Europeans have the depth and it is no wonder why with their excellent support system of prize money tournaments, national ranking system, team tennis, small countries close together and training methods heavily influenced by Eastern Europe, that they can sit back with amusement wondering when the US will regain its power now that the fab four are on their way out. Imagine little Slovenia having at the same time the number one and two female Juniors in the world. How do they do that?

Please note: For all you kill the Hawaiian Grip fans, Tina (Piznik) can also hit very flat with this grip, and can change it in a second and puff McEnroe volleys in the corners as well as ace her opponents up the middle with her serve. So welcome to the land of opportunity. No, it is not the US. While our supposed US hopefuls are busy worrying about that education and how to secure that scholarship, Europe is having a free for all in dominance of our sport. Yes, our sport (in the 70's) but only because Europe was not playing. In less than 10 years of participation, Europe mastered our skills and beyond, coupled with an intact support system to make us look like the keystone cops in training. More speeches to kids at National Junior events about how nobody is going to make it in pro tennis (thank you so much for this, you truly get the inspirational speaking award) so you better just go to college and I mean right now. Forget playing the circuit from age 14 - 20 and trying to become something, you must go to college right now. And if that was not enough to kill any kind of tennis resurgence in our youth, let's make sure that playing on that little team for Stanford or UCLA is the most important thing. Never mind that you will be under stress as you go jet-setting all over the US to play those team matches while missing your pre-med labs. Never mind that you spent almost $100,000 on your tennis to get the $50,000 partial scholarship behind some mediocre European ranked two spots above you who happens to find the school here a joke as he makes straight A's and serves the ball past your earlobes at 125 mph.

So where did our system all go wrong? Is it still that "we stress education in America" excuse and "all Europeans who start playing professional tennis at age 15 become milkmaids and farmers if they do not make it" deal still in your heads? Do you actually still believe that? Give me a break. Wake up America! It is fun to try to achieve a world ranking. America just doesn't seem to think so anymore. How sad. Unless it is handed to us on a silver platter, America just doesn't want to try anymore. We have so many educational options! There is really no excuse to not go for it at a young age. Unfortunately we focus on everything else but getting out on the pro tour at a young age and playing Qualifyings in Europe. Home schooling, correspondence, on-line coursework (GED and college degrees), there are really so many options for Americans and their beloved education! Wild card city or forget it. Right juniors? Don't make wild cards your only method for achieving a ranking. After giving our kids so many wild cards who have achieved relatively little in the first place, our players only think they are good but the truth is to call our American kids real players is really wrong as the Europeans are really beating us in all categories. As St. Francis of Assisi once said to his father (in regards to money and possessions): "Throw it all away, it will only make you miserable." Reference: Brother Son, Sister Moon. Grinding at the bottom on red clay, events mostly in Europe, especially for girls, due to the vast amount of Open Qualifyings at the $10,000 level is the way to go if we are ever to counter the European dominance going on in the sport.

And you, in Slovenia, how did you start your day today living from your father's $200 per month income? Gee, I think I will really try to be #1 in the world. Why not? I will start at the Qualie level in Belgium and then I will go to Croatia. At least I will try with all my heart until I am 20 and then I will go milk cows! NOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTT! Between 16 and 18 Europeans experience a greater flexibility in their march to eventual University studies if they do not crack the top 200 by 20 years of age. They can continue playing Satellite or Futures events in pursuit of a world ranking while completing their Abitur. Or maybe some Europeans opt for a US college scholarship. After all, they gave their heart and soul to the game they love, but now it is time to move on. At 20 years old and never having gotten ranked higher than 600, it is time to move on, but no one can ever say they did not try. If they do not follow the "Abitur" route (preparation for university studies in Europe), they can always attend a vocational school after they have given tennis a decent try. And for having at least played, for that they can be thankful, having become a richer and less shallow person because of it.

Who wrote this! Well if you have not already guessed, it is your humble, radical, leftist, Janice Combs, terrorizing the American tennis world. I can't help it, I know too much and I lived in Germany. And I was one of the lucky ones who got to live out their dream against all odds. I have a degree in Biology and a zillion other hours in Sports Medicine and German, but so what. Tennis meant more to me than anything. Is anybody ready to defect? Let's go to Europe, start at the bottom and beat some Europeans on red clay. (Girls tour).