Steffi Graf’s Birthday. Why it Matters…To Me.

Today is June 14th. It marks the birthday of one of the greatest female tennis players ever.

This is a player that has won 22 grand slams in singles, a golden slam in 1988, 107 career singles titles, and a 902-115 win/loss record in her career. The accolades could go on and on but I think that would just be showing off.

She proved to us that great footwork and a slice backhand could be a weapon.

For me, Idolizing Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker as a young player growing up was normal.

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But as a boy who admired Stefan and Boris, I was frowned upon for expressing my admiration of Steffi Graf.

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No one ever told me this at the time, but I guess its not common for males to idolize female athletes, at least outwardly, or mimic their slice backhands for that matter, especially when during adolescence the desire to portray yourself as anything that resembled a females game would be asking for harsh comments and teasing from your tennis peers. But I didn’t care. I recognized greatness when I saw it. Steffi Graf was greatness.

Although my footwork was never as precise as hers, nor was my serve toss as high, nor was I ever willing to run around and dictate my forehand that often, there is not a day that goes by where I don’t step the tennis courts and give credit to Steffi Graf for inspiring me to play. I give her the same credit that I do for Edberg and Becker.
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Watching me play, the last person you would compare my game to would be someone like Steffi’s. Although I like my game and am pleased with where it has gotten me in my career. My serve, my biggest weapon, is an artists’ rendering of Richard Krajicek’s on crack.
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My footwork, mainly because of my large feet is not smooth or ballet-esque. It is closer to the chaos and noise that is equivalent to a 9 year old with a sugar high beating on a drum set.

My forehand, depending on the day, is a mad scientist-esque genetic cross mutation of Tomas Berdych and Stefan Edberg.

None of my strokes or game style even slightly penetrates the visual technique and tactics that is Fraulein Forehand. Her game did not leave its mark on my strokes like others have. Steffi never had that effect on me. Instead, her game penetrated deeper than the others, much like her forehand compared to her contemporaries. She left her mark in my mind and in my heart. Because of her, I’m always able to appreciate greatness when I see it.

Happy Birthday Steffi!
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Thanks for reading.

Kyle LaCroix

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Teaching tennis for over 3 decades, Kyle LaCroix has been the Head Tennis Professional of a private high end resort style club in South Florida for the past 9 years. He is also currently a USPTA Tester for the Florida Division. He has tested over 600 USPTA applicants & professionals and counting during his tenure and personally mentored 35 individual applicants in preparation for their testing and certification. He has been named USPTA Florida Division Tester of the Year in 2010 and 2012 as well as The USPTA Florida Division District Professional of the Year in 2011. Kyle has also worked for the USPTA as a Tester in cooperation with the ATP and WTA Tours as part of their Professional Development Programs for retiring professionals interested a career as teachers and coaches. Along with his tennis teaching and testing credentials on court, Kyle has also written for USPTA Addvantage Magazine, USPTA Baselines Magazine (USPTA Florida Division Newsletter) and is a frequent contributor to the tennis instructional website Tennisplayer.net. His website is www.kylelacroix.usptapro.com Follow @TennisTycoon - See more at: http://lovesetmatch.net/about/#sthash.QYenVt7W.dpuf