The Tennis Coaching Merry Go Round

[ponchi101]

Volleying is instinctive, not something to be learned in 2 weeks.it took me several years to feel comfortable going to the net, knowing when to go there, what to do there- even at my level..at the highest level, it must be even harder.

Yes. But these players are not starting from zero. When we say somebody in the tour does not know how to volley, we mean FOR THAT LEVEL. Heck, people thought Borg could not volley. FOR HIS LEVEL; he could volley better than anybody not in the top 30.
These players need the final tweaking; that is where Martina could help.

[mmmm8]

Roddick has an interesting take on the Djokovic- Murray partnership, on his podcast. Basically, he thinks it is a very smart move - Murray, he says, has the best tennis brain ever, and can help Djokovic deal with his rivals, in a way nobody else can, because he knows their games.. also, Djokovic is firing a warning shot - he is here to play and win..
not sure I agree but it is very interesting.. apparently, Murray is much in demand as a coach, has been approached by several top players, both ATP and WTA, and hasnt agreed - that he would agree to this is partly because it is a short-term assignment, not a year-long commitment. also, it shows this is serious, for Murray at least.
we shall see!

I'd be very surprised if he went on tour full time coaching. He seems like a good dad and, since he doesn't need the money, isn't going to leave for 9 months out of the year while the kids are small.

[JTContinental]

I also don't think coaching is going to have a huge effect on Djokovic, unless Murray will be administering The Substance on him.

[ashkor87]

Just because there is no actual tennis to talk about...on volleying..
Volleyers are predators, folk like Djokovic (a rather poor volleyer) may not have that mindset..they may want to plan and fight for small advantages ..I really can't imagine that any top player doesn't know how to volley, technically...the instinct may not be there.

[ponchi101]

If you can go and check David Ferrer. He was a good volleyer when hitting regular volleys. But if you hit a sharp passing shot and he had to lunge, he was amazing.
He had that ability. The rest of his game was, as we know, un-spectacular (as much as I loved him). But he made those amazing shots.

[ashkor87]

Vekic has appointed Bajin coach..amazing how the same small group keeps circulating!

[ponchi101]

How many people do you think can coach a prime level athlete?
Agree with you in that the group is small. And you know my opinion about coaches; they are highly overvalued. But you just can't go and find a coach just anywhere.
I also think that coaches need to know a lot of procedural things that the tours impose. The PED regulations, the training sites close to all major tournaments, the good support cast (physios), and that must be knowledge that you only get from being on the tour.
I mean, I know I could coach Errani on how to get a better serve. But I would not know where in Monte Carlo we can find a court.

[ashkor87]

Some of that is the manager's job, assuming every big player has one...

[ti-amie]

[ponchi101]

Lendl was very fond of his German shepherds. I remember that.

[JTContinental]

#teamlendl

[ti-amie]

[ashkor87]

Unusual ..Linette doesn't have much upside, does she?

[ponchi101]

Seems like Radwanska differs. But yeah, I don't see her with much potential.

[ashkor87]

Radwanska should teach Swiatek how to play on grass...she was an exceptionally good grass-courter...