A few summers ago, as usual, I had taken a group of young players to Barcelona for a 6 weeks training and tournament play.

My place of choice was the Andrés Gimeno Ténis Club in Casteldefells, a ten minute drive from Barcelona, next to the beach and with all the necessary facilities to make a gruelling 6 weeks of tennis somewhat more enjoyable for the youngsters.

Some of you will say Andrés who? Here is a bit of history...

"Andres Gimeno won the French Open in 1972 at the age of 34 years old, the oldest champion to grace the red clay at Roland Garros. In addition, he reached the final at the 1968 French Championships and the 1969 Australian Championships; the semifinal at Wimbledon in 1970; the quarterfinals at the 1958 Australian Championships, also the 1960 and 1969 French Championships. Gimeno captured seven singles titles and four doubles titles (in the Open era) and reached a career high ranking of No. 9 in the world. As a member of Spain’s Davis Cup team 1958-60, 1972 and 1973, he posted a playing record of 23-10. As an amateur in a country starved for top-ranking sportsmen, he became incredibly popular, as did the sport of tennis, and he became a national hero. In 1960, Gimeno signed on to the professional tennis tour staged by Jack Kramer and was an immediate sensation in the pro ranks – finishing his first series second only to Pancho Gonzalez. Wielding a great overhead smash, strong volleys, a formidable forehand and exceptional grace and balance, Gimeno’s career is highlighted in the sport’s amateur and professional periods, and then crossed into the Open era of tennis."

The "Junior Circuit of Catalonia" is a tough endeavor with participating players from several countries and some of Spain's very best. So practicing at Gimeno's made even more sense because we had a relaxed atmosphere and the possibility to combine tennis training sessions and matchplay practice with the competition players of the Club and Gimeno's tennis school. Also, in some cases when necessary due to different tournament entries we would take care of each others players, for the day or the afternoon. An extremely friendly and welcoming arrangement, with mutual benefits.
Often during practice matches, Mr. Gimeno sat under a beautiful pine tree in between courts (typical Spanish creativity) that provided much needed shade in the searing Spanish summer sun. Through the years a friendship developed and I often came to talk with him, about how the boys and girls were doing, the tennis school and its needs, the past, his career and so on.

One day Ken Rosewall was mentioned in the conversation and he said:

- Si, "The BLUE POINT"! And went on to say; "When I was a little boy my father at the Tennis Club in Barcelona told me to go anywhere I could not see the players and then listen how they struck the ball. The best achieve "The BLUE POINT" almost all the time!"

- Ken Rosewall did that!

Immediately Ken Rosewalls ball strike clearly stuck out in my sound memory and I understood what "The BLUE POINT" was.

The lesson learned was, before you get yourself and your kids busy with all the fantastic, super duper, tennis topspin and spins of all sorts, teach them a basic principle; (be it the tennis serve, backhand groundstroke, backhand passing shot, forehand in tennis, tennis smash or the volley in tennis), strike the ball clean and in the center of the racket at all times.

One flagrant example of this in today's tennis is Lindsay Davenport, a player with very limited movement, but who uses the "The BLUE POINT" on each and every one of her strokes. And the consequences for her opponents are:

- Devastating precision and ball placement.

- Tremendous effortless power

- Terrific control and dominance of the court

Can mere mortals achieve this? Sure you can! All you have to do is try.

Enjoy the "The BLUE POINT".

Sergio

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