Robert Lansdorp Passed Away

[neilchok]

I just found out from someone that Robert Lansdorp passed away. I read all his articles on this website, as this is pretty much the only information on his teaching philosophy. Just from reading the articles on this website, I have gotten way better. I think he is easily one of the best tennis coaches in the history of his game. He produced so many top players, it is crazy.

I feel his drills and his philosophy are some of the most simple to follow. What an absolute loss!

[johnyandell]

Yep. Gonna have a tribute article from Barry Buss next month... and true we are the most complete source for Robert's methods...

[neilchok]

Thanks John, I was able to speak to him. He messaged me back and said he was hoping to get back on the courts in July. He told me he would be able to give me a lesson at that time. When I spoke to him, he said if you have any questions in the mean time you could text him. I tried watching everything on the internet related to him. Still would have loved to get a lesson from him.

[don_budge]

Truly a loss for the tennis world. A blast from the past? Yes. But a truly fine coach. Old school...the best kind. He didn't need a second opinion. He was his own man and he did things his way. May the Lord bless his soul and may he rest in peace.

[florin]

https://robertlansdorp.wordpress.com some words by him! he really hated USTA

[neilchok]

Yeah there is an interview by John Austin, Tracy's brother. Apparently when he grew up, he was overweight and maybe not that athletic. All the pros at the club suggested to his mom that tennis might not be the sport for him. He then took a lesson with Robert, and after the lesson he went up to his mom and said I hate that guy, I never want to ever do a lesson with him again. He kept on working with him, and won Kalamazoo!!!

https://www.tennislegendslegacy.com/#/johnaustin/

[jimlosaltos]

Yeah there is an interview by John Austin, Tracy's brother. Apparently when he grew up, he was overweight and maybe not that athletic. All the pros at the club suggested to his mom that tennis might not be the sport for him. He then took a lesson with Robert, and after the lesson he went up to his mom and said I hate that guy, I never want to ever do a lesson with him again. He kept on working with him, and won Kalamazoo!!!

https://www.tennislegendslegacy.com/#/johnaustin/

Great story. Thanks for sharing.

[jimlosaltos]

Here's the NYT write up:

Robert Lansdorp, Coach of Tennis Champions, Is Dead at 85

His students, including Tracy Austin, Maria Sharapova, Pete Sampras and Lindsay Davenport, developed their ground strokes through his regimen of intense repetition.

This "should" be a free aka guest link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/21/sports/tennis/robert-lansdorp-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.NU4.aSBz.x3bjlRnk6-SU&smid=url-share

[stotty]

Here's the NYT write up:

Robert Lansdorp, Coach of Tennis Champions, Is Dead at 85

His students, including Tracy Austin, Maria Sharapova, Pete Sampras and Lindsay Davenport, developed their ground strokes through his regimen of intense repetition.

This "should" be a free aka guest link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/21/sports/tennis/robert-lansdorp-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.NU4.aSBz.x3bjlRn k6-SU&smid=url-share

Nice article. Robert sounds very old school...repetition, repetition, repetition.

[jimlosaltos]

Nice article. Robert sounds very old school...repetition, repetition, repetition.

I still remember Lansdrop quoted as saying "It's my way or highway". Mainly because an old boss of mine once said that to a hall full of hundreds of employees once.

The silence was defeating for a group that wasn't quite used to that

[stotty]

Much of the thinking at academies here is that repetitively repeating a stroke over and over again isn't the way to do it. Many advocate working on a specific stroke for a short while and then sewing it into game-type drills, and then going back to working on the specific stroke again...kind of back-and-forth style.

A lot of self-styled driven coaches seem to have a lot of success compared to those who follow all the rules.