Tennis Takes contributor, Bruce Lipka, recently sat down with Oded Jacob, Head National Coach Junior Development for Tennis Canada, for an in-depth conversation on the world of tennis. Oded’s resume includes working with top pros such as Denis Shapovalov, Felix Auger-Aliassame, Shahar Peer, and Harel Levy. The two discussed the state of Canadian junior tennis, the early success of players such as Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassame, and Oded’s philosophy on how to develop junior tennis players. Thank you to Oded for bringing his unique insight to this Q&A!

(TT) What role do you play within Tennis Canada, and how did you end up there?

(OJ) My role with Tennis Canada has been a purely developmental one. I overlook the country’s 15 and under pathway and also run the West Coast National Junior Training Program.

The first role involves a broader view at the activities, selections and content of all of our national camps, official Tennis Canada tours, and some personal coach liaising. The latter role involves running on-court practices and camps on a daily basis, working with juniors, working with personal coaches, and mentoring younger up-and-coming coaches.

Previously, I spent over 18 years working in player development at the Israel Tennis Association. While there, I held a long-term Captaincy with the Fed Cup and Davis Cup teams for Israel. I also coached tour players Shahar Peer (career high #11) and Harel Levy (career high #30). In 2010, there was a shift in strategy in Israel, leaning less towards player development and more towards events. At that time, I faced a crossroads in my professional career looking for a change while avoiding the pro-tour coaching. Spending time at home with my young family took priority. Tennis Canada was hiring at the time, and there was an international hunt, which I fell right into. Bob Brett, who was working for Tennis Canada (and whom I knew for many years), asked me to come and start the West Coast High Performance platform in Canada.

You coached the Canadian Junior Davis Cup team to a championship in Madrid (2015) and a runner-up finish in Budapest (2016) on the backs of Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime. Where did this surge of players come from, and how does pipeline of current junior Canadian players look?

You have to go back to 2007 to understand the success of 2015/16 and where we are today. Tennis Canada restructured its strategy in 2007. CEO, Michael Downey, and his Board, prioritized player development in Canada. The organization was set on a mission to become a leading tennis nation.

A few major international tennis figures/experts were hired at the time too, including former French Tennis Federation High Performance Leader, Louis Borfiga, and world-famous Master Coach, Bob Brett. The two planned out a structure which included regional centers across the nation that would scout, recruit and develop 10-14 year olds. The top kids would then funnel into the main National Tennis Centre in Montreal and receive comprehensive support needed for further development.

The economic model behind Canada Tennis was a simple one… We take all revenue from Rogers Cup (Canada’s ATP and WTA events), and we invest it back into development by improving clubs/academies, regional training centres, national training centres, coach development, facility development, etc. With such a vision, clear mission, and some intelligent and passionate coaches, it was only a matter of time before our efforts showed results. Eleven years into the the mission, and the fruits of Tennis Canada speak for themselves. I can confidently say there’s a pathway in place, and more belief than ever, to create continuity of success as the sport of tennis continues to break new peaks and create more challenges.

The State of Tennis Canada Juniors

The two leading next-generation stars, Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime, are unique and both have different development pathways. This level of prospect is something we may only see every 2-3 decades, and they are certainly special by having accomplished quite a bit at a very early age. Life is about timing, and these two were fortunate to have the rising Milos Raonic, Vasek Pospisil and Eugenie Bouchard to inspire them and create the belief that a Canadian can win at a high level. The improving conditions set by the National Training Centre/Programs and its leading coaches and resources, fell into place at the right time for these boys too.

Beyond Shapovalov and Auger-Aliassime, there are a few others, both male and female, who are knocking on the door and looking to break through. There is also a younger crop (in the 14s now) who may have something to show in a couple of years.

I think it’s important to stress a few points here though:

No one could predict the early success of Denis and Felix when they were under 14. There were better players than these two in Canada earlier on.

Continuity is not guaranteed. In every nation, there are stronger age groups and there are weaker ones. Success with one age group has no correlation with success in the following one. The system has to carry on doing its work in the grass roots by filling up the pipeline with identified young players, providing them training and competing opportunities, and always having the belief the long journey is worth it.

