Zhenya, we are so grateful for the opportunity to get to know you a little better. Please share some information and facts about yourself.
BACKGROUND
Where and when did you start playing tennis?
In 1979 Minsk, Belarus at the newly built indoor tennis facility prior to 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, Russia. Four indoor carpet courts.
Memorable moment that inspired you and made you passionate about the sport.
Watching the Soviet men’s and women’s national tennis team practice during their training camps and watching them compete.
Mentors and how they inspired you.
My first coach, Semyon Kagan, had a unique way to get his message across – he did not mince words. A couple of other coaches also made a difference – they provided tough love and nothing else. Your best was expected at all times. They held us accountable and did not put up with any excuses.
My dad was always very supportive, he encouraged me to practice on my own, hitting against the wall. He came up with challenges for me and ways to measure progress. He instilled a growth mind set to never stop learning and to keep trying to improve every day.
Fondest childhood memories.
Playing tennis against the wall for hours, hitting targets, coming up with games and challenges. Chasing partridges, flocking nearby. Tennis balls going over the fence to the adjoining Agriculture Outdoor Exhibition, which had a ton of apple trees. To fetch balls I had to climb over the fence – occasionally I would grab a handful of apples. Though they were not quite ripe and a bit sour, it did not matter...
Playing best out of five sets in the summer with my buddies, pretending we were Borg, Connors or McEnroe.
Spending two-three weeks at the National Training Centre outside of Minsk, where all the Olympic teams trained and prepared for the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea. We got to train, workout, live in the same hotel and eat alongside them.
Memories of the nearby lake, forest, outdoor and indoor facilities, soccer fields where we did sprints and core training – stopping only when we could no longer get up.
Watching the national basketball team slowly wade into the nearby lake, like a herd of elephants, huge, deliberate until they almost reached the mid-point to get to the deep spot.
Going to tournaments, travelling with other players, seeing different cities, cultures, staying in hotels, “planes, trains and automobiles”.
If you didn’t become a tennis pro, what would you have wanted to become?
When I was a kid, I wanted to be a fighter pilot, a surgeon, cosmonaut (everyone did ;-) ), a police officer, bus driver (operating the gearshift and controlling the big machine), journalist and writer. Always desired to be an adventurer, to sail, travel, explore and discover.
THE GAME
What have you seen change the most in tennis during your life?
Equipment (racquets, strings) changed the game a lot, providing a lot more power, spin and speed. We grew up with heavy wooden rackets, which dictated certain technical fundamentals and fitness levels. With modern racquets and their new graphite and composite materials, not only did technique evolve, but so did the approach to training – the importance of sport sciences, evolution of teaching methodology and how the game is now being played at the pro level. Progressive tennis (low compression balls, junior-size racquets, mini nets, etc.) fundamentally changed how the sport is being taught to juniors now. A lot more resources are available to coaches these days.
What can one learn from other sports that you can translate to tennis?
My first sport was chess, so the analogies are abundant: recognizing patterns, decision making, offence-defence, planning a few moves ahead, being mentally tough. Not giving up. Finding a way to win. Respect for the game, yourself and your opponent.
In competition – should you play your best game, or force your opponent to play his worst?
I think, for me it would be to play my best, focused on what I do well and not getting distracted by negative thoughts and worrying about what my opponent is doing or letting emotions take over. Staying in the moment. Concentrate on the present, breathe and dig deep within. The Ukrainian pole vault jumper, world recorder holder Sergei Bubka once said: “If you still have one more attempt, one more try – you haven’t lost."
What should people focus on during warm-up and match preparation?
I think, it is more important to warm-up yourself well and focus on you. If you pay too much attention on your opponent, you might either get overconfident or intimidated; either way it is not optimal. I recommend reading Brad Gilbert’s “Winning Ugly” to get nitty gritty suggestions for warm-up and match preparation.
TIPS AND ADVICE
Any advice on avoiding injury?
Play within your capabilities; know your limits. Work on fitness, stretching and make sure your stroke mechanics are correct. Having the right equipment, like racquet (weight, balance, grip size, head size), string tension and type of string are factors. Most injuries are a result of poor technique or conditioning. For a recreational player, overdoing it, like playing many hours back to back several days in a row, can impact that too.
Should children play multiple sports or dedicate themselves to one only?
I recommend “lateral development” or playing different sports at an early age. One of the reasons that Sweden produced so many great champions, like Borg, Wilander, Nostrom, Johannson and Edberg was that approach. Playing sports like soccer, hockey, baseball, being able to swim, climb, throw, do martial arts, playing table tennis and badminton, are all great ways to build physical literacy and “vocabulary” for future success. Specialization can come in a bit later, depending on the child. Focusing too early on one sport can lead to burnout and them quitting.
Any advice for people with disabilities / physical challenges on playing tennis?
Absolutely, try to pick up a racquet, give tennis a shot. The sport is now more accessible with many available resources than ever before. Go gentle, seek the right help and do not doubt yourself, this is a sport for life and for everyone.
Best advice you have ever been given?
Get to know yourself and do not be satisfied with mediocrity.
LIFE AS A PRO
Best moment / worst moment teaching.
I think over my thirty years teaching, I had plenty of successes and inevitably, some failures. Most or all of them had everything to do with the ability to connect, to do or say the right thing at the right time, being there and being present 100% – remembering that it is not about you, this is about your student or students. Being authentic, and honest with yourself. Not worrying about perception, what someone else thinks and not holding back, really.
What is the most challenging thing about being a tennis pro?
Having to commit to the life-long journey of serving, teaching and helping others. Also, you need to be open to learning and the ability to change, and redefine yourself, as time goes on. It is a great career path, but also one where you won’t last unless you are all in. Despite struggles along the way, it’s a rewarding way to make a living, but hardly lucrative. It is highly demanding on your body, mind and your time.
LAST WORDS
I never get tired of hitting a tennis ball, it is a great pleasure and privilege to be able to do that and to share what I know and my passion for the sport with others.
Thank you so much Zhenya, for letting us get to know you a little better and for all your contributions to Ottawa’s tennis scene!
Zhenya Kondratovski’s tennis background is in high performance and coaching. He has developed and worked with provincial, national and NCAA calibre players for over thirty years. In addition to teaching at the Rockcliffe Lawn Tennis Club, he is Regional Coordinator with the Ontario Tennis Association (OTA) for Ottawa, Head Coach of the University of Ottawa Men's and Women's tennis teams, and Tennis Professional at the Sports Training Academy (STA) in Ottawa.
Zhenya holds Tennis Canada Coach 2, Club Pro 2, and cardio tennis certifications. He is a member of the TPA and recipient of the Coaching Excellence Award from Tennis Canada. Zhenya believes in sharing his knowledge and experience with his students, peers and working with all stakeholders, clubs, schools, communities, businesses to grow and promote junior development and tennis in Ontario.
Zhenya can be reached at:
headpro@rltennis.ca
Additional Links
You are quite the character Zhenya! Wow - what a series of lives you have lead! So happy you have provided this interview..... I'm with you - I also do not tire hitting tennis balls with anyone, anytime, any place. I cannot wait for tennis to fully resume without restrictions!