The Jensen Zone: Destination … Tennis!
Hello Jensen Zoners … greetings from London, England!
I’m not sure if you travel to tennis events around the world, but I highly encourage you to add to your bucket list any number of massive tennis events. I have one that is very unique and fun to be a part of.
The Nitto ATP Finals in London has become one of my aces to attend. I just finished the experience and I am all in London in November. Compared to most events that are one and done for your favorite tennis stars, the Nitto ATP Finals is a round-robin competition where you can see Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and others in three matches, barring injury. Rafa pulled out of the event after the first match in round-robin play due to injury.
Another great advantage is there are only eight of the top 10 players in the ATP Rankings invited to compete. So if you come to watch, you will see the best versus the best from the first to last ball. There is also doubles play in the mix with the top eight teams going for the world title.
I played in this event when it was in South Africa in the 1990s. It was so much fun! It’s really competitive and intense, with big money and ATP ranking points on the line in every match.
The ATP is starting its run of celebrations over the next few years with the Open Era of tennis turning 50-years-old. Back before 1968, if a player turned pro, he or she couldn’t play in Grand Slams. After 1968, both pros and amateurs competed at the biggest tournaments. Arthur Ashe won the first Open Grand Slam in New York. The birth of the U.S. Open! Ashe was still in the U.S. Army and an amateur player when he won. He couldn’t collect the $14,000 winning check. Today, the winner of the U.S. Open men’s or women’s event earns $3.9 million!
Tennis has sure come a long way! With the changing of the legendary old guard passing the torch over the next five years, it will be fun to watch and see what stars shine the brightest of the young talents playing the game.
Now, for your Jensen Zone tennis technique tip …
How many of you want a little more bite and pop in your forehand groundstroke? Many players I observe lose a ton of opportunity to hit a bigger forehand because they lock their wrist at impact with the ball. I’ve been producing some really good results in helping players at all levels to unlocking this stiff wrist by making players aware of the hidden power in an enhanced wrist snap through the contact point.
So many of these locked up players were not aware how stiff they were at the point of contact with the ball. I stress that they look at the swing as more of a whip than a stable point of contact. At first, the balls fly around like bottle rockets until the player dials it back and finds the range with the new found power.
Next time you go out to hit, unlock that forehand with a wrist snap Rafa would be proud of!
See you on the courts!
