DOCSLIB.ORG

The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Coping Strategies, and Performance Outcome in Junior Tennis Players

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Coping Strategies, and Performance Outcome in Junior Tennis Players 1 UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY The Relationship between Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Coping Strategies, and Performance Outcome in Junior Tennis Players by Andrew Stephen Ling A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE FACULTY OF KINESIOLOGY CALGARY, ALBERTA SEPTEMBER, 2008 © Andrew Stephen Ling 2008 Library and Bibliotheque et 1*1 Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-44271-5 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-44271-5 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par Plntemet, prefer, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans loan, distribute and sell theses le monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non­ sur support microforme, papier, electronique commercial purposes, in microform, et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. this thesis. Neither the thesis Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels de nor substantial extracts from it celle-ci ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement may be printed or otherwise reproduits sans son autorisation. reproduced without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformement a la loi canadienne Privacy Act some supporting sur la protection de la vie privee, forms may have been removed quelques formulaires secondaires from this thesis. ont ete enleves de cette these. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires in the document page count, aient inclus dans la pagination, their removal does not represent il n'y aura aucun contenu manquant. any loss of content from the thesis. Canada 3 Abstract The constructs of self-efficacy (Bandura, 1977, 1997) and coping (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984) are important in regard to sport performance; however, little work has been done in the sport of tennis. The first part of this study was to develop a tennis-specific self- efficacy questionnaire. The second part examined the direct relationships between a) self- efficacy beliefs and performance outcome, and b) coping strategies and performance outcome. Also, there was an interest to see the effect of coping on performance outcome in the presence of self-efficacy. Competitive junior tennis players in Alberta, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick completed the tennis-specific self-efficacy questionnaire and the Modified-COPE (MCOPE) before their respective tournament. Self-efficacy was a significant predictor of winning percentage. There were also positive relationships between self-efficacy and winning percentage on backhand counterattack, technical anticipation, performance motivation, and outcome motivation. Finally, there was a negative relationship between winning percentage and behavioural disengagement, self- blame, and humor. Acknowledgements I want to acknowledge and thank a number of people for their support and encouragement through the completion of this thesis: • Dr. Dave Paskevich, my supervisor for his guidance through this challenging but rewarding process. It has been a privilege to work with you and I have learned a lot. • To members of my committee, Dr. Nicole Culos-Reed for your support, Dr. Tak Fung for your countless hours helping me with statistical analysis. Tak, I appreciate your patience and keeping me at ease when faced with confusing statistical procedures! • To Rosalie Kolstad for all your hard work and great advice! • Dr. Helen Massfeller in the Faculty of Education for her encouragement during my Masters experience and who I had the privilege to learn from. • Dr. Carolyn Savoy for her constant support through the last few years and giving me the opportunity to share my thesis project, as well as my graduate school experience to her class at Dalhousie University. • Jon Stoochnoff and Eva Wolicki from Tennis Alberta, Roger Keating and Peter Smith from Tennis Nova Scotia, and Michael Downey from Tennis Canada, who all approved and allowed me to conduct my study. • The staff and coaches at the Saville Centre, University of Alberta Outdoor Centre, Calgary Winter Club, Tennis Academy, Glencoe Club, and Red Deer Tennis Club for allowing me to conduct my research at their respective tournaments. 5 • My tennis staff at the Waegwoltic Club in Halifax: Sherif El-Dewary, Nick Ritcey, Brent Keough, Stacey Power, Sarah Mclnnes, and Carla George for pilot testing my questionnaire. Thanks for putting up with me that year! • Special thanks to Dr. Don Voaklander and Mike & Cathy Bennett for welcoming me into the tennis community and assisting me through my data collection in Alberta. • Ryan Schroffel at the Royal Glenora Club, Carson Bell and Corey Stewart at the Saville Centre for their continued assistance in recruiting participants in Edmonton. • To those that helped me edit my final drafts of my thesis. I appreciate your time and your suggestions! • To my Mom and Dad for believing in me and showing support the last three years! Your constant words of encouragement are invaluable to me and I will always be grateful for that! To my Grandma and my sisters for all the supportive emails! 