Dear Recreational Tennis Player

Welcome to the revamped Roving Player. One of the benefits of life as a Roving Player is the chance to watch and learn lessons first-hand from the world's very best tennis players and wisest coaches. Joel Drucker will take what's current in tennis and discuss how this can improve your game. We hope you enjoy the new column and let us know what you think.

Madrid Masters- The Long Hard Season
October - Champions Cup
September - Andre Agassi - The Making of a Champion
August 20 - New Haven: How to gear yourself up for high-stakes tennis
Aug 10 -  East West Bank & Masters Series Montreal: How to take on a better player
July 30 - Acura Classic: What you can learn from Venus Williams

Read Archived Roving Player 

-  July 17, 2007
-  July 3, 2007
-  June 12, 2007
-  May 22, 2007
-  May 8, 2007
-  April 24, 2007
-  March 27, 2007
-  March 13, 2007
-  January 30, 2007
-  January 9, 2007
-  December 26,2006
-  December 14, 2006
-  November 16, 2006
-  October 24, 2006
-  October 10, 2006
-  September 19, 2006
-  September 5, 2006
-  August 1, 2006
-  July 14, 2006
-  June 26, 2006
-  June 19, 2006


A word from Joel
My name is Joel Drucker. I write about professional tennis for a living, but that's only one reason why I'm writing to you.

You see, I am also one of you. I'm a 45-year-old 4.5 player who's been playing since he was 12 - and got yelled at for being a "dinker" the first time I ever played a tournament (by a victorious opponent!).

I've been through many of the same experiences as you - strange league matches, odd happenings during tournaments, wacky misunderstandings between you and your opponents, anguish at doubles partners.

I know how crazy this world of recreational tennis can, that in some senses its deregulated nature makes it much more bizarre than anything the pros go through. I've also been lucky enough to have spent many hours talking and even occasionally hitting with some of the finest minds in the game - people like Billie Jean King, John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, John Newcombe, and many other tennis legends.

My goal is to bring all that experience to this column - "The Roving Player" -- and offer you advice that will help us enjoy this game more. After all, if you're not making money, it better be fun, right? Then again, as that consummate tactician, Brad Gilbert, once told me, "Everyone says they play for fun. But I guarantee you it's more fun to win."

So, please, share your opinions and write in your questions at therovingplayer@thetennischannel.com.

That's enough for now. I've got a doubles match in an hour.

See you on the court,
 
-Joel Drucker