a shared organisational culture and strong strategic relationships with stakeholders all focused on our HP vision”

Given the numbers involved having the opportunity to represent their region under the TNZ ‘brand’, surely the National Teams event needs to be a major part of this objective?

What’s also contrary to this objective is that National selectors and National coaches have recently made decisions to only select their ‘targeted athletes’ above kids who actually performed at their own National titles. This included selection of players who don’t live in NZ and one player in the JDC team who hasn’t even played in New Zealand….I don’t even know if he’s a member of a club?

What message does this send to both the targeted players and “everyone else”?

- TNZ’s targeted kids now require zero accountability at our own NZ titles

- the rest of the contenders now have nothing to play for

- coaches have nothing to coach towards

- Parents of non-targeted players can stop spending their money attending National titles because “targeted players” have already been chosen, in fact they might not even be there to play against.

This philosophy is not exactly “Performance Driven” and is simply an example of the culture killing attitude occurring within our sport in NZ

What about this concept

- Free up all the HP money and stop paying National Coaches and stop the funding for these targeted kids

- Use that money by investing in event structures with financial or opportunity rewards for all players at all stages with more prominent rewards at our National events

(12’s through to adult ‘futures’ level)

If you do that then everyone’s culture, abilities and environments are in play!

Now to me that’s a “performance driven program with a shared organisational culture and strong strategic relationships with stakeholders all focused on our HP vision”

My personal view is that I am sick of losing important events and opportunities for our juniors who deserve much better. Start implementing strategies that coaches can coach towards and players can play to – It’s about time we stop shifting the goal posts for terrible kickers. CLINT PACKER

Well said Clint!New Zealand Tennis continues to lack credibility ,as Clint says what message are you sending our juniors! I feel sorry for the NZ 16 year old boy that missed out on selection for Thomas Guy not living or playing in New Zealand , no Top Dog ranking , no Head to Head against his peers! I believe he is the son of former NZ Davis C upper Steve Guy who coaches in Europe.I am not taking a shot at this boy simply the current selection and pathway TNZ has developed!UNACCEPTABLE!

My question is how on earth can this happen? Clint says it all above. To-morrow I will dissect the high performance paper and it wont be pretty!

Finally another comment from the petition page from a current Top New Zealand tennis player

"bizzarre that tnz consider college tennis one of their "pathways" to the pro tour, but abolish the only teams competition that is similar to college tennis. I played 12s 14s and 16s teams events and benefited greatly because of the team aspect, not to mention the preparation it gave me for college. Everyone that knows anything about tennis on an international level know that nz juniors have played so few matches compared to players from strong tennis nations, so why abolish an opportunity for tough matches against the best players around the country. Please explain"

Indeed TNZ you have some explaining to do and Tennis Northern I guess you used the exclusive pathway so when Parents queried aspects of Northern's costing they decided to teach these parents a lesson , exclusively not to send any Junior teams to Nationals! 

IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED YET HERE IS THE LINK

The balls in your court Tennis New Zealand and Regions and its time to come out and support The Junior National Teams event ..in other words put your money where your mouth is and financially back this event

Great support from all over New Zealand for this event after Tennis Northern decided not to send junior teams to the National Junior Teams event along with Waikato who could not field a 16 girls team.

Now some Regional CEO'S would like us to believe that a revamped teams event that may just include North Island teams was supported by all regions and put to TNZ , this is just not true!

Waikato CEO Leslie Wilkinson along with David Franks Northern CEO are in favor of a upper North Island Tri Series, remember the last one you tried two years ago?Northern and Waikato pulled out of the event it ended with disaster , Central was the other region involved in the series.

Get this the Waikato 16 girls team probably would have been seeded 1 for the event and the excuse was not to send a team was the number 5 would be pushed into the number 1 position as Waikato had players picked for overseas events.Hang the experience the others would receive Leslie, hang the next tier below being given an opportunity Leslie ,Hang the rest of the regional teams having less matches Leslie. Shame Leslie your attitude along with David Franks from Northern is not needed.Who appoints regional CEO'S such as these?

As readers of this Blog may be aware of there has been a petition circulating. It is still open so you can still sign at this LINK. The lack of support from TNZ is disappointing , not even considered an event worthy to be in their High Performance strategy.Comments have been left on TNZ's Facebook page from angry parents for their apathy in responding to the paper articles.

 Another Article also appeared in the North Shore Times.

The Teams event is a great event and the petition page has had some great comments left by supporters!

The national teams event was almost the epitome of junior tennis for me growing up, a chance to not only compete against the rest of NZ, but to play with close mates in a team environment. I was lucky enough to be part of the winning 16's boys teams event back in 1989. It is without doubt one of the finest tennis memories I have. To discard this event is a complete disgrace and I would hope this crazy nonsensical decision will be overturned!