6 Table of Contents THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELF-EFFICACY BELIEFS, COPING STRATEGIES, AND PERFORMANCE OUTCOME IN JUNIOR TENNIS PLAYERS Page CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 10 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE 13 Self-Efficacy 13 Self-Efficacy Theory 13 Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Performance 15 Coping 17 Relationship between Coping and Performance 20 Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Coping 21 Overview of Research Questions and Hypotheses 23 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN & METHODOLOGY 25 Participants 25 Research Instruments 25 Tennis-specific Self-Efficacy Questionnaire 25 Modified-COPE 27 Procedures 28 Operational Definitions 29 Statistical Analysis 30 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS 31 Testing for Gender Differences 31 Descriptive Statistics 32 7 Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Performance Outcome 35 Relationship between Coping Strategies and Performance Outcome 41 Relationship between Coping Strategies and Performance Outcome in the Presence of Self-Efficacy 49 High Self-Efficacy vs. Low Self-Efficacy 54 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION 58 Measurement of Self-Efficacy 58 Relationship between Self-Efficacy and Performance Outcome 59 Relationship between Coping Strategies and Performance Outcome 61 Relationship between Coping Strategies and Performance Outcome in the Presence of Self-Efficacy 65 High Self-Efficacy vs. Low Self-Efficacy 66 Limitations & Future Directions 67 REFERENCES 72 APPENDIX A: LETTERS OF SUPPORT 81 APPENDIX B: ETHICS APPLICATIONS 85 APPENDIX C: LETTERS OF INTEREST 88 APPENDIX D: PARENTAL CONSENT FORMS 91 APPENDIX E: PARTICIPATION CONSENT FORMS 98 APPENDIX F: DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION 105 APPENDIX G: TENNIS-SPECIFIC SELF-EFFICACY QUESTIONNAIRE 107 APPENDIX H: MODIFIED-COPE (MCOPE) QUESTIONNAIRE Ill 8 List of Tables Table 1- Independent Samples T-Test for Problem-Focused Coping and Emotion-Focused Coping: Testing for Gender Differences 32 Table 2- Descriptive Statistics for the Tennis-Specific Self-Efficacy Questionnaire 33 Table 3- Descriptive Statistics for the Modified-COPE Subscales 34 Table 4- Results of Linear Regression Analysis: Self-Efficacy (SEtotal) Predicting Performance Outcome in Junior Tennis Players 35 Table 5- Pearson Correlations to Examine the Relationship between Self-Efficacy in each Tennis Skill and Winning Percentage in Junior Tennis Players 37 Table 6- Pearson Correlations to Examine the Relationship between SEtec, SEtac, and SEmot and Winning Percentage in Junior Tennis Players 38 Table 7- Results of Linear Regression Analysis: Self-Efficacy Subscales Predicting Performance Outcome in Junior Tennis Players 39 Table 8- Results of Multiple Regression Analysis: Self-Efficacy Subscales Predicting Performance Outcome in Junior Tennis Players 40 Table 9- Pearson Correlations to Examine the Relationship between Coping Strategies and Winning Percentage in Junior Tennis Players 42 Table 10- Results of Linear Regression Analysis: MCOPE Subscales Predicting Performance Outcome in Junior Tennis Players 44 Table 11- Pearson Correlations to Examine the Relationship between Problem-Focused Coping, Emotion-Focused Coping, and Winning Percentage in Junior Tennis Players 46 Table 12- Linear Regression Analysis on the Relationship between Problem-Focused Coping and Winning Percentage and Emotion-Focused Coping and Winning Percentage in Junior Tennis Players 47 Table 13- Results of Multiple Regression Analysis: Problem-Focused Coping and Emotion-Focused Coping as Significant Predictors of Winning Percentage in Junior Tennis Players 48 9 Table 14- Results of Hierarchical Regression Analysis: The Effect of Problem-Focused Coping and Emotion-Focused Coping on Winning Percentage in the Presence of Self-Efficacy 50 Table 15- Results of Hierarchical Regression Analysis: The Effect of Problem-Focused Coping and Emotion-Focused Coping
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Tennis Glory Ever Could
    A CHAMPION’S MIND For my wife, Bridgette, and boys, Christian and Ryan: you have fulfilled me in a way that no number of Grand Slam titles or tennis glory ever could Introduction Chapter 1 1971–1986 The Tennis Kid Chapter 2 1986–1990 A Fairy Tale in New York Chapter 3 1990–1991 That Ton of Bricks Chapter 4 1992 My Conversation with Commitment Chapter 5 1993–1994 Grace Under Fire Chapter 6 1994–1995 The Floodgates of Glory Chapter 7 1996 My Warrior Moment Chapter 8 1997–1998 Wimbledon Is Forever Chapter 9 1999–2001 Catching Roy Chapter 10 2001–2002 One for Good Measure Epilogue Appendix About My Rivals Acknowledgments / Index Copyright A few years ago, the idea of writing a book about my life and times in tennis would have seemed as foreign to me as it might have been surprising to you. After all, I was the guy who let his racket do the talking. I was the guy who kept his eyes on the prize, leading a very dedicated, disciplined, almost monkish existence in my quest to accumulate Grand Slam titles. And I was the guy who guarded his private life and successfully avoided controversy and drama, both in my career and personal life. But as I settled into life as a former player, I had a lot of time to reflect on where I’d been and what I’d done, and the way the story of my career might impact people. For starters, I realized that what I did in tennis probably would be a point of interest and curiosity to my family.
