Oso planning to go pro
It’s being looked into as we speak. JJ Wolf from Cincinnati, Ohio, Ohio St. One of the former top Juniors and top college player, won his first round match at age 21 at the U.S. Open this year...Several photos have emerged some alone, some with friends where he is either playing the Circle Game, or flashing White Power signs. Neither is a good look for him. I can say a few of the American Men’s players have some outspoken extreme right wing views, including Sandgren, Harrison, even Isner.
The stereotype of tennis players would indicate that but I don't follow the sport to have known those things. Wolf popped into my feed because the last few years has seen a plethora of teen to twenties doing it and some are naive, some are willing, and doesn't seem to fade away.
With regards to American Tennis Players, or tennis players in general, those few guys and a few more standout because it is actually very different from many others and their beliefs. Very. The U.S. Open has gone way out of its way to make it clear they are 100% supportive of Black Lives. Billie Jean KIng, Martina Navratilova, Chrissie Evert, John McEnroe, Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, on and on outspoken supporters, not to mention a growing long list of black players... historically and currently have been very progressive on these issues. Agassi for example has raised several hundred million dollars and has helped open over 80 charter schools across the country for Black and Hispanic children. Many modern era current and recently retired players are very progressive on these issues. The bulk of Roger Federer's foundation does work in Africa. Some individual people are more outspoken than others. Others do more speaking with their actions. Andy Murray is one of the more insightful speakers on many of these issues. He's also a huge champion for Women and other issues. Is the stereotype you have in your head wealthy White suburban Conservative American Country Club kids? Professional tennis, and, even Junior tennis is way larger than that. Professional tennis is truly a Global sport, very diverse racially, socio-economically, etc...But yes there is a small group of American Men's tennis players who's ideologies would raise some eyebrows, yes. But just about all of the American Men's players on tour are friends with each other regardless of those views. The American women players are on average very progressive. You may find a different isolated example here or there..You will definitely find a some othere who just don't like to speak up/share their views publicly. There are way more Black and Asian professional tennis players than in the oast. Those two segments stand out quite a bit racially for growth, which is good for the sport.There's a podcast called "Behind The Racquet".... where professional tennis players speak in their own words. It's run by fledgling American professional tennis player and New Yorker Noah Rubin and a few others.... They also sell merchandise (Noah and his girlfriend) where 30% of every sale goes to NAMI NYC which is a great cause. Many issues are covered at various points. Worth checking out some time.
This is a good rundown. Thank you. I suppose most of my stereotype is limited to American men's players. Certainly the big name international guys are known enough to have heard of their efforts and causes but since we've had a lull in top level title winning Americans over the last decade or so the news items tend to be negative which fills in the blanks for me. Happy to read there's a push to open up access as you never know where the next champion is living.
The Shapo-Fritz match was INSANE. What a comeback. Shapo looked dead to rights, figured even when he was up 40:15 with Fritz serving for the match that he’d fade like he had. But then he finished the game, got through a nervy service game to even it at 5-5, then blew Fritz away in the 5th after sneaking through the tiebreak. Rough for another young American talent but Shapo is one of my favorite guys to watch. His backhand is amazing and he plays with a surplus of emotion and energy
25 year old American Jen Brady becomes the first former college tennis player (UCLA) to make the U.S. Open Women’s singles Quarterfinals since 1994, with a convincing 6-1,6-4 win over Former World Number 1 and 3 time Grand Slam Champion Angie Kerber. She took a chance and spent the off season in Germany with a new coach, new physio. Different player. Playing lights out tennis for some time. Big serve, added a kicker, big forehand, pace, depth, margin. Wins over Sharapova, Barty, Muguruza, Svitolina, Gauff, Garcia, Kerber, on and on this season.
If she keeps advancing and eventually will face Williams, I can hear the pre-match interview already:EVERT: "You are playing a great opponent next. What do you think of her?"JEN BRADY: "Serena! Serena! Serena!"