Teen Prodigy Power Play:: heraldsun.news.com ~~~
Thirteen-year-old Bernard Tomic has made quite a splash this month in Australia by winning two ITF 18-and-under tournaments in New Zealand. The link to this story on Bob Larson's Tennis News asks "Is This Federer's Successor?" I think a more appropriate question would be "Is This Donald Young's Successor?" The companion story details IMG's interest, and the management company that signed Young at 14 looks like the frontrunner to represent Tomic. There are things that can prevent it of course, but I'm already on record as thinking Tomic has all the tools to be a great player. What I don't understand is the advantage to IMG in signing someone this young.
Most contracts are three years in duration, meaning that just when a young signee is likely to show some bankable results, his or her contract expires, leaving the player free to negotiate with others. I believe something similar recently happened with Andy Murray. Speaking of whom, Murray has shown an ability to tune out the clamor of expectations emanating from Great Britain, but that's not a talent everyone has. Prodigies from all the formerly dominating world tennis powers (U.S.A, France, Australia and Great Britain) are latched onto as a country's best hope, with their wins and losses scrutinized way beyond their importance, until the hype becomes the reason people want to see them--not their tennis skills.
Donald Young spent 2005 getting wild cards into ATP main draws and losing in the first round, which may have not been the wisest path to developing his game. He still is a story when he comes to town, but those towns are now Brownsville and Kissimmee not Indian Wells and Key Biscayne. Can IMG make anyone a better tennis player? Of course not. What they offer always needs to be weighed against that simple fact.