    [Show full text]
  • Andy Murray Articles 2006-2008|
    ANDY MURRAY ARTICLES 2006-2008 | In 2006 Andy Murray began his voyage into World top 20 Tennis players. Starting with a tame Australian Open campaign which led to a strained relationship with the bullish British press. His first ATP tour title in San Jose beating two Former Grand Slam Champions along the way. While a rather upsetting coaching split and a trouncing of the World number 1 filled a year where progress was there for the tennis public to see but attitude and off court issues usually filled the journalists copy. 2006 Scrappy Murray prevails after sluggish start By Neil Harman, Tennis Correspondent Published at 12:00AM, January 4 2006 HIS first match of 2006 reassured Andy Murray’s followers yesterday that the element of his game that stands him in such stead as a professional of rare promise — his love of a scrap — is undimmed. From every standpoint, Murray’s defeat of Paolo Lorenzi, an Italian qualifier, in the first round of the Next Generation Adelaide International, was exactly the kind of thrash in the dark of which these first-week events are chock-full. He served seven aces, six double faults, broke serve seven times in 12 attempts, lost his own service three times and won the final five games. The one statistic to matter was a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory and a place in the second round today against Tomas Berdych, a player being touted every bit as fiercely in his native Czech Republic as Murray is in Britain. Berdych’s last defeat was against Murray in the second round of the Davidoff Swiss Indoors in Basle in October, after which the Scot was almost buried in headlines about the passing of the British baton — he defeated Tim Henman in the first round — while Berdych went on to overhaul a star-studded field and lift the Paris Masters.
    [Show full text]
  • Andy Murray Articles 2004-2006
    ANDY MURRAY ARTICLES 2004-2006 2004 Scots tennis 'courting disaster' Despite helping to produce world-class young players Scotland’s top tennis trainer has quit in disgust, writes Tom Lynch Published: 8 August 2004 There’s a wistful note to coach Murray’s voice when she recalls the moment. A hint of pride too. “I couldn’t believe that the kids I started off with when they were eight or nine were in the biggest tournament in the world.” Now, as a summer fog descends on her Dunblane home, Murray’s mood has changed. All the optimism has been replaced by frustration. Last week she resigned from her post at Tennis Scotland, disgusted at the lack of backing from the country’s sports administrators and its politicians and fearing that youngsters who have the talent to win top titles could be forced to leave the game. She is not alone in her thinking. According to Murray, three of the four tennis development staff in Scotland have quit this year, allegedly fed up with their puny resources. Next to go, Murray fears, will be the country’s outstanding crop of young players, forced out of the game because there is simply not the money to help them break through into the big time, to compete alongside the Tim Henmans and Greg Rusedskis for the top honours. The tragic thing is, she says, is that she and her colleagues have produced tremendous talents “against all the odds”. For, while the Scottish executive plans to spend £30m on football to make it competitive again on the world stage, funding for tennis has been slashed by 60%.
