BORDEAUX

Saturday, 23 November 2013

'BORDEAUX' (Europe 1991 Part 6)

The beautiful French City of Bordeaux , population 235 ,000 plus , in South Western France  is known to many as 'The World's Wine Capital', it bottles 700 million bottles each year , didn't mean much to Brett , Pete or myself , we were there to play Tennis. Not quite sure why we went to Bordeaux but i am glad we did , for a few reasons but the night we had at The Bordeaux pub after we had all got beaten in the local Tournament was a night to remember. 
The local Bordeaux Tennis Tournament was played on clay , the setting was simply magnificent, I wished i had taken some photos, some things in life you simply take for granted , especially when you are 21. I do remember playing a Frenchman who knew how to play on the red dirt though and i received an 'education', you learn more from a loss than a win , I was a real 'student' at this Tournament. From memory Pete and Brett also lost early , so what do 3 young fellows from Oz do when they need to drown their sorrows ? You got it , find a pub. Now the watering hole we found was no ordinary pub , it had a screen on the wall large enough to be a Cinema , at the time it was playing Surfing footage , a nice feel as we walked in and ordered a round of beers . I don't recall what we ordered however it got the 'fluent French' going and it didn't take long to start 'chatting up' the local French ladies . When a French woman speaks it is a sound to behold , they have a way about them that is ever so petite and simply elegant , so much so that i do remember vividly telling one that i simply 'loved her', was it the beer talking or my heart? probably the beer. 
We were in the pub with maybe 5 other Australian Tennis players and the feel that night was that we were '10 foot tall and water proof' , something that would've come in handy as we engaged in a beer fight on the way to the outside toilets towards the end of the night. Not sure why we didn't get kicked out , but hey if we were challenged i believe that 'ignorance' may just have helped us out of trouble . We played in the same Tournament as an Australian female player named Sissy Carvin, she was 16 at the time but somehow she made it through the rather lame security check with her older brother George . Not sure what happened to Sissy , I do know she broke inside the top World 700 for Women , after that it's a mystery , that night at the Bordeaux pub though where Sissy left as though she had been in a shower , courtesy of the beer fight, may just be one of her more 'unique' experiences on the Tennis circuit.
Probably the highlight of the trip to Bordeaux was the anticipation towards the comeback of Tennis Great Bjorn Borg , a match we watched on a tv in the local Sporting Club , Brett and Pete even had a bet on it . After Borg hit the second shot of the match past his extremely younger opponent Brett upped the bet , Pete accepted , it was to be the Great Man's last hurrah and Jordi Arrese from Spain won easily , the fairy tale was not meant to be . 
Bordeaux is a beautiful French town , it is famous for wineries , if i were to visit there again i think it would be to take in more of the scenery but i would make two visits in particular, the first , the  Tennis Club that was a postcard. Secondly the Bordeaux pub , a place that if it's walls talked i am sure would reminisce about some strange Aussies who spoke 'pigeon English' , threw beer at each other and told the local girls they were 'loved' , a night to remember......

CHRISTIAN SEGNI Chapter 10

Monday, 28 April 2014

'CHRISTIAN SEGNI'

Firstly , an apology, to a player from Argentina named Christian Segni. Last October I wrote a post on this site and  referred to Christian as 'Guillermo', however I can be excused for this. Guillermo is one of those Argentinian names that is not unlike John or Bill in Australia so I may have just assumed this guy's first name was Guillermo, anyhow back to the story. I made reference to Segni in a chapter from my memory of Saumur , a beautiful French City and where Peter, Brett and myself played our first European Tournament in 1991. The tennis centre at Saumur was magnificent , from memory 16 indoor clay courts , all under lights and all in brilliant condition, a real eye opener for us Aussies.
After a day of practice we sat back and watched the international players train , there were some brilliant tennis players entered in the Saumur Tournament from all around Europe. We tried to fit in with some occasional pidgin English but we were always caught short when it came to having a conversation with a French player. 'Ok mate we will have to leave it there'...... or words to that effect anyhow.
I still vividly remember watching the player who is in fact named Christian ,( not Guillermo) Segni  both in practice and in his first round match , he was entertainment plus. Christian had one of those forehands that you would give anything to have had footage of so you could show your pupils back home, it was in a word , brilliant. It was lethal, it had spin, depth, power and consistency all rolled into one magnificent shot.

