导出博客文章Back in the early 1980s, Ernesto Escobedo Jr. dreamed of becoming a professional
tennis player.But I did not have any talent, he explained last week from Las
Vegas. No, no, no. I wasnt really a tennis player.As a teenager, he played
events in Mexico and found his way to small-money tournaments in Holland,
France, Italy and Spain. But after a few years of scuffling -- his career-high
doubles ranking was No. 727 -- he returned to Mexico.I loved everything about
tennis, he said, laughing. But when I hit 20, I started to realize it wasnt my
future. I always had the feeling that I was going against the water, the
ocean.In Mexico, where most of his family was, he met his future wife, Cristina.
In 1986, they moved to Los Angeles, Ernesto Jr.s birthplace.A decade later,
Ernesto III appeared, and although his father tried to steer him into team
sports like soccer and basketball, he was happiest with a tennis racket in his
hand. This made Ernesto Jr. very unhappy.He didnt want to me to go through what
he did, Ernesto III said.The son hit against the wall at school, sometimes
joined by his mother. Initially, Ernesto Jr., who drove a truck for UPS, stayed
out of it. But when he saw those unnaturally fluid strokes, Ernesto IIIs
precocious court sense, he eventually relented.The first tournament, at the age
of 8, came at Pacific Palms in Industry Hills, California.I lost first round,
Ernesto III said. But it was so much fun. I liked being out there and
competing.Gradually, the fathers deferred dream came true -- for the son. And
today, the son is succeeding primarily because of his father.On Oct. 15, when
Ernesto III won the ATP World Tour Challenger event in Monterrey, Mexico, the
first call was to his father.He cried, Ernesto III said. He said he was proud of
me.That meant a lot.Escobedo, at 20, is one of the most dynamic young players in
this country. Brad Gilbert, former coach of Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick (one
of Escobedos idols growing up) sees him as a future top-50 player and maybe
better.The title at Monterrey completed a spectacular 53-week cycle that saw his
ATP ranking rise from No. 541 to a career-high No. 129. After reaching the
semifinals a year ago in Monterrey, Escobedo ripped through the Challenger
circuit, reaching the finals in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Cary, North Carolina, and
winning in Lexington, Kentucky, beating highly regarded American teenager
Francis Tiafoe in the final.At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Escobedo hits the ball big
off both wings and, according to Gilbert, has a better serve than his modest
body would suggest. Gilbert, however, describes his movement as average.When
this was relayed to him, Escobedo started laughing.Im not the quickest guy on
the court, he said. Its something for me to improve on. Ive been working hard
for the past two months on the track with explosive weights, and thats been
helping me a lot.Working hard is something he picked up from his father, who
like Richard and Oracene Williams started his child on the public courts of
southern California.Same thing, Ernesto Jr. explained. I didnt want to get into
tennis because I knew how hard it was. I had no resources, no money. So it was
the parks, not the clubs. I started hitting with him and, little by little, we
got hooked again.I told him then, If youre going to be good one day, its not
going to because of the money.Ernesto Jr. cut his job back to part time so he
could spend more time on court with his son. Like the Williams parents, he also
avoided the conventional junior system, saying he wanted to keep the family
together.He started playing Futures tournaments when he was 16, Ernesto Jr.
said. When he reached a semifinal, we started practicing harder. My plan was for
him to go to college, but he said he wanted to see if he could make it in the
pros.He told me, A lot of players dont have this opportunity. I dont want to be
regretting this for the rest of my life.I wasnt convinced.But his sons
persistence -- and evident happiness -- changed his mind. Ernesto Jr. still
wishes he was pursuing a college degree that he said was offered by USC, but hes
seeing progress.A year ago when Ernesto III reached the semifinal in Monterrey,
he wasnt ready.I couldnt focus at all, Escobedo said. It was too big of a stage
for me, and my emotions got in the way.I learned a lot from that match. Ive
matured a lot. Im much more comfortable in that situation.His goal is to be in
the top 100 pretty soon, which would qualify him automatically into the main
draws of Grand Slams. He said he is trying to be a more aggressive player,
coming to net more often and serving and volleying. This isnt the conventional
baseline style, but Escobedo isnt as big as some of the ATPs other #NextGen
players, such fellow American?Taylor Fritz, with whom he shares coach Peter
Lucassen, or Alexander Zverev of Germany.This weeks Las Vegas Challenger, where
he won his first-round match, was his 28th event in a jammed calendar that
included a good mix of Futures, Challengers and ATP tournaments. He won his
first ATP-level match after qualifying in Nottingham back in June, beating Diego
Schwartzman. Escobedo, a wild card at the US Open, split four sets with Lukas
Lacko before winning by retirement. Escobedo will finish up with Challengers in
Ecuador and Colombia.With the help of the USTA, Escobedo is getting coaching and
support as he travels the world and learns the nuances of the game. His father
still insists he play hard and exhibit good body language.Understandably,
because of his personal experience, he is cautious.You cant get ahead of
yourself, Escobedo Jr. said, speaking more of his son than himself. Im trying
not to get too excited. We dont know what lies ahead, two, three years.But, Ive
already done my part.What was it like to hear that his son had won an important
tournament?Doing what I dreamed of, he said, voice trailing off. Its a beautiful
feeling. Beautiful. I cant ask anything for more.
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will miss the upcoming season with a chest injury.Clevelands leader in sacks
last season, the 30-year-old Bryant underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a
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Im frustrated and disappointed about having to miss some time out there with my
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