    [Show full text]
  • ESSAY Copyright 2012 by Paul Fein SHOULD TENNIS ABOLISH THE
    ESSAY Copyright 2012 by Paul Fein SHOULD TENNIS ABOLISH THE SERVICE LET? “Truth is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error and has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless by human interposition, disarmed of her natural weapons, free argument and debate.” − Thomas Jefferson “Nothing is more terrible than activity without insight.” – Thomas Carlyle When will they ever learn? Never, it seems. Defying past experience and abundant evidence, the Association of Tennis Professionals Board of Directors recently approved the elimination of service lets on the Challenger Tour for the first three months of 2013. ATP Executive Chairman Brad Drewett said the board believes “a trial at the ATP Challenger level will be a good way to test this initiative in a competitive environment and get feedback from players before deciding if it could be adapted more broadly.” Attempts to eliminate the sensible and necessary service let go way back. In a September 1954 World Tennis column, “The Silliest Rule in Tennis,” C. Alphonso Smith wrote, “In 92 percent of the hundreds of cases observed, the ball continued in its flight without appreciable change in speed or direction, generally merely flicking the net.” Anyone who has ever played or watched tennis knows Smith’s claim is absurd. We see serves hit the top of the net and ricochet unpredictably the vast majority of times. In 1968, the World Championship Tennis (WCT) circuit’s short-lived experiment with abolishing service lets ended because the players objected. A far more famous advocate, Billie Jean King, resumed this fervent but misguided campaign. Tennis’ Joan of Arc, when she pioneered the women’s pro tour in the early 1970s, has long harbored new visions of our sport.
    [Show full text]
  • Industry News
    IndustryNews Industry News Information to help you run your business ASSOCIATIONS Michael Joyce, Jenna Worswick Join USTA Player Development USPTA, ATA Partner to Provide Women’s coach Michael Joyce and strength and conditioning coach Jenna Worswick Educational Opportunities have joined USTA Player Development. Joyce was hired as a national coach for women’s tennis and Worswick as strength and con- ditioning coach. Both coaches will be head- quartered at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Fla. Joyce will coach players on and transition- ing onto the pro tour, reporting to Head of Women’s Tennis Kathy Rinaldi. Joyce has coached a number of players at the top of the women's game over the last two decades, including Maria Sharapova (from 2004 to 2011), Victoria Azarenka, Timea Babos, Johanna Konta, Eugenie Bouchard and Americans Shelby Rogers, Jessica Pegula and Samantha Crawford. Worswick joins USTA Player Develop- ment full-time after first working with the USTA under Player Development's fellow- Improving tennis facilities at HBCUs ship program in 2018. She has an M.A. in can help attract more kinesiology from George Mason University, coaches of color. holds the National Strength and Condition- ing Association's Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification and is he USPTA is partnering Founded in 1916, with its mission to a Certified Personal Trainer. She will work with the American Tennis elevate black tennis, the ATA is the old- under Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Association (ATA) to pro- est and longest-running African-Ameri- Satoshi Ochi. vide educational oppor- can sports organization in the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Gennaio 2021
    N° 1 - 2021 ANDY MURRAY riparte da Biella foto Sergio Errigo TENNIS WEB MAG edizione a cura di Roberto Bertellino www.tenniswebmagazine.it Magazine di informazione sportiva SEGUITECI SU TENNIS WEB MAG Magazine di informazione sportiva Pag. 2 Nitto ATP Finals a Torino Pag. 6 Australian Open 2021 Pag. 11 Presentazione Best Point Pag. 13 I Challenger di febbraio a Biella Pag. 17 Sinner, secondo titolo a Melbourne Pag. 19 Sonego fa quarti d’autore a Montpellier Pag. 20 La proposta di Generali Assicurazioni Pag. 22 I primi titoli di stagione per Hurkacz, De Minaur e Sabalenka Pag. 24 Sam Stosur, ritorno nel circuito da mamma Pag. 25 Il mondo del tennis ricorda Bob Brett Pag. 28 Canottieri Casale, una storia lunga ed entusiasmante Pag. 30 Speciale volley: Il martello del Cuneo, Wagner Pag. 32 Mattia Stoissa, l’australiano Pag. 33 L’ATP 250 di Montpellier in foto Pag. 35 ASICS, la nuova scarpa agli AO 2021 Pag. 37 Il Villaforte Tennis non si ferma mai! 17 7 37 TENNIS WEB MAG Magazine di informazione sportiva 1 SI SONO SCOPERTI I PRIMI VELI SULLE NITTO ATP FINALS DI TORINO di Roberto Bertellino Primo atto ufficiale il 14 gennaio scorso delle Nitto ATP FIT si è posta in vista della prima volta delle ATP Finals Finals (2021-2025) che avranno quale sede Torino, dopo a Torino: “Il primo è di organizzare una grande edizione 12 anni di permanenza a Londra. E’ andato in scena pres- già dal 2021. Abbiamo una squadra straordinaria, con il so il Grattacielo Intesa San Paolo della città sabauda.