We have several good players in Canada who did not break through as fast and as explosive as Denis and Felix. These players are either on tour, working their way through the Futures and Challengers, or playing for amazing NCAA programs. These options are great paths to continue growing their games. We all have to accept that different players develop over a different pace and at different stages. In order to be a healthy tennis nation, you need depth and you need to keep supporting depth.

(TT) What do you think Denis and Felix have to do to take their games to higher levels? Who of the top Canadians will be the first to win a Slam?

(OJ) Part of this question puts me in the role of being a predictor, which I am not good at. I will not be able to tell you who will win a Slam first just as I was wrong predicting the growth trajectory of Felix and Denis after the 2015 Junior Davis Cup title and their Junior Grand Slam titles. I can only say that Milos (and Eugenie) have come very close to winning a Slam. This success certainly spills over into strong belief for Milos and for Felix/Denis. A Canadian can do it at one point!

Taking Denis and Felix Past the Tipping Point

The other part of the question allows me to put on a different hat and to speak from my previous 15 years on the pro tour with Harel Levy and Shahar Peer. On the surface, we can all say Denis and Felix are in an outstanding position right now given their age and the level of their game. At the same time, this could also be a very tricky time for them given all the attention coming their way with media, marketing, agents, advisors, etc. Expectations are high! Over the years, we have seen some big success stories and even more failures from prospects with this caliber of potential. These young players, and their families, start feeling the pressure of high expectations and the soothing breeze of fame. This combination can create significant confusion and distraction for a player.

In order to overcome this tumultuous time in their development, it should be a top priority to nurture the fundamental values, passion, joy for the game, work ethic, and humbleness of these boys. Doing so will help them in tennis and throughout life. Having the right people and the right voices around them is crucial also. Several new ‘tunes’ start to pop up: advisors, experts, PR, etc. It can be confusing. It can also be extremely dangerous once a player ‘takes his eye of the ball’ and shifts even just a slight piece of his/her attention to these extracurricular distractions instead of growing their game. We’re talking about 18-19 year olds here whose careers have more than a decade ahead of them. Therefore, more attention to growth, development, and learning must occur rather than focusing on the shiny toys fame can bring.

The other aspect related to people who surround these young players, is obviously the knowledge and expertise on the physical side which is crucial in today’s game. These boys have to close a gap of physicality between them and the 30+ year olds: Novak, Nadal, Murray and even Dmitrov, Cilic, etc.

From the tennis coaching angle, these are players who are perfectionists, have very high motivation, and own a strong tennis IQ. They will need people who inspire them, who look after them, and who are humble enough to go out and get the extra knowledge/info they may be missing. Players of this caliber also need to keep aiming higher and backing that up with work. They need to be challenged and reminded not to get complacent.

I give the above a great deal of importance because I know that a “rainy day” will be coming at some point just as it has for every single champion of this game. My strong belief is that when your values and roots are strong and deep, and when you have the right people surrounding you, those ‘rainy days’ will not turn into disastrous floods. Instead, they turn into great opportunities for growth and learning and allow the players to eventually rise even higher.

(TT) What is your developmental philosophy for players?

(OJ) This is a great topic, and I can probably write a whole book on it.

In a nutshell, I would say that before you can develop a player you have to have someone who loves the game, has passion, and loves competition. You want someone who wants to train all day because they enjoy honing their craft. Your job is to help that person become a great human being and extremely athletic.

Plant the Tree Straight

With these in place, it’s important to “plant the tree straight.” This is my expression for giving the right foundation. You want the tree to grow straight and upwards while avoiding any hitches and/or handicaps later on. Most fundamentals are determined roughly between 8-12 years of age. This is where you want to have good values, play for the right reasons, acquire good habits, think like a winner, learn many different shots, have solid technique, learn to read the ball/space….and, at the same time, have fun being in competitive situations. A coach should be able to address all of these with a very wide vision while looking 5-10 years ahead into the player’s development.