It was a shot had his opponents trying to not only run it down but to return it  back into court to his backhand side which wasn't as strong. He hit slice from that side, a good slice, not unlike many European clay courters, steady, reliable but not brilliant by any means. It was not like Federer's backhand slice that could set a point up for a winning volley.
The first round match that Segni played in Saumur was a challenge for him, there weren't any easy matches so we got to see plenty of Christian's forehands. The Argentine also had a funny habit, he would look to the stands after each point that he won. He would stare up at his mates who were cheering him on, he was after some acknowledgement, he received it, he deserved it.

Of all the players I observed in Europe on that 1991 tour Christian Segni stood out from the rest as his play was exhilarating and he was fit, he had to be to keep running around his backhand to hit that magnificent forehand. I often wondered how Christian went with his tennis.
The internet is a wonderful way of finding out past results and I did some research into Christian Segni, this is what I found out about him.
He in fact recently reached World Number 1 for his age group 40's , not surprisingly either if he's still hitting that forehand like he did in 91.
Christian Segni is a typical example of a player who didn't quite make it as a professional player but still had the desire to get to the top in his sport. Segni is in the same mould as Brett who also reached the pinnacle in the world for his age recently.
I wondered how Christian faired in that first tournament we saw him play , if he didn't win it I would be surprised , it would've taken a great player to beat him.
Christian , if ever you read this firstly I apologize for calling you Guillermo and secondly thank you for leaving such an impression on both myself and my Aussie mates all those years ago in Saumur , France .Well done on reaching World Number 1 for your age and keep hitting those forehands like you did in 1991, absolutely inspirational.........

'SAUMUR, FRANCE' CHAPTER 9

I spent the rest of that day in Paris visiting the Eiffel Tower and taking in the beauty of the City, it was a long way from Albany and like nowhere that I had ever seen. Just as the stadium at Roland Garros overawed me, Paris was a place of architectural magnificence that you cannot describe in words and give it any justice.
I took a three hour train ride to a town called Saumur for my first European tennis tournament on the clay. Brett and Pete had already arrived a day or two earlier after having issues with a vehicle they had purchased in London, the engine blew up apparently. I was glad I didn't go three ways in the cost of it as it was something we had discussed before leaving Perth. They turned up in Saumur with a cheaper version of a vehicle that was named affectionately 'Le Car' as that was engraved on a badge on the side of the car. It was tiny.
After our initial 'how the hell are ya's?' we had a bite to eat and hit some tennis balls, the clay felt as comfortable to me as a hard court back home, maybe even more comfortable. It was a slower surface and it gave me plenty of time for my big swings. I remember doing some two on one drills then played a practice set against Pete which I won 6-4, I never forget a score. I felt confident going into the tournament three days later where I was drawn to meet a German by the name of Anton Vanderfyfer, an opponent with an intimidating name.
I actually had a hit with Anton the day before the draw came out and he didn't really scare me that much but he was steady, like most players. After day one of practice we headed into the town of Saumur for some sight seeing, it was picturesque, just how I imagined all towns to be in France, many cobble stones, many bakeries. France has a unique way of making everything simple look so ridiculously appealing. 
 I didn't keep a diary, none of us did so all of this information is off the top of my head however I am certain it is all 100 per cent correct. Brett and Pete may disagree but I am sticking to my story. The day before the tournament was one of both training and relaxation taking in the sights, the right mix we all felt to help us deal with the rather daunting challenge of playing against Europeans for the very first time.
My most vivid memory of the tournament was in fact watching an Argentine player by the name of Christian Segni, a remarkably talented player who owned a forehand that was World class. Rather than go through all the details I will add the chapter that I posted on my site that explained Christian's game, it was entertaining to say the least.
My match against Vanderfyfer went three sets as did Brett's and Pete's, we all lost but we were competitive. I lead 2-0 in the third and won just one more game, a bad habit I developed as a junior where I saw the finish line way too early. My victory speeches were often written in my head on a break up in the final set.
Brett's match was outstanding against a Frenchman who was totally confused with BP's tactics of coming to the net on anything that resembled a short ball. I recall the French player yelling in frustration at one point where Brett had defied logic and retrieved another sure passing shot and volleyed it for a winner. The French weren't used to seeing an opponent at the net other than to shake hands.
That night we decided to go into town and have a beer where we caught up with two Aussie girls who were in Saumur for an Equestrian event. I still remember their names as Katie and Penny, nothing wrong with my memory. We had a drink with them at a local bar until 5 rather loud English girls turned up and we switched to them for a bit more chit chat, they were hilarious. For some reason they treated us as 'celebrities' due to our Aussie accent that they found some what appealing.
We took three of them back to the Saumur Tennis Club for some more drinks and a hit of 'tennis under the influence' which looking back on was rather bold of us. We had the key to the club where the organizers let us sleep on the lounges and they trusted us to do the right thing ! Someone forgot to lock the beer fridge so without much hesitation we grabbed a few ales and hit some tennis balls with the English girls under the lights.
I am sure it was a night that they would talk about to their friends back home where meeting three Aussie tennis  'junkies' at a pub in France turned into a late night drive back to a tennis club for a night with a difference. Disappointed we didn't take names and numbers as Facebook may have joined us all back up for a few laughs many years later. Girls if ever you read this book ......