*For some players in Southern this is the only time they are able to play the best in NZ. Our juniors strive to make these teams and take great pride in representing their region. For this event to be seen as non important is ridiculous - I know 30 current Southern players who would disagree!

*Tennis in general is an individual sport with very few junior representative opportunities. It is sad that junior players living overseas, that don’t even play regularly in NZ, be given funding to further their tennis careers when the children who actually live and play week after week in NZ getting little or no funding towards tournaments like the National Junior Team Event. Each region should be made to consider the top 12 players in each age group for the Team Event and not rely solely on selection due to their ranking points. Unless you can afford to travel around the country, juniors don’t get that many opportunities to play a variety of other children. The Junior Team Event is important and there should be a set of guidelines to ensure all regions participate without players having to withdraw due to the cost involved. We are a small country and there are ways to make it affordable for everyone. The only people who lose out at the end of the day are the children. 

Simply Tennis New Zealand you should be funding and helping the regions attend this event! Is it true Tennis New Zealand you are funding one of the Targeted athletes $50,000 a year who does not reside here , does not participate in local events such as the Nationals .Readers  in the know will no doubt work out who I am talking about but to spend this amount if  true on someone so young is ridiculous!?You cannot find $0.01c for the National teams event? I am also wondering what club this player is registered to in NZ?I am sure all Team's event juniors are in fact registered members of clubs affiliated with TNZ. Bigger threat is a defection to Australia later in the players career,may not happen however precedent has been set by Sasha Jones AU and Cameron Norrie GB.

Just a word on posts I allow all comments and if you do not agree I will also post , however I have allowed Anonymous posts in the past but if you are leaving one please add you name.

Thank you to some of the coaches that have signed the petition but come on coaches there should be more adding their names after all you are coaching kids that are striving to make events such as these and taking their money! Are you scared of repercussions from the powers that be? 

Finally this slogan

MORE PEOPLE PLAYING MORE TENNIS MORE OFTEN(Tennis Northern's Letterhead Slogan)

Perhaps it should be changed to

MORE PEOPLE PLAYING MORE TENNIS MORE OFTEN UNLESS YOU ARE A JUNIOR WHO WANTS TO PLAY AT THE NATIONAL TEAMS EVENT

NZ Tennis Junior National Teams Fiasco!

Continuing from from my last article I again must bring to your attention events around the National Junior Teams events.My last blog revealed that Tennis Northern was not sending any teams in any age group and Waikato could not send a 16 girls team. I read with interest an article sent to me from a local Northern Newspaper you can Read here 

For those that have problem opening the link below is the article.

Click on the above and it will open a new window and this will be bigger for reading.What disturbs me is that Local juniors have been let down by administrators at regional level and even at National Level by TNZ.Not only Local juniors but also the Juniors and regions that have supported and fielded teams!

I noticed that parents were unwilling to give their name as repercussions on their children could occur by the powers that be.It has been reported to me that a local Administrator from Northern has used their position to threaten outspoken parents before.

A major concern of mine is the new Strategy papers 

LINK 1

LINK 2

LINK 3

All papers have been signed off by regional body's but with very little consultation with their regions. I am led to believe that emails had been sent by TNZ and informed that they were available for reading on the tnz WEBSITE.

So was this just one person signing off without out good discussion with local representatives? Surely someone would of picked up on that the Teams event was not even worth mentioning and did not rate in their competition pathways or Hp strategy.

I have read all papers and will make a special blog re these, but let me say I am dissapointed and on the surface appears little substance.

Ok moving on if you feel strongly re the JUNIOR TEAMS EVENT please sign this petition!

Hello!
I've started the petition "Tennis New Zealand and Regional Bodies: Provide the support and funding that the National Junior teams events deserve.To make sure this competition is placed in their junior and HP programs pathways." and need your help to get it off the ground.

Will you take 30 seconds to sign it right now? Here's the link:

You can comment on this article by using the comments section on this particular post.

Rest In Peace NZ National Junior Teams Events.

In March 2013 I wrote an article in regards to the National Junior Teams events , you can read this here titled by clicking on the title.

National Junior Teams Event a Positive but receives little support from TNZ.

I have always had the view that Tennis New Zealand never valued this event and does not understand why it should be one of the events to receive financial support and backing by the governing body.I know that many juniors play tennis,go to tournaments seek extra coaching to make their regional team to play at Nationals its a great goal for most junior players wanting to take their tennis to the next level.

For an isolated region such as the Southern Region ,Juniors making teams for Nationals are inspired by this event to keep playing tennis , take events such as this out of the pathway then you will lose juniors to other sports.

This year Tennis Northern one of the 6 regions has indicated they are not sending any Junior teams to this event in any age groups. Waikato another one of the 6 regions are not sending a 16 girls team to this event in April.