    [Show full text]
  • DOMINIC THIEM METHOD English Translation of Günter Bresnik’S “DIE DOMINIC THIEM METHODE”
    THE DOMINIC THIEM METHOD English translation of Günter Bresnik’s “DIE DOMINIC THIEM METHODE” I ‘m not authorized to do it. My command of English is far from perfect. But I know, Dominic has fans not knowing German and this attempt is just for them. To be able to understand Dominic better. And I know, Günter Bresnik will forgive me not to have asked him for authorization. I would ask him if I was professional German- to-English translator. I’m not. I’m German-to-Polish professional translator. But most Thiem’s fans not being Austrians are THE WORLD. And the world speaks English. That’s the reason. I will translate fragments, which I’m believe are telling more than others about Dominic, his family and coach. Enjoy (and don’t tell Bresnik ) I will translate as the time allows. This means, I will not publish the translation when it’s done, but add daily so much I can. If interested, look here for updates. Or let me know via contact form to be informed via e-mail PART 1 Page 143 of the original “Go home” In the summer 1997 a young man appeared at Baumgasse. Tall, slim, in the middle of his 20- ties. He told: “My name is Thiem Wolfgang”. A tennis teacher, maintaining a tennis school in Wiener Neustadt, quite successful but this was long-term nothing for him. “I’m getting mad jostling with people not really interested for tennis”. He was interested for performance tennis. I asked him: “Do you have experience with performance sports?” “No” “Did you ever play any tournament yourself?” “Only regional.” “Family?” “A wife and a boy.” “How old?” “Four” “What’s his name?” “Dominic.” “My coaches are young people, who want to learn the profession.
    [Show full text]
  • Rotman Magazine Spring 2013 / 5 Champions Take Personal Responsibility for Their Performance
    COACHING HIGH PERFORMANCE: LESSONS FROM VETERANS IN TWO ARENAS Effectively hiring, retaining and inspiring top talent defines your ability to compete. by Jennifer Riel IN MODERN ORGANIZATIONS, the mindful management of talent — Great sports coaches — like Harry Hopman in tennis, Bill highly-creative, uniquely-skilled, value-producing individuals — Walsh in football or Mike Krzyzewski in college basketball is an absolute necessity. High-performing players, whether they — are prime exemplars. They are able to draw outstanding per- be star CEOs, world-class salespeople, great product developers formance from individuals and to create a legacy of sustained or professional services rainmakers, exist at the tail end of the excellence. But how do the lessons from producing peak perfor- distribution in terms of ability and impact. They have high apti- mance in sports translate to the world of business? To explore tude, sought-after skills and the ability to ply their trade almost this question, I recently convened a discussion between two very anywhere around the globe. different kinds of coaches:Bob Brett and Roger Martin. How can a leader take a brilliant, talented individual and Bob has spent a career coaching some of the most accom- PHOTO OF BORIS BECKER/GETTY IMAGES BECKER/GETTY BORIS OF PHOTO bring out his or her very best, sustained performance? plished and recognizable names in tennis, including Boris Rotman Magazine Spring 2013 / 5 Champions take personal responsibility for their performance. They are eager to take part of an idea from a coach and fill in the rest themselves. Becker (once ranked number one in the world, winner of six world and find the most talented individuals working today, Grand Slams), Goran Ivanisevic (aˆ world number-two and but that talent is already very expensive and is often already Wimbledon champion) and Marin Cilić (currently ranked 15th set in its ways.
