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Is it Time for Clay in Hawaii?

Foundation member Stan Taylor recently had the opportunity to meet and speak with Jose Higueras, former ATP pro and current USTA high performance pro and touring coach.

While at the Gene Autry Sports Complex in Mesa, AZ, Taylor asked José for his perspective on how and why Roger Federer does what he does. Higueras complimented Federer by asserting that he has never seen anyone who understands the game as well as Federer. Federer's court positioning and knowledge of what shots opponents are not comfortable with allows him to play his own strengths. Also, Higueras noted that Federer has a solid all-around game, serve, groundstrokes, volleys, and overhead with no real visible imbalances or holes to attack.

Taylor also asked about development, specifically what weapons should a player develop in the 12-16 age group. Higueras believes recommends that a player focus on becoming a complete player rather than precisely defining a gamestyle, refining a particular stroke, or even concentrating on winning matches. He said that the more balanced you are, the more comfortable you will be when playing against other game styles and types of players.

In answering a question as to why there were so few American men on the ATP top 100 (on a relative basis), Higueras replied that the way the game is taught in Europe and South America may be the principle reason. Learning to play on clay emphasizes movement, strategy, conditioning and solid stroke technique. With the solid foundation of technical skills and the cerebral nature of point construction that clay court tennis mandates, players can more easily transfer those skills to success on faster surfaces.

Currently Hawaii has no publicly accessible clay courts. Isn't it time for us to all work together to develop that potential? There is certainly a lot of red clay on our islands.

Let us know what you think.

Mark Beede, Executive Director
beede@hawaiitennis.org

Comments to article:
Stan Bautista
J.T. Ash

  
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