I was part of the tennis news during the Monte Carlo Masters 2019, in Monaco, a place where I was once a resident. Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert ranked ATP #36, after his victory over world #6 Kei Nishikori from Japan, and looking back over the evolution of his game, remembers a life tennis career changing meeting he had with me after another loss in a USTA/ITF Future event in Texas. His dad was a friend of mine and asked me if I could watch his son play. I did, and what I saw was not pleasant and I told myself that wouldn't want to be in either the son or the Dad's shoes. Pierre was lost on the court, every ball he missed was followed by foul language and bad body language. The dad at the same time was calm during the match, taking notes as usual, he has seen this behavior over and over, but at then end of the match when Pierre Hugues, then ranked ATP #500 lost to the #1500 ranked player in the world, I saw a big meltdown "A la Francaise" as Pierre's racquet flew from the tennis court to the golf course prompting his dad to run to the golf course to pick it up.
I felt bad for the pair, father (coach) and son in tennis is never easy, and more difficult than father (coach) and daughter. The dad asked me if I could take some time to talk to his son as he has lost all hopes, as exiting the court, Pierre Hugues said he would never play tennis again. Nevertheless I agreed to spend some time with the son under the condition that the Dad would also attend the meeting. Our meeting lasted about 2 and half hours. Talking to the Dad was as important as talking to the son as I gave them a complete evaluation of Pierre's game, and also shared some of my experiences of a lifetime on the professional tour that Pierre Hugues could relate to as well. To finish, I gave both advice on moving forward, and continuing the journey they have started as the dad has done a fantastic job with his son, and molded a game after his vision and his son's abilities and talent.
Despite being in the spotlight through Pierre Hugues's remembering his life tennis career changing meeting with me in the media, I was happy to know that I was able to reconnect a father and a son. The rest is history, Pierre went on to win 4 Grand Slams in doubles, reaching the world's number #1 in doubles, and this year a career high of #36 in singles, cashing in close to 12 Million Dollars in prize money. The words you write or speak to others can leave a huge impact and create a lasting memory--either good and bad--so it's super important to choose them wisely, as words have energy and power with the ability to help, heal, and harm.
Ronald Agénor
