In the world of tennis, where family heritage often shapes the path, the relationship between parents and children on the court is a fascinating topic. For some young tennis players, defeating their parents, who were also players, becomes a rite of passage. However, this situation doesn’t always occur, and some prefer to avoid direct confrontation.
The Family Challenge in Tennis
Ben Shelton, coached by his father, former professional Bryan Shelton, longed to play against him. However, his father always refused to play, still believing in his ability to beat his son.
My father never let me play against him. He probably still thinks he can beat me.
Ben Shelton
Ben Shelton y su padre Bryan, quien llegó al puesto número 55 en 1992.Casper Ruud, son of Christian Ruud, a former top 40 player, recalls his first matches against his father. Betting and competitiveness were constant elements, with Ruud gradually winning, marking a turning point in his career.
His curve was going down and mine was going up. At some point, our paths would cross, and physically, he was no longer where he was as a player. It was only a matter of time, I suppose.
Casper Ruud
Maria Sakkari, daughter of Angeliki Kanellopoulou, also a professional player, values her mother’s understanding of her career more than direct competition. For her, her mother’s support and advice are fundamental to maintaining a family balance.Tessa Shapovalova, madre de Denis Shapovalov, fue jugadora profesional, pero Shapovalov dice que nunca jugaron un partido entre ellos.Denis Shapovalov, coached by his mother, Tessa Shapovalova, never got to play official matches against her, although they did enjoy informal moments of play. For him, his mother’s influence and support were crucial.
Seb Korda, son of Petr Korda, Australian Open champion, has yet to beat his parents. For him, admiration and respect for his father are more important than victory on the court.
Jack Draper, whose father, Roger Draper, was a decent player, managed to beat his father around the age of 12 or 13. For Draper, the competitive family environment was key to his development.La madre de Taylor Fritz, Kathy May, llegó a los cuartos de final de Grand Slam durante su carrera.Taylor Fritz, with a mother who was among the top 10 in the world, remembers starting to beat her around the age of 14. For him, surpassing his mother’s ranking was a significant achievement.