'THREE DUCKS HOSTEL, PARIS' CHAPTER 7

 I arrived in Paris on ..... 1991 and promptly had to find some accommodation. I had around two days to kill until I caught up with Brett and Pete for the initial tournament in Saummur, a .... bus ride from Paris. The following is my initial view on Paris and a place called the Three Ducks Hostel...

Tuesday, 1 July 2014

'3 DUCKS HOSTEL PARIS'

 Arriving in Paris in April 1991 is still vivid in my memory bank, visions of cafe's on every corner and alley ways made of cobble stones.
The thing that hits you about Paris is the way a movie scene could be made about simply walking down a street and buying a ham and cheese croissant  plus an oranjina to wash it down with. It's the way people live, in apartments overlooking other apartments but with a pot plant on the balcony and shutters on the windows. In Paris however it's so much more glamorous than if it were any where else in the World. 
I witnessed a cat on a lead outside 'La Poste', a Paris Post office, I raised my eyebrows, I thought only dogs were meant to be on a lead, especially in a City, but in Paris, well.....
Finding a place to stay in Paris isn't impossible but you have to be a little lucky also because Paris doesn't have an 'off time', it's always busy. So it was quite by chance that as I walked along a busy street I stumbled upon a rather French looking place of accommodation by the name of 'Three Ducks Hostel'.
"Parlez-vouz Anglais", (I think that's how you spell it) " Do you speak English"? 'Wee' "I wish to stay here for one, maybe two nights, what's my chances"? 'Very good, welcome to Three Ducks Hostel Paris'. Now that was music to an Aussie's ears. The court yard in this particular place was one that I will not forget, it was simply magnificent, with rooms off to the side. It was just what I had imagined my first place of accommodation in Paris to be like.
After being shown my room I went for a walk, hoping that I would remember the way home , I was after that one thing to 'walk the walk' in Paris on that first night. I didn't just want to talk 'pidgin English' and find a Macca's somewhere, Paris is full of Mcdonalds stores. I wanted something special, something that sounded French even if it tasted ordinary.
I found the equivalent of a late night deli, I found an aisle that looked very French and I picked up a can of Ravioli ( OK so it was an Italian food, I didn't know this at the time, it sounded French). I think it cost me five francs.  So could I find my way back to the Three Ducks Hostel ? You betcha , I walked into that place like a rock star into an arena, can of Ravioli in hand, ready to 'rock'. I cooked it on a stove in the kitchen and ate it in the court yard of a place that back home would seem 'run of the mill'.

In Paris however it was so much more, a place of romance and beauty that no other part of the World can reproduce. I had made it to the home of the Eiffel Tower, a long way from my home back in Albany Western Australia.
My days of hitting tennis balls on the brick garage wall at my parents house had finally delivered me to a destination that I had only ever dreamed of visiting. Tennis can take you places......

