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In the sporting world, young athletes not only fight their own personal challenges youngsters face in this day and age but when extremely talented can often bear the burden of immense expectation. For some, this can all occur before they become an adult.
While this isn’t new – Tiger Woods, Michael van Gerwin, Sachin Tendulkar all had expectations placed on them from a young age – the intensity has grown with social media and a 24/7 news cycle. Highlight reels of schoolboy players like Kayln Ponga or basketball talent like Cooper Flagg posted all over the internet. The 15 or 16-year-old pasted onto websites and sports opinion shows to go all over the globe.
This comes as a recent example, João Fonseca in tennis, after just one Australia Open main draw win, begins drawing comparisons to a current tennis star and how it could potentially be both a blessing and a curse.
João Fonseca, yes his win was impressive, dispatching ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets. The win immediately drew comparisons to Carlos Alcaraz, another young star who has taken the tennis world by storm.
While we constantly look for comparisons in players’ games, the constant dissection of play and automatic expectation can be overwhelming. Alcaraz has amassed an impressive resume at just 21 years of age, winning Grand Slams and dominating world rankings.
Fonseca, still finding his footing, has won one grand slam singles match and now faces expectations to mirror Alcaraz’s meteoric rise.
Our insatiable appetite for news only feed this beast through social media. Highlights go viral within minutes, accompanied by headlines proclaiming the arrival of “the next big thing.”
Before you know it fans, pundits, and influencers are talking about these players all over the globe. Despite working so hard for this goal, your life can somewhat change overnight. Often it seems to be forgotten the human being behind the athlete.
Adding to the weight is the expectation to be a role model. Whether they like it or not, these athletes are thrust into the spotlight, where their actions on and off the field are scrutinised. It’s a responsibility many older athletes grow into over time, but for young players, it can feel like they’re being asked to sprint before they’ve learned to walk.
As fans, we must remember these athletes are still developing—not just in their sports, but as people. Allowing them the space to grow without the burden of unrealistic expectations is the best way to ensure they thrive, not just in their careers, but in their lives.
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