ashkor87 wrote:Raducanu came out with an interesting semi-explanation today..says she needs, not so much coaching as sparring - players hit so hard nowadays..I am actually puzzled by that, if anyone handles pace well, it is Raducanu..and Leylah and Bencic and Kerber...
So Torben Beltz doesn’t belt the ball? And you can always pick up a different hitting partner, anywhere you go. A coach is different than a sparring partner. I think she probably needs a coach, too. But what do I know…
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 2:43 pm
Raducanu came out with an interesting semi-explanation today..says she needs, not so much coaching as sparring - players hit so hard nowadays..I am actually puzzled by that, if anyone handles pace well, it is Raducanu..and Leylah and Bencic and Kerber...
That is kid of an odd statement. Sparring partners for WTA players are not hard to find. Get a good NCAA player and he can spar as well as anybody.
Side story.
Jana Novotna had her training partner. That was not her coach; it was the player that the coach asked to play in such way so that Novotna could practice. His name was Dante Mañoni, a Venezuelan guy that stalled at Futures/Challenger level. One day he was at the club I used to play in Caracas and was talking to some people, telling stories about his job and Novotna (he spoke glowingly of her). One person, jokingly, said: "So, have you ever taken even a set from her?". Mañoni replied: "Dude. The best she has ever done against me is a 4-6 set. It's a different level" (I am paraphrasing).
So I don't think it would be that hard for Emma to find players that will hit hard at her.
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 2:43 pm
Raducanu came out with an interesting semi-explanation today..says she needs, not so much coaching as sparring - players hit so hard nowadays..I am actually puzzled by that, if anyone handles pace well, it is Raducanu..and Leylah and Bencic and Kerber...
That is kid of an odd statement. Sparring partners for WTA players are not hard to find. Get a good NCAA player and he can spar as well as anybody.
Side story.
Jana Novotna had her training partner. That was not her coach; it was the player that the coach asked to play in such way so that Novotna could practice. His name was Dante Mañoni, a Venezuelan guy that stalled at Futures/Challenger level. One day he was at the club I used to play in Caracas and was talking to some people, telling stories about his job and Novotna (he spoke glowingly of her). One person, jokingly, said: "So, have you ever taken even a set from her?". Mañoni replied: "Dude. The best she has ever done against me is a 4-6 set. It's a different level" (I am paraphrasing).
So I don't think it would be that hard for Emma to find players that will hit hard at her.
Not an issue at all. Big Sascha was Serena's hitting partner for years.
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 2:43 pm
Raducanu came out with an interesting semi-explanation today..says she needs, not so much coaching as sparring - players hit so hard nowadays..I am actually puzzled by that, if anyone handles pace well, it is Raducanu..and Leylah and Bencic and Kerber...
That is kid of an odd statement. Sparring partners for WTA players are not hard to find. Get a good NCAA player and he can spar as well as anybody.
Side story.
Jana Novotna had her training partner. That was not her coach; it was the player that the coach asked to play in such way so that Novotna could practice. His name was Dante Mañoni, a Venezuelan guy that stalled at Futures/Challenger level. One day he was at the club I used to play in Caracas and was talking to some people, telling stories about his job and Novotna (he spoke glowingly of her). One person, jokingly, said: "So, have you ever taken even a set from her?". Mañoni replied: "Dude. The best she has ever done against me is a 4-6 set. It's a different level" (I am paraphrasing).
So I don't think it would be that hard for Emma to find players that will hit hard at her.
Not agreeing with Raducamu, just reporting.
Re Novotna, yes, Chris Evert used to play her brother all the time- never won a set. And he is only a teaching pro..it is a different game altogether
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 30, 2022 2:43 pm
Raducanu came out with an interesting semi-explanation today..says she needs, not so much coaching as sparring - players hit so hard nowadays..I am actually puzzled by that, if anyone handles pace well, it is Raducanu..and Leylah and Bencic and Kerber...
That is kid of an odd statement. Sparring partners for WTA players are not hard to find. Get a good NCAA player and he can spar as well as anybody.
Side story.
Jana Novotna had her training partner. That was not her coach; it was the player that the coach asked to play in such way so that Novotna could practice. His name was Dante Mañoni, a Venezuelan guy that stalled at Futures/Challenger level. One day he was at the club I used to play in Caracas and was talking to some people, telling stories about his job and Novotna (he spoke glowingly of her). One person, jokingly, said: "So, have you ever taken even a set from her?". Mañoni replied: "Dude. The best she has ever done against me is a 4-6 set. It's a different level" (I am paraphrasing).
So I don't think it would be that hard for Emma to find players that will hit hard at her.
Not agreeing with Raducamu, just reporting.
Re Novotna, yes, Chris Evert used to play her brother all the time- never won a set. And he is only a teaching pro..it is a different game altogether
I know you’re not agreeing with Raducanu. didn’t mean to suggest you are.
“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein
Maybe Delgado told Denis that he behaves like an immature ass too often, and Denis replied with "STFU!!! That's it - I can't handle this - you're fired!"
Felix really needs to become a father figure for Denis - even though Felix is younger.
In terms of behaviour, Felix is 47 years old, and Denis is 12.
R.I.P. Amal...
“The opposite of courage is not cowardice - it’s conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.”- Jim Hightower
Denis isn't my favorite, and part of that is his attitude, so I don't say this lightly, but he was acting like a special brand of asshole during his match.
I assume Jamie can get another coaching job, and I can't say that's a bad thing for him if Denis keeps this energy at any other time. Must be exhausting.
Same for me for Dennis. I could really like his game; the BH is beautiful and I like the serve. But the whinny, little, entitled brat attitude kills any enthusiasm for him. By now, I root for his opponent almost always (Djokovic and Medvedev are the exceptions).
Diego Moyano is Coco's newish coach. He was sitting to the right of Coco's dad today. Looks like he joined around Madrid or thereabouts. I'm not familiar with him, but he was previously Kevin Anderson's coach. Looks like he has roots in the USTA and has coached a few other US men's players as well.
“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein
“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the Great Mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein
Translation
didn’t mean to suggest you are. 