I believe the training environment is crucial for healthy development too. At every stage and level, the environment can differ, but having a strong competitive training environment – with a variety of game styles, peers to practice/socialize with, and older role models to look up to and copy – are crucial factors in development. Although we are in an individual sport, a team is necessary at every stage and level. When you are younger, your team is your peers because they train and compete with you. When you get older, your team refers more to your professional staff.

Find the Right Balance

Finding the right sport/life balance is crucial. One has to make sure to balance the life of the youngster and not have tennis take over other areas such as academics, friends, and family. I’m an advocate for playing multiple sports at a young age too. Doing so contributes to a larger “bank of skills” and a greater level of coordination. It’s in the hands of a good coach (and parents, of course) to insist on finding a healthy balance.

The balance between training and competing also plays an important role in a player’s development. There has to be an ongoing, long-term focus on developing skills and a learning of how to compete. This balance is not identical between different individuals. A coach has to know what “suit” to dress his player in. This individualization is an art by itself. One has to be able to articulate and find the fine line between providing personalization and cultivating a team environment by sharing and working alongside other players.

When it comes to competing, almost everyone these days wants to compete “up” and avoid pressure when competing down. The dangers of favoring one over the other can lead to weaker competitors in the long run. Therefore, I believe in a healthy ratio of playing up and down in age groups and also playing against adults and seniors. The goal with seniors is to learn and absorb from more non-conventional game styles. This experience exposes one to much more problem solving.

Encourage Problem Solving

Lastly, I would like to draw attention to the importance of independent thinking and problem solving. Lifestyle changes, along with technology, have created a new generation who can solve almost any problem with a push of a button. As parents and coaches in the 21st century, our role for the upbringing of our children has taken different avenues. Kids are no longer exposed to the street/park games and free play on their own. Most of their leisure life is structured, planned and more conservative (Bryan Shelton discussed this too). Given these facts, it is mandatory we are aware and have a great understanding for how the above relates to the game of tennis. Tennis is not a scripted game. It has countless variables. It consists of constant ups and downs with demanding physical and mental situations, decision making under pressure, ongoing adjustments, and improvisations. Let’s keep all of these in mind while we are preparing our kids to deal with tennis and adult life. Unfortunately, the effects of a natural lifestyle settings and modern technology do exactly the opposite of what the tennis court demands.

(TT) Can Canada win the Davis Cup? What will it take?

(OJ) This questions comes at a very controversial time. A long campaign recently concluded and resulted in a decision to change the format of this amazing tradition. I won’t go into the changes that were made, but I will say that winning the traditional Davis Cup required a few important ingredients over a 12-month period:

Players needed to be healthy and committed to playing all ties in the 12-month period, despite their very tight ATP schedules.

Teams needed a strong bond with everyone buying into the mission of sacrificing, working, and winning as a team. There’s a patriotic value that should be significantly present if you want to capture such a title.

Home ties were determined by draw and previous encounters. Having a stretch of home ties increased your chances due to the choice of surface/venue and home crowd support.

Now, to answer your question whether Canada can win the Davis Cup. Yes, Canada Tennis can do it! Assuming our players are committed to the Davis Cup and all buy into the competition over the course of a year, then we certainly have the quality, depth, and experience to go all the way. It takes a little bit of luck too (home ties). We have a great shot with the new format too!

(TT) We started asking the top pros about their tennis gear. What’s some of your favorite tennis equipment?

(OJ) I’m sponsored by Nike and Wilson, so you can never go wrong with anything from those two companies. I’ve seen our Tennis Canada players in the Nike Men’s Air Zoom Ultra React tennis shoe, Nike Men’s RF Crew 092, and Nike Men’s Court Advantage Tennis Polo.

These are two racquets I like.

Racquet of Milos Raonic and Vasek Pospisil

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Great racquet for feeding balls





Thank you to Tennis Takes for the opportunity to share my experiences. I hope you enjoy the read and maybe even have one or two takeaways!

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