I Put the Free in Freelance

In the last few weeks of December I saw another of my pieces picked up in a magazine. I would have been more excited to see credit given in the form of a byline or better yet, payment. As I received neither, I will post the piece on my site, hoping someday, somehow it is read and attributed to me.

The article features Johan Kriek, former top 10 tennis player, who recently opened a tennis academy in Florida. Because this is my site and I can do whatever the hell I want here, I'm including the original version of the article that was in my opinion far better than the sanitized version Kriek and his handlers returned to me.

Lob.

Johan Kriek is Hands-On at his New Tennis Academy

This fall the Kriek Eagleton Tennis Academy opened its doors in Sarasota, Florida at the Longboat Key Club and Resort. The Academy is a partnership between two-time Australian Open champion Johan Kriek and fellow South African tennis player John Eagleton. Kriek and Eagleton held an open house after Labor Day and they are already working with more than a dozen players onsite.

Kriek, who was ranked in the Top 10 in the world, won the Australian Open in 1981 and 1982 and has fourteen singles titles and eight doubles titles. Eagleton, formerly ranked No. 1 at the University of Miami for both singles and doubles, is an ATP tour-certified professional who has established himself as a highly respected coach. Eagleton’s students have clinched state, national and NCAA championships, and many others attained scholarships to top universities.

For the two lifelong friends, the Academy is a dream some years in the making. They were looking for the right opportunity and the right spot. They both felt it was essential to link the Academy to a resort. The Longboat Key Club fits the bill. The Club is AAA Four-Diamond resort located on a barrier island just off the coast of Sarasota.

The Academy also has a unique mission. Their focus is on teaching players of all levels to achieve their personal best, or as they call it “unlocking their inner tennis.” Kriek says, “It may be you want to beat your high school buddies on the court or get to college on a scholarship. If we find the next Wimbledon star, that’s great too.” These two coaches want to teach kids about more than tennis. As Kriek says, “Think about being people first and tennis players next.”

Kriek and Eagleton are determined to be very hands-on with their players. Eagleton says of Kriek, “He might be the highest-ranked player to ever commit to being on the court and actually teaching these kids.” Kriek says “Johnny’s been coaching for 25 years and knows the college route very well, having been there himself. His knowledge of the college track and my understanding of pro tennis are big pluses for us and for our students.”

Eagleton and Kriek also want to emphasize learning tennis in all its aspects because it is an advantage their students will have over the competition. According to Kriek, “I ask kids now, ‘Are you only going to hit big topspin all day?’ It’s important to have this tool, but why not have all the tools? Spin, slice, serve and volley. They need to look for opportunity to use all these shots.”
Kriek and Eagleton are also planning to travel with their players to competitions. Seeing how players react under pressure is an important part of training and another investment these coaches are making in their students.

As Kriek says, “I had no coach the first time I made it to the US Open. I was so nervous. But everything in my game has been trial and error. I wish I’d had somebody then who really knew how to guide me mentally and prepare me for the big moments.”

As many as 30 players ages 8 to 18 will have access to the courts at Longboat Key Club. The Academy offers a full-day program or half-day program, with a third option for students coming from out of town. Daga Sellers, a former Division 1 player from Virginia Tech, and John Belsito, a physical trainer, have also joined the Academy staff.

Sidebar
Johan Kriek is giving back to his native Africa through the Global Water Foundation he established with Minnie Hildebrand two years ago. The Foundation recently completed a project in a remote area of Uganda. About the project, Johan Kriek said, “It took six months in Uganda but people there have been living without clean water all their lives. We just completed another project in Manta, Ecuador. I’d love to be spending even more time on this but you’ve got to make in order to give.”

kriek.pdf