Harry Hopman. The Hopman Cup. The Hyundai Hopman Cup in Perth Australia… Part 1

Written by: on 29th December 2011
Harry Hopman 4
Harry Hopman. The Hopman Cup. The Hyundai Hopman Cup in Perth Australia... Part 1  |

It’s been more than forty years since we first met Harry Hopman. What a guy…. One of the GREATEST ever!  Tennis was just lucky he chose our sport. I was still a teenager the first time I met Harry.  In “OZ” he was known as  ” HOP “. ) He taught me something seriously missing in my power Ground strokes. Topspin…. Yep. My forehand was flat. My one handed classic backhand always stayed flat. But my serve and forehand became winners after one session with Harry.

I’m so lost in so many wonderful memories. I know that he was and is the best coach ever. For a guy that was into fitness early he understood more than any coach I’ve ever known that each player was an individual. He never worked any two players the same. USTA listen up here. Cookie cutters don’t work. Actually that goes out to all that coach but globally especially at the federation levels. Some of these countries tennis associations are archaic in thinking and small minded in letting the players develop with their own agenda. Coach. Parent. Travel partner. Players are restricted. It’s like the Perry Jones era that southern California was stifled by. The rules have rules. The agendas have hidden motives and every person with the job is comfy with their health insurance and travel benefits.

I’m still mad at the USTA for depriving all the young talent in the United States  to travel to Australia on their pocketbook. Umbrella. Individuality. What a concept. Ok I’m tired and on a tear. Back to Harry.

He would love Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Andy Roddick. Andy Murray. Max Mirnyi. … I guess I could just keep going. 10sballs.com goes  on record as saying he  would love the game of  tennis played today. He would be out there shirtless. Yes the first man I ever hit on a court without a shirt. What. You say you thought Nic Bolleterri started that shirtless coach thing ?

Nope. It was Harry. He would love the fitness level of the ladies especially. He would have loved Sam Stosur and Alicia Molik  and our number one Aussie lady Catherine Barclay of Sidney.

Would Harry like that they run this event in Perth ? Heck yes. He would be shy and quiet on the outside but he would be so proud on the inside. Fumble or better word double fault to Saddlebrook for dropping the Hopman name from their academy. …..

Harry never rested on his laurels. He loved working with John McEnroe. He knew genius  …He once had enough male talent in Australia to form five Davis cup teams.

Most people don’t remember or realize that Harry wrote a daily column in the Melbourne Herald for over 20 years. Harry was an honorary member of the world famous Kooyong tennis club. 10sballs.com friend and big  lefty server Wayne Arthurs plays there. HOP would have loved Darren Cahill and Wayno  and Brent and Todd Larkham and Hewitt and Phillapousis and especially the ” Woodies ”  that being Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde. Both had outstanding singles careers an amazing doubles careers and amazing Davis Cup  results… Add  Louise Pleming  and Pat Rafter and Pat Cash and   Paul Hanley and  probably  Paul Kilderry….

As coaches go… he would have loved tons of them especially Bob Brett who was handpicked as a boy to be the chosen coach. Tony Roche became a great coach. Lesley Bowery comes to mind oh there’s so many we’ve known …  Scott Draper.  Mark draper. Brent Larkham. John Trickey. Justin Wight.

I remember once asking Harry about coaching. Here is his reply paraphrased …

Harry Hopman said : re coaching – you must build on what the player has…… (that seems so simple but most coaches like to change everything or something too much)

Harry said –  You would not treat Emmo and Stolle the same as Lew Hoad  or Fraser… (They were all racehorses to HOP)

Each guy built differently. Each guy having completely different personalities. Likes. Dislikes. Sleep habits.

The one thing Harry stressed was conditioning. More in part 2. Coming soon. Sorry  any Aussies I forgot. I’ll get to you next round. Martin Mulligan of FILA would make Harry proud for his spirit. Go Aussie. Good on you Perth for hosting the event. Best  wishes go out to Bethanie  Mattek Sands to be a tiger out there and beating Wozzy.

