Some of the pros turned commentators have observed that the young Alcacraz will become in the years ahead somewhat less exciting to watch. Their reasoning is that Juan Carlos Ferrero and staff will train him to be more disciplined and thus take less chances. I am thankful to be able to see him play now and evolve into what he is becoming.
When Camus first visited New York, he noticed how Americans were always smiling, something he probably wasn't used to in Paris. You have a kindred spirit in him. Nails look good!
Thanks for the wonderful insights into how losses can be longer term investments for elite athletes. I get you, Andrea. People are NOT rational actors, and any theorist who starts out with that assumption as a foundation should be viewed with suspicion! Thing that makes me happy: Andrea Petkovic called out Adam Smith on Substack. Thing that makes me unhappy: Some of her readers want to 'splain economics to my favorite tennis commentator on her very own Substack. It's like thinking they could win a game off of her. . .
Hoping for the day when you move from Tennis Channel to ESPN (or one of he eventual streamers who take over) so we can see/hear you on a more regular basis!
Indeed it was a very sad attempt. Thanks for making it free but you’re also hoping get subscribers for $80 per year. Capitalism is the natural way of the free world. You’re communicating here on Substack, a medium created by Chris Best, Jairaj Sethi and Hamish McKenzie— three young capitalists wanting to make money. Socialism is efficient at creating only one thing—poverty. I can recommend some fantastic books on the subject if you’d consider perusing them. FYI I’m a libertarian and am pleased to say I’ve brought several ATP friends over from the dark side, including a former Top 10. :-)
"The world’s perpetual paradox: He that has plenty of goods shall have more. In tennis terms you might want to coin it differently. He that has plenty of ranking points shall play less and rest more and henceforth will forever have more ranking points."
I remember learning in the mid 80s that some of the top pros, obviously already earning a pretty good living, were training at Bolletieri's for free, with accommodations and amenities for their partners included. That generated my personal saying, "Them that's got, get."
Perhaps you can clarify something for me Andrea? You talk about coaches; are coaches with players day in, day out throughout a season? I mean do they just agree to work with a player for a certain number of days throughout a season or at certain tournaments? I'm just wondering what the reality of this close involvement means. Thank you in advance.
hi chris, it really depends on the agreement. some coaches are there, day in day out, you will see that often times around younger players who still need more guidance than more experienced players. it also depends on the financial possibilities of the player. the lower ranked the harder to afford a coach for the entire year. often times, you have agreements tgat involve 15-20 weeks per year and the player can choose which weeks are most important to them. hope this helps :)
Defining capitalism a place where people voluntarily make exchange goods and by this creating wealth, I don't think at all Adam Smith was wrong at all as the wellbeing of the people in the countries which allowed the free market is at unprecedented level. The issues today the governments close their eyes to what corporations do and sometimes they work hand in hand creating more barriers or bureaucracy for small businesses. I grew up in communist and poor Romania therefore I consider important to see these things . Germany wouldn't have been able to support a part of your career (via tennis federation) if it wasn't a
capitalist country because it could have the money (taken from taxes) to do so
i’m genuinely confused as to why some of you think i’m anti-capitalist. i was a tennis player for 16 years, the most inherently capitalist sport there is. this quote - “Adam Smith came up with an entire economical model assuming human beings are rational, then capitalism was born and soon the world will perish because of it. I guess that’s a rather simplified version of historical events but to be fair, I’m a tennis player not a historian and it serves the bottom line which is: People don’t make rational choices.” - is so obviously not what happened that i thought it was clear enough to be a joke. i even say “i guess that’s a rather simplified version of events” pointing to the ridiculousness of this conclusion. my posts are mostly humurous in tone - i thought that very apparent.
It's all fine, since Danny Kanahman and his work on behavioral economics will save us! (I can't believe I'm referencing behavioral economics into a tennis blog 🙃)
Question? For the top players (say top 10-20, their focus seems to be on peaking four times a year.
Federer, for example, would regularly show up to tournaments a month before a major looking to get play through the rust.
Is the problem for everyone else, how to schedule when you are losing 1st or 2nd round week to week? Or on the other hand what happens to their schedule if they make a deep run?
For the players ranked 30-50 is it a different reality? 50-100? Are you still mixing in Challengers to keep your ranking up?
I'd love to hear you thoughts as your ranking ascended and descended?
i would probably need another 1000 words to explain everything in depth. but you are basically a 100% right. the higher ranked the players are the more they schedule around the 4 major tournament. for the lower ranked players it is often times survival from week to week, hoping a big result will happen eventually - if it comes at a major tournament, even better, but it’s definitely less structured and can happen at any time. i hope this helps a little bit!
Always good to read the thoughts of someone who actually thinks and can enunciate their thoughts into words and sentences that make one think.
Some of the pros turned commentators have observed that the young Alcacraz will become in the years ahead somewhat less exciting to watch. Their reasoning is that Juan Carlos Ferrero and staff will train him to be more disciplined and thus take less chances. I am thankful to be able to see him play now and evolve into what he is becoming.
When Camus first visited New York, he noticed how Americans were always smiling, something he probably wasn't used to in Paris. You have a kindred spirit in him. Nails look good!
