My Little Tennis Journey and Ferrero
So, I started trying to play tennis again lately. Just hitting against a wall mostly, sometimes with a buddy. It’s tougher than I remember. My timing is off, everything feels clunky. And it got me thinking about players I used to watch back in the day.
One name that popped into my head was Juan Carlos Ferrero. Man, watching old clips of him, especially on clay, it just looked so smooth. Effortless, you know? He wasn’t the biggest guy, but he had this whip of a forehand and moved so well. Made me think, maybe I could try and copy something simple from his game.
Big mistake, maybe? Haha. Trying to copy a pro when you can barely get the ball over the net consistently is… ambitious. But I went down the rabbit hole anyway. I started really watching his footwork, how he prepared for shots. Here’s basically what I tried to focus on:
- Getting my feet set earlier.
- Trying for a more loopy swing on the forehand, like his.
- Staying lower during rallies (or my attempt at rallies).
Let me tell you, it did not magically transform my game overnight. Not even close. Mostly I just felt awkward. My arm hurt from trying a different swing path. Getting low felt unnatural, my legs weren’t used to it. It’s funny how pros make incredibly difficult things look simple. You watch Ferrero glide around the court, hit perfect angles, and think, “Okay, I see how he did that.” Then you try it, and the ball flies off into the fence, or you trip over your own feet.
Realizing How Hard It Is
It really hammered home how much work goes into playing at that level. It’s not just hitting balls; it’s years and years of specific training, fitness, mental toughness. All that stuff you don’t quite appreciate just watching on TV.
I remember watching him play, must have been Roland Garros one year. He was just relentless, grinding down his opponent. Point after point. You could see the focus. Trying to replicate even a tiny bit of that technique made me respect guys like him way more.
And now you see him coaching Carlos Alcaraz. It’s kinda cool to see that transition. Must be a whole different challenge, trying to pass on that knowledge and experience. Makes me think about trying to teach my kid something simple, how frustrating that can get sometimes. Imagine doing that with world-class tennis!
Anyway, my little Ferrero experiment hasn’t made me a tennis star. Far from it. But it was a fun process. Watching those old matches, trying to break down what made him so good, and then failing miserably to copy it. It gave me a new appreciation for the game, and for players like Ferrero who reached the top. Still gonna keep hitting the wall though, maybe one day that forehand will click… maybe.
