What does a well-developed tennis player actually look like?

Ajla Tomljanović spending time with the Hot Shot Tennis for Kids program. (Tennis Australia)

There has been a lot of discussion recently around junior development and whether Australia is truly developing players or simply developing good ball strikers.

Recently, there were comments suggesting that there are plenty of coaches capable of teaching strong clay court skills. To be fair, every state in Australia does have access to clay in some capacity, even if some regions naturally have more hard courts or synthetic grass than others.

In my opinion, the bigger issue is not simply whether a player has spent time on clay, but whether players are being developed well enough to adapt across different surfaces, conditions, and styles of tennis.

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When discussing clay court development, I do not believe we should focus only on the outliers — rare athletes who are naturally adaptable and can perform well regardless of environment. The broader challenge is developing players who can adapt tactically, physically, and mentally throughout their progression.

Modern tennis has clearly shifted towards power, first-strike patterns, and shorter rallies. Although those qualities are important in today's game, there are also times when development can become too heavily focused on ball striking alone.

In some cases, players can strike the ball impressively but still lack a deeper understanding of:

• Point construction

• Momentum management

• Variation

• Defensive skills

• Surface adaptability

• Building points under pressure

A well-developed player should also understand how to absorb pressure, adapt patterns, solve problems during matches, and recognise what different situations require beyond simply hitting harder.

Surface training should not only develop movement patterns specific to clay, grass, or hard court. It should also help players develop patience, spacing, tactical flexibility, balance, shape of shot, and broader problem-solving skills.

True development is not about producing players who are only effective within one style of tennis, but rather players who can continue adapting as the game, conditions, and level evolve around them.

A well-developed player can adapt

One of the clearest signs of development is adaptability.

Strong players can problem-solve during matches, adjust tactically when Plan A fails, and recognise momentum swings, patterns, and weaknesses in opponents.

At higher levels, tennis becomes less about perfect ball striking and more about decision-making under pressure. The players who continue progressing are often those who can adapt rather than simply overpower opponents at younger ages.

They understand more than just technique

Technique is important, but development is not just about how clean a forehand looks in training.

A well-developed player begins to understand:

• Shot selection

• Point construction

• Court positioning

• Tempo changes

• Risk versus reward

• Scoreboard pressure

They begin to understand why they are making certain decisions, not just how to execute them.

Their movement is efficient, not just fast

Movement in tennis is often misunderstood.

A player may be quick, explosive, or athletic, but efficient movement involves much more than speed alone. Recovery, balance under pressure, body control, spacing, and maintaining court position all become critical as the level increases.

Many juniors learn to strike the ball well before learning how to truly move and manage the court. Long-term development requires both.

They can win in different ways

One thing that stands out when watching higher-level players is their ability to win in multiple ways.

Some days they attack. Some days they defend. Some days they absorb pressure. Some days they shorten points.

A well-developed player is not trapped by one identity. They can adapt depending on conditions, surfaces, opponents, and match situations.

Exposing athletes to more variable experiences at younger ages plays an important role in developing adaptability and long-term problem-solving skills.

They compete well when things go wrong

One of the biggest indicators of long-term development is how players respond when momentum shifts against them.

Pressure, frustration, self-doubt, and emotional discomfort are all part of competitive tennis. Players who continue progressing are often those who learn to stay disciplined and emotionally stable during difficult moments.

Competitive resilience is developed through exposure, accountability, and learning how to navigate adversity rather than avoid it.

They take ownership of their development

As players mature, another important shift begins to happen. They become active participants in their own development.

They ask questions. They reflect. They seek understanding. They become curious about their own game and learning process.

The strongest development environments encourage autonomy, responsibility, and creative learning rather than complete dependence on instruction.

Development isn't linear

Every athlete develops differently. Some mature physically earlier. Some emotionally later. Some develop tactically before technically.

There is no perfect blueprint.

From my experience, one of the most important parts of development is whether players possess foundations that can survive the next level.

Because eventually:

• Opponents become stronger

• Physical advantages disappear

• Pressure increases

• Predictable patterns stop working

That is often where genuine development begins to reveal itself.

Winning young can be important, but long-term progression stems much deeper than results alone.

One of the most important conversations in junior development is having clarity around the type of player we are trying to build and the identity we want our coaching environments and programs to represent.

Beti Sekulovski is a former top Australian junior and pro player, now helping athletes unlock performance through data, coaching and insight. Beti is a qualified High Performance coach, consultant and commentator.

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ML Tennis delivers world-class coaching and structured player pathways for athletes of all ages and levels — from grassroots participation through to aspirational and high-performance players.

Led by Player Development Specialist Coach Michael Logarzo, ML Tennis is recognised as a Tennis Australia Talent Hub and operates across multiple venues throughout Melbourne.

Supported by an expert coaching team, ML Tennis delivers structured programs, a proven record of player progression, and an athlete-driven culture that supports every player to build their own tennis journey.

www.michaellogarzotennis.com.au