'THE TENNIS NOBODY' A European Experience

My lack of respect for the 'Facebook Tennis Coach' was quite possibly developed from my trip of a life time to Europe in 1991 to play a series of Money Tournaments. I travelled from Perth with Brett Patten and Peter Gerrans, two WA tennis champions who were a couple of years younger than me but were of a higher standard.
In saying that however I beat Brett  comfortably in a practice session just before leaving (BP has forgotten the loss) and I also beat Pete in a practice set on arrival in Paris. Their tournament results though in Perth were outstanding, I think they were just trying to boost my confidence so I would be happy to travel with them as their 'father figure'.
Brett would go on to become the World's Number 1 ranked player for age 35 to 40 and Pete would become a successful tennis coach. The three of us had to get along in a foreign land where people spoke pidgin English and asking for a beer was at times hard work given that our French vocabulary was limited.
As a 21 year old I do not even know what possessed me to contest that series of events however I feel that I was at the cross road in my life. I didn't want to get a real job and I felt I had a reasonable enough game to help pay my way through Europe. Boy was I wrong ! I have stated at times on my blog that the European trip gave me a view on the game that I will always remember as 'realistic', a view that I take to coaching and one that I take with me in every match I still play as an 'old bloke'.
These views are the ones I wish that the 'Facebook Guru's' would also adopt because they are views that may just help them with their teaching in the future. If you have never seen the best of the rest play then you have a perception of the game that lacks a middle part. If all you have seen is the junior level and the pros then how can you gain a real idea on the progressive nature of the sport particularly if you are teaching it and offering it as a 'career' ?
The standard I witnessed in Europe in '91 was in a word 'intimidating' because the players were just so good, even the juniors. The touring squads from many different countries were inspirational to watch as they trained prior to tournaments. It's where I received many ideas on drills to give to my own students as I have never given drills from a text book.
My way of teaching tennis has always been basic without complication. If it happens in a match then we will practice it with the appropriate drills, simple. I learned a lot in Europe about standard required and perhaps some don't like my rather brutal assessment of certain players but I am glad I witnessed that level in Europe as it gave me a picture of the game that I believe to be clear; Don't glamourize the brutal nature of tennis, be honest even if you upset people with your assessment of it. That way you can never be accused of selling false hope. That's my motto.
The following is my initial view on Europe and the fun and games we all had from the outset. Reliving Europe '91 was a trip down memory lane and despite the many arguments and differences of opinion we all had a pretty good time. I was not treated with the 'respect' I felt I deserved for being the old bloke on the tour however at times I asserted my 'authority' as you will read. Good fun....

