A common question parents ask themselves is how involved should I be with my child’s sports? On one hand, you don’t want to be that overbearing parent who micromanages your kids sports career. On the other however, you feel like you know what’s best for your child and if it means stepping on the court to shape their tennis career then so be it. It’s a difficult path to navigate especially if your child develops as a player and becomes a tennis star. Here are some examples of tennis fathers who propelled their children, and others who stunted them.
Marion Bartoli & Her Father Walter
Walter Bartoli, Marion Bartoli’s father and long time time coach, gave up his profession as a doctor to coach her. Since he was more of a recreational tennis player, he had to teach himself the technical side of the game. He believes however, since he was not encumbered by a conventional teaching methods his unique approach worked for what Marion’s tennis game needed. Within practice sessions, he focused on complex drills using self-designed devices proving he developed a grasp of the game.
While Marion was playing a match, you could always see him gesticulating from the crowd, and from time to time, changing seats to better get his point across. She even declined a spot on the French Fed Cup and Olympics team because she would not be able to use her father as her coach.
In 2013 however, they decided not to travel together anymore. In turn she won the Wimbledon Championships and retired only a few months later. Who knows if such unparalleled success was because of her father’s coaching over the years or because he was no longer with her as a coach.
Bernard Tomic & His Father John
John Tomic’s father never played professional tennis but nevertheless decided to take on the job of coaching Bernard. Initially it appeared that he had what it took to be a top level coach, with Tomic being touted as an up and coming player. The now 21 year old Bernard made it to the Wimbledon quarterfinals in 2011 becoming the youngest quarterfinalist at Wimbledon since Boris Becker in 1986.
The good times didn’t last long however. The first big clash between father and son came in 2012’s Sony Ericsson Open. After becoming annoyed with his father giving him advice from the stands, Bernard asked the chair umpire during a changeover to have his dad removed from the stands.
This incident didn’t quite serve as as a lesson considering last May John headbutt one of Bernard’s hitting partners, Thomas Drouet, last year outside a player’s hotel in Madrid. Needless to say Tomic’s father has been more of a distraction than a mentor. Tomic sits depressingly at number #72 in the world only a few years just outside the top 25.
Serena, Venus Williams & Dad Richard
Probably the most famous tennis father in the modern game is Richard Williams. As the story goes, Richard saw Virginia Ruzici playing a match on TV and decided at that moment that his daughters should have the chance to become tennis pros as well. He started by teaching himself and his wife in order to properly teach his children once they were ready to take up the game. Growing up in Compton, CA there were no academies available which forced them to hone their skills on the public courts with dead balls.
In order to motivate them and build up their self-confidence, he created homemade signs with inspirational quotes that he put up before each training sessions (he still does that). He always made sure to let them know they were the best, on and off the court. Richard is a bit of a notorious character but obviously he knew what he was doing considering the Williams sisters will go down as two of the greatest players ever.