First of all I have read the excuses and all I can say is SHAME!  your feeble excuses do not add up. I can remember when they condensed the regions from 8 to 6 for the better of the game, a move that has not worked especially when two main players cannot field teams.

What Tennis New Zealand fail to realize  this event encompasses all players the elite (nationally ranked) and the juniors not so high on National rankings and rest assure that the Local Tennis communities will be benefiting from the later as Parents and Juniors of ranked players chase unrealistic dreams.The 3 4s and 5s of a regional team are the heart and sole of tennis.. the players that do not want to travel on the pro circuit and are  vital to clubs and associations for local competitions and local events and local tournaments.

OK! I was critical of the regions earlier in my article but it is Tennis New Zealand that needs the biggest serve in devaluing this event.A few years ago they stopped funding regions to help cover costs to send teams. The powers then decided to change the event from January to April ...the reason because all the top ranked Juniors would be available every one knows this has not been the case and just added costs to families to play this event in April.

It always followed a National tournament in January it made sense..more players play the national title event and then follow up by the teams events.Common SENSE for most.

Take a look on the TNZ website and their new Strategy papers that has just as many spelling mistakes as I have on my blog.NOT ONE MENTION IN THEIR PLANS OF THE NATIONAL JUNIOR TEAMS EVENT!. Below is areas of their tennis competitions focus.

The national secondary school Competition is for 

boys, girls and mixed teams across the country. The 

competition gives players the chance to compete 

against some of the best players in the country. 

Teams first play in a Region-wide competition with 

the top two teams in each Region progressing 

through to the national finals. The finals are held 

in different location each year but are always run 

during Easter weekend. The national competition 

and local Inter school competitions will be reviewed 

and revamped if necessary with the singular goal of 

getting more teenagers playing tennis. 

Yes to some extent however Schools competition are just that School competitions you need the next level which are National Teams events built by you regions clubs and associations.

The current state of tennis participation and 

competition in tertiary institutions will be reviewed 

with a view to building a stronger tennis presence 

at universities and polytechnics. The establishment 

of tennis clubs and creating more opportunities 

for regular casual play at both universities and 

polytechnics will be explored to better engage with 

the 450,000 people enrolled in tertiary institutions 

throughout new Zealand.

Good luck with this one! New Zealand Culture shows that this age group has other things on their mind than tennis! You will not break this culture!

The possibility of reviving the once fiercely 

competitive national Tennis League will be 

explored. This national competition once served 

to keep the more competitive adult players in the 

game and inspired people to represent their area. 

A national adult competition will inspire people to 

start or continue playing to compete against each 

other in a bid to become national champions in a 

similar way to the national competitions of other 

sporting codes.

Yep propping up old players and paying them ridiculous amounts to represent a region.I have highlighted a ridiculous statement , get your head out of the sand TNZ you have this with the Junior Teams event and you are instilling what you say at this junior event!.Get rid of the National Junior Teams event! continue not to fund these event !, continue to overlook them in your Junior pathways! then WHY on earth would you have players to play at Adult level!

When I first arrived in New Zealand I was very impressed with the National Junior Teams event, I went on to Win Gold, Silver and Bronze as coach with junior Southern Teams over a 10 year period.I urge the tennis community to value  this event and place more emphasis and create more funding to what is a great event and a highlight of most Junior tennis players sporting goals!

*The Junior National Teams events bring all of New Zealand's regional juniors together playing in 12s 14s 16s boys and girls age group. This year Auckland ,Hamilton and Christchurch are hosting age groups.

For those that Care - Bernard Tomic Update!

'For having had bilateral hip surgery, he's doing very well, a little bit better than I thought he would at this time,'' said Gutierrez, the Australian Open's head physio, who also has extensive AFL experience.

''All the time that we've been working together he's been committed to the treatment, and he knows the importance of it because all his career is just going to hinge on that, and hopefully he will be back soon and be able to play without pain, and regain more flexibility than he used to have.

''He's been very restricted, because tennis being a flexion, or bent-over type of a sport, and him being so tall, his limitations were significant, especially playing on grass and hard courts. It forced him to bend a little bit more than he had to, hence irritating the hip joints a little bit more than you normally would.

''Now he has much more rotation both ways - internal and external - so he'll be able to displace and change direction a little bit better, so I think he'll be much more comfortable with his movement on court … I'm expecting between 20 to 30 per cent on what he had. We're hoping for 30, but 20 would be great.''

Tomic has been swimming and cycling, and recently resumed hitting balls from a largely stationary position. A Monte Carlo comeback suits the time frame, 12 weeks post-operative, and clay the most suitably benign surface.''

Clay is Tomic's worst surface GOOD LUCK

Hope it improves his below form!