'THE TENNIS NOBODY' 1

Chapter 1
I could have titled this book anything, including 'Glenn Thompson Tennis' however that had as much chance of selling a copy as I have of making the main draw of next year's French Open. So I thought I would call it something that came about from a reply to a complaint, I have had several, but let me clear this up.
I have taught the sport of tennis in Albany since I was 19 years of age, for two years initially then again 12 years later after time spent in Perth, Brisbane and even Europe. On my return to Albany in 2000 I took up coaching again at the Emu Point Tennis Club, a long stone's throw from the beach at one of Albany's most popular beaches. After several years at Emu Point I moved back to my old club in town, the Lawley Park Tennis Club, a club overlooking the boat harbor with eye catching views.
Many years later a good mate of mine Ben Reynolds, a photographer explained the benefits of a blog and how it could help with business and selling my product, tennis tuition. I thought it was a good idea so an initial blog was set up but the entries on it were few and far between, I was basically not interested in 'keeping up with the Joneses'. The blog died a slow death, sorry Ben I did appreciate your efforts.
 Several years later the idea of advertising appealed once again so the Glenn Thompson Tennis Technique blog was born and a few ads in the paper gave the public a site to look at regarding who I was and what I was offering in regards to tennis.
Initially I just put some things on it to explain who I was, where I had been, my experience in the game and even my philosophies on tennis. This all changed when I developed a personal need to vent my frustrations at the game and how I felt it was turning into a 'Circus'.
By this I mean that I was seeing all sorts of things written about the game and self promotion from people who were 'teaching' it who lacked the experience to do so. I referred to them as 'Facebook Tennis Coaches', ones who had not been out of their back yards but who offered all sorts including a 'career' from the game ! I am still not certain as to what they meant from this however offering tennis as a 'career' surely is the same as offering the same odds as a needle in a haystack.
Many of my rather brutal assessments attracted some unwanted attention, none more so than from the local association President who asked me to join him and a Club President for a 'chat'. I was told that I had been a 'naughty boy' and that the content on my blog could perhaps receive a 'tweak'.
I did my best and sent off a letter of apology to the people who I offended. Personally though I still felt the chapter needed to be written as it exposed a situation locally that I still consider to this day to be a farce of epic proportions ( I won't go into it for fear of legal repercussions). Anyhow I was off the hook so to speak, free to write albeit a little more carefully.
My next complaint actually came from a Tennis Coach who took offence to something I had written, someone who had obviously been given my site's address and someone who felt they were being targeted by my content. I had heard of this person and I felt a little uncomfortable with their complaint as I knew they weren't a 'Facebook' coach so I got back in touch, politely.
I explained who I was and why I write what I do, in fact I sent back the equivalent of an A4 size piece of paper with many examples of why I am argumentative toward certain people and organizations. No reply. I did in fact send this person a congratulations not long ago for not only 'talking the talk' but for 'walking the walk' as they won a tennis tournament against some fairly decent opposition.
I was genuine in my praise for this person as my views on 'Facebook Tennis Coaches' remain, they look and sound great but they really don't know much about tennis. Most of them are too frightened to play a tournament as they may just be exposed for who they really are.
I think this person and I are now 'cool', I hope so as I do not target the 'real' coaches of this sport. The coach in question sent me back a thank you and basically said 'no hard feelings', so I believe I have been forgiven. Personally I have never stated that I am a 'guru' of the sport, quite the opposite really, I just have a view on it that I have acquired over the last 33 years of playing it.
I have never charged more than $40 for a tennis lesson and the only reason I once charged that amount was because that figure was suggested. A Production Company was in town and they needed their lead actress to look as though she knew how to play tennis for one of their scenes,I was happy to oblige.
Briony Stewart from the series 'Lochie Lennard' knew less than nothing about tennis (sorry Briony) but by the end of her second session she was looking like someone who knew a little bit. I asked the company how much I should charge and they told me surfing was costing them $50 to learn per hour so I dropped it by ten bucks.
I didn't even get a mention in the credits of that episode but it was a great tennis scene and Briony looked like Sharapova on the service action. Perhaps my only claim to fame in the sport but one I was and am still proud of.
I have never produced a champion, probably never will but not many coaches do, it's a tough sport to teach, a tougher sport to play. I am a tennis realist in a needle in a haystack type of sport where the odds of even winning your local championship are slim.
I write about this sport because I have always felt that tennis has a mystique about it that most sports do not. It's more a mind game than anything else and my mind is like a tin of worms, always has been since I was a kid. It's helped me in some ways, hindered me in others but I am who I am, a nobody of the game who ended up winning a tennis tournament not far from Paris.
I am just another tennis junkie who had a go at the highest level before the pros but fell short due to lack of ability and failure of mind. One of many.....

'THE TENNIS NOBODY' Introduction

INTRODUCTION
I have often said on my Tennis Blog that I consider myself to be a 'tennis nobody' because on a scale of tennis talent I would register as fairly average. That's not to say I can't play tennis, in fact I think I am getting better as I age, perhaps I am gaining the knowledge that I wish I owned many years earlier.
So who am I ? I am Glenn Thompson, age 46, I live in Albany, Western  Australia and I have coached tennis since I was 18 years of age. I have played since I was 12. My journey in tennis took me from hitting on a wall at my parents house to Europe in 1991 where I saw first hand just how tough the sport of tennis can be, physically and mentally. I played a series of tournaments that gave me a philosophical view on the game that I take into every lesson and every match that I still play.
The following pages include many chapters that I have  posted on my site over the last three years plus theories and philosophies on the game that I believe in. I can't back it all up unfortunately with stories of big personal  tournament wins but I can give an insight into just how tough the game is.  
It can also be rewarding. Many of the chapters I have included are factual events that took place between three mates, 'tennis junkies' who dared to dream.
I hope you enjoy this story as much as I have enjoyed putting it together. If nothing else it has filled in some time over the off season.......