Donald Young became the youngest world number one junior at the age of 15. Some kids experience early growth spurts, appearing like young men at 14 or 15. However, Donald did not have an early growth spurt; he wasn't abnormally tall, muscular, or the strongest arm wrestler. His growth was like most kids. On entering the ITF Junior circuit, you face all players under the age of 19. This means contending with 18-year-old men. I played against many of them, some of whom were giants. So, how did Donald outperform these young men to win so many tournaments, including the Australian Open Juniors? The answer is by playing smart tennis. Before we delve into what it means to play smart tennis, let's discuss two common inhibitors to intelligent play.
The first is an overemphasis on power. Initially, most students talk about hitting hard and applying as much power as possible into their shots, feeling that it's the key to winning. I can't blame them for thinking this at first. Watching professionals on TV, they see the power and speed of their shots. However, this is a trap that many fall into for several reasons: firstly, focusing on hitting the ball with maximum power often leads to forced shots, especially when your opponent can handle your power, making you desperate and reckless. Secondly, concentrating on winning through power increases the likelihood of poor judgement calls and hasty decisions when out of position. Whenever I played against someone who only aimed to hit all their shots hard, my strategy was crystal clear: I would hit high and low, anywhere but their strike zone. Professional players are on a different level. They've trained for many years, gradually increasing their tempo, power, and fitness. Over 15 years of training, these players have established a baseline that exceeds the maximum of an average tennis player. They still play smart, simply at higher speeds. So, emulating their power level isn't advisable.
The other trap is playing matches focused on your feelings and not on your opponent's weaknesses. This approach equates to mindless play, hitting and chasing down balls without considering the impact of your shots on your opponent. Focusing on your comfort, you avoid the mental effort needed to outmaneuver your opponent. However, great tennis is played with nuance. You must vary your shots and hit with purpose. It's crucial to find ways to destabilize your opponent's abilities and execute strategic patterns to exploit their weaknesses. Donald was a master at making players uncomfortable. He disrupted their rhythm, hit shots out of their strike zone, and surprised them at the net. One moment, you'd be focused on the ball, assuming he was at the baseline, then after you'd hit your shot, he'd already be at the net. This style of play is what wins games, not mere power.