    [Show full text]
  • Randall's Island
    Tennis Pros of SPORTIME Randall’s Island Home of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy Sportime Randall’s Island One Randall’s Island New York, NY 10035 tel: 212-427-6150 www. SportimeNY.com fax: 212-427-5650 RANDALL’S ISLAND TENNIS PROS Academy Director Gilad Bloom Assistant Academy Directors Karim Balagh Adriano Biasella Fritz Buehning Bruce Haddad Harel Srugo Master Pros Ted Dimond, Director of Tennis Felix Alvarado, Assistant Director of Tennis Andre Dupre, Adult Tennis Director Matt Trumino, Tournament Director/Camps Director David Robinson, Fitness Director Javier Lattanzio Senior Pros Santo Castillo Antonio DeAza Shaun Ellison Nate Emge Greg Evans Ryan Lloyd Kabelo Masiane Delio Pacifici Ricardo Pena Eric Stone Staff Pros Alison Adamski Taylor Dupre Jelena Krivacevic Marion Lehmann Dominic Manilla Juliette Mavroleon Steven Peretz James Preston Iciri Rai Darian Schwartz Emese Sulyos Matthew Trumino Tournament Director/Camp Director, Master Professional Matthew, born and raised in NYC, was a sectionally ranked player in the East as a junior and played on 3 city championship teams for Benjamin Cardozo High School. A product of the NYJTL and REEBOK scholarship programs, Matthew was the inaugural recipient of the Brian Watkins Scholarship, awarded by the Mayor of New York to the hardest working player on a city championship team. While attending SUNY Albany and playing for its tennis team, Matthew earned a BFA from the School of Visual Arts. He spent 6 years working in the field of advertising and running his own gallery/multi-media agency. Matthew has taught tennis since high school, including at the Randi Mani Ten- Gilad Bloom nis Academy and at the Roosevelt Island Tennis Center, and has Director of Tennis worked with a number of sectionally and nationally ranked play- Gilad, a native of Israel, played 13 years on the ATP tour and repre- ers.
    [Show full text]
  • Davis Cup Roger Federer
    CHF 8.90 Offizielles Verbandsmagazin: 4/2018 April 2018 Partner von Ausgabe Nr. 4 Roger Federer Vernunftsentscheid gegen den Sand Davis Cup Schweiz Wird dem Traditions-Event die Seele geraubt? der Tennis-Magazin Das Schwieriges Comeback 04 Novak Djokovic kämpft wie Andy Murray oder Stan Wawrinka um die Rückkehr unter die Besten 9 771424 925002 WARM-UP Luxusprobleme und das Jucken hinter dem Ohrläppchen Liebe Leserin, lieber Leser Ich muss es zugeben, den Zen-Zustand habe ich noch nicht erreicht. Es juckt mich immer noch zu häufig hinter dem linken Ohrläppchen, wenn ich Sachen höre oder lese, die ich ganz anders sehe. So war es unlängst während Indian Wells beim Lesen gewisser Kommentare. Roger Federer hatte gerade die Halbfinals erreicht und sich so für zwei weitere Wochen den Verbleib an der Weltranglistenspitze gesichert. Das war offensichtlich aber nicht genug: Wenn er im Halbfinal oder Final verliere, werde das einen Schatten auf seinen Saisonstart werfen, musste ich mehrfach lesen. Starker Tabak nach einem perfekten Start mit 16:0-Siegen, Grand-Slam-Titel Nummer 20 und der Rückeroberung der Weltnummer 1 und für mich vor allem Ausdruck von zwei Sachen: mangelnder Respekt vor ihm, aber auch vor der Leistung seiner Gegner. Eine Woche und zwei Niederlagen im Tiebreak des dritten Satzes später war er die Rankingspitze vorerst wieder los. Natürlich hatte man Federer schon ruhiger gesehen als gegen Del Potro und stärker als gegen Kokkinakis, die beiden Partien zeigten aber vor allem, dass seine Siege nicht so selbstverständlich sind, wie gemeinhin angenom- men. Dass die Konkurrenz hungrig und stark genug ist, um Schwächen auszunützen.
    [Show full text]