Topics: ,

Lovey's Recent Lobs

CHICAGO • LAVER CUP TENNIS • GOSSIP • PARTIES • GREAT CROWDS • WHERE’S MO? thumbnail

CHICAGO • LAVER CUP TENNIS • GOSSIP • PARTIES • GREAT CROWDS • WHERE’S MO?

Here we are in Chicago. What a great event. We've been to the WILSON factory daily. Love to see some of the great old frames we played with. THE 2018 U.S. OPEN TENNIS • OSAKA BEATS SERENA WITH CHAIR UMPIRES HELP • AGAIN thumbnail

THE 2018 U.S. OPEN TENNIS • OSAKA BEATS SERENA WITH CHAIR UMPIRES HELP • AGAIN

This was a tennis tournament.... Like no other. This was a U.S. Open like no other.. Let's start with new logo. It's click art like ours? But we aren't the USTA. TENNIS GOSSIP FROM THE 2018 U.S. OPEN • WTA | ATP • FEDERER HAS PLAYED 1,424 MATCHES WITHOUT A “RETIREMENT” thumbnail

TENNIS GOSSIP FROM THE 2018 U.S. OPEN • WTA | ATP • FEDERER HAS PLAYED 1,424 MATCHES WITHOUT A “RETIREMENT”

The only way to describe this U.S. open is soaking wet without raining... It's really hard to play tennis when your socks are soaking wet and you are "sloshing" in your shoes. Your shoes get really heavy when they get wet. 2018 U.S. OPEN TENNIS FROM 10SBALLS • KANEPI BEATS WTA | TOP SEED HALEP thumbnail

2018 U.S. OPEN TENNIS FROM 10SBALLS • KANEPI BEATS WTA | TOP SEED HALEP

What a start. First match in the new stadium and bye bye ladies number one seed and WTA World Number One. Simona Halep. Losing to Estonian Kaia Kanepi. TENNIS PLAYERS GET MARRIED • GOSSIP • ATP | WTA • ARTEM SITAK AND JONATHAN ERLICH WIN NEWPORT • HAPPY BIRTHDAY SVEN GROENEVELD! thumbnail

TENNIS PLAYERS GET MARRIED • GOSSIP • ATP | WTA • ARTEM SITAK AND JONATHAN ERLICH WIN NEWPORT • HAPPY BIRTHDAY SVEN GROENEVELD!

Wow. Where do we start. Forward. Backward. Sideways. I sound like a tennis player doing on court drills.





10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

Как Сменить Почту Комета Казино? thumbnail

Как Сменить Почту Комета Казино?

Как изменить электронную почту в Комета
No Key Biscayne, No Problem; New Site, Same Great Miami Open Tennis Event thumbnail

No Key Biscayne, No Problem; New Site, Same Great Miami Open Tennis Event

It was the end of an era at Crandon Park for the Miami Open last year. From the Lipton, to the Nasdaq 100, to the Sony Ericsson, to the Sony, to the Miami Open presented by Itau, Key Biscayne saw it all.
10SBALLS SHARES FAVORITE EPA TENNIS PHOTOS Of 2018 thumbnail

10SBALLS SHARES FAVORITE EPA TENNIS PHOTOS Of 2018

Roger Federer of Switzerland in action during his men's singles final match against Marin Cilic of Croatia at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 28 January 2018.
THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT FOR ANY TENNIS PLAYER & FAN thumbnail

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT FOR ANY TENNIS PLAYER & FAN

Are lefties more successful than right-handed players? Which player admits to smashing 70 rackets a year during his career? All these questions, and so many more, are answered in entertaining infographics in the new book YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!
ATP MEN’S TENNIS • WILL IT MOVE FROM LONDON TO MANCHESTER OR TOKYO OR SINGAPORE? OR TURIN? thumbnail

ATP MEN’S TENNIS • WILL IT MOVE FROM LONDON TO MANCHESTER OR TOKYO OR SINGAPORE? OR TURIN?

The ATP announced a group of potential host sites for the Nitto ATP Finals starting in 2021, and it includes London, Manchester, Singapore, Tokyo, and Turin.