Some tennis players have quirks and superstitions, and Melissa Beadman is no different. She bounces the ball precisely seven times before serving.
It’s believed Ivan Lendl started it and others including Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams followed. Melissa Beadman also confesses to the practice.
Some tennis players have quirks and superstitions, and Melissa Beadman is no different. She bounces the ball precisely seven times before serving.
Jelena Dokic bounced the ball five times before her first serve and twice before her second. When Serena Williams was on a winning run in a tournament, she would wear the same socks every day without washing them.
Such is the approach of some elite athletes seeking to find rhythm and confidence under the high stress of such individual competition.
Melissa is a big hitting player who, at her career peak, reached an impressive world ranking of 180 through the mid 1990s.
Such is her prowess that in the 2020s, she has remained a leading player in the SA State League, leading The Drive Club, a club that has had sustained success.
According to the International Tennis Federation statistics, which also take in WTA and Billie Jean King Cup results, Melissa’s best year was in 1995 where she enjoyed a 60%-win rate on grass and 60%-win rate on hard court.
Melissa Beadman, through her experience in the major tournaments on tour and a triumphant victory in the SA Women’s Harcourt Championships, is fully committed to mentoring and helping the development of younger SA players at her club.
Alana Repanich, an emerging youngster with The Drive Club, expressed her appreciation for the support offered by her mentor, saying the emphasis on enjoying the sport was as important as the advice offered.
Melissa Beadman is a member of the SA Tennis Legends Club.