Thanks for the wonderful insights into how losses can be longer term investments for elite athletes. I get you, Andrea. People are NOT rational actors, and any theorist who starts out with that assumption as a foundation should be viewed with suspicion! Thing that makes me happy: Andrea Petkovic called out Adam Smith on Substack. Thing that makes me unhappy: Some of her readers want to 'splain economics to my favorite tennis commentator on her very own Substack. It's like thinking they could win a game off of her. . .
hahahahaha
As always very educational and fun. How was Greece?
so GREAT 💙
If you are interested, I wrote this story/essay of a time in Greece when I was a boy. https://westonpparker.substack.com/p/running-with-samson
Nice analysis of the cycles of capitalism, along with its application to tennis.
Good stuff.
Actually the analysis addresses the corporatism issues and not capitalism therefore has some mistakes in it. :)
Hoping for the day when you move from Tennis Channel to ESPN (or one of he eventual streamers who take over) so we can see/hear you on a more regular basis!
Indeed it was a very sad attempt. Thanks for making it free but you’re also hoping get subscribers for $80 per year. Capitalism is the natural way of the free world. You’re communicating here on Substack, a medium created by Chris Best, Jairaj Sethi and Hamish McKenzie— three young capitalists wanting to make money. Socialism is efficient at creating only one thing—poverty. I can recommend some fantastic books on the subject if you’d consider perusing them. FYI I’m a libertarian and am pleased to say I’ve brought several ATP friends over from the dark side, including a former Top 10. :-)
Cool story bro
Spot on!
Perhaps train riders were contemplating a Substack read?
Safe travels in Paris.
I suppose that is why this substack is called “Finite Jest…” it works on so many levels. 🎭
The author is elegantly complex and most excellent fancy. ✍️
"The world’s perpetual paradox: He that has plenty of goods shall have more. In tennis terms you might want to coin it differently. He that has plenty of ranking points shall play less and rest more and henceforth will forever have more ranking points."
I remember learning in the mid 80s that some of the top pros, obviously already earning a pretty good living, were training at Bolletieri's for free, with accommodations and amenities for their partners included. That generated my personal saying, "Them that's got, get."
Thanks for this.
Perhaps you can clarify something for me Andrea? You talk about coaches; are coaches with players day in, day out throughout a season? I mean do they just agree to work with a player for a certain number of days throughout a season or at certain tournaments? I'm just wondering what the reality of this close involvement means. Thank you in advance.
hi chris, it really depends on the agreement. some coaches are there, day in day out, you will see that often times around younger players who still need more guidance than more experienced players. it also depends on the financial possibilities of the player. the lower ranked the harder to afford a coach for the entire year. often times, you have agreements tgat involve 15-20 weeks per year and the player can choose which weeks are most important to them. hope this helps :)
Defining capitalism a place where people voluntarily make exchange goods and by this creating wealth, I don't think at all Adam Smith was wrong at all as the wellbeing of the people in the countries which allowed the free market is at unprecedented level. The issues today the governments close their eyes to what corporations do and sometimes they work hand in hand creating more barriers or bureaucracy for small businesses. I grew up in communist and poor Romania therefore I consider important to see these things . Germany wouldn't have been able to support a part of your career (via tennis federation) if it wasn't a
capitalist country because it could have the money (taken from taxes) to do so
i’m genuinely confused as to why some of you think i’m anti-capitalist. i was a tennis player for 16 years, the most inherently capitalist sport there is. this quote - “Adam Smith came up with an entire economical model assuming human beings are rational, then capitalism was born and soon the world will perish because of it. I guess that’s a rather simplified version of historical events but to be fair, I’m a tennis player not a historian and it serves the bottom line which is: People don’t make rational choices.” - is so obviously not what happened that i thought it was clear enough to be a joke. i even say “i guess that’s a rather simplified version of events” pointing to the ridiculousness of this conclusion. my posts are mostly humurous in tone - i thought that very apparent.
Thank you for taking your time to answer! I know you joke a lot here, I like your humor a lot, but this time I didn't sense the joke. :)
I considered subscribing—until I saw you don’t like capitalism. So out of deep respect I won’t exploit your labor with my money.
not sure whether you tried to be funny, but this is hilarious considering the fact that this substack is free. LOL
It's all fine, since Danny Kanahman and his work on behavioral economics will save us! (I can't believe I'm referencing behavioral economics into a tennis blog 🙃)
Thanks for the thoughtful post.
Question? For the top players (say top 10-20, their focus seems to be on peaking four times a year.
Federer, for example, would regularly show up to tournaments a month before a major looking to get play through the rust.
Is the problem for everyone else, how to schedule when you are losing 1st or 2nd round week to week? Or on the other hand what happens to their schedule if they make a deep run?
For the players ranked 30-50 is it a different reality? 50-100? Are you still mixing in Challengers to keep your ranking up?
I'd love to hear you thoughts as your ranking ascended and descended?
Obrigado!
i would probably need another 1000 words to explain everything in depth. but you are basically a 100% right. the higher ranked the players are the more they schedule around the 4 major tournament. for the lower ranked players it is often times survival from week to week, hoping a big result will happen eventually - if it comes at a major tournament, even better, but it’s definitely less structured and can happen at any time. i hope this helps a little bit!
"Staring into the void": what no one can truly avoid, Insta be damned! (Addendum: did you Photoshop that little finger onto your hand??)