I certainly can't deny that Coach Krajan did come across strongly as an archetype miserable g*t. I'm imagining some of their drills having forfeits involving starvation on bread and water and solitary confinement, and him with a bedside manner similar to the drill instructor from Full Metal Jacket. We can be grateful that things didn't end up the same way as in the film......

Work hard, play hard seems like the Murray/Lendl doctrine, and that sounds ideal for Laura. But its a 24/7 365 days a year programme of pain to get the gain, and not something to do at 100% for a few weeks, but then dip in and out of as suits.

PaulM wrote:

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I'm sorry, but I am fed up reading comments like 'Krajan got chucked because he made Laura work too hard and she didn't like it'.

What do you think other coaches do? Is Krajan the only person in the world who works players into the ground? Of course not, all top coaches push players to their absolute limit and beyond. The problem with Krajan was style and personality.

He is strict, regimental, no smiles, no fun, no laughter. Everyone in the tennis world other than Laura's team apparently knew that was a dreadful fit. Krajan is very tough on his charges, and not all players (especially young women) will react well to that. That doesn't mean they don't want it, or don't want ot work hard, it just means the coaching relationship is doomed to fail because the personalities don't work and they don't pull together as a team.

Laura is a young, outgoing, bubbly girl. She needs to enjoy her training sessions and gym work to get the most out of them. She needs a coach who will take no **** but is able to structure practice and sessions in a way that gets the best out of her to achieve maximum gains. Whether that's silly games, forfeits, challenges, or just a person she feels open and relaxed around, trusts implicitly and enjoys spending time with.

Towards the end of her time with Krajan she was miserable, she hated being on court. She was tight as a drum, terrified of losing. She plays her best tennis when she is relaxed (and guess what, being relaxed helps your movement and footwork too) so she needs someone who can keep her calm and in a positive frame of mind.

Do Andy's team not work him hard enough because he is always laughing and smiling and playing tennis football? No of course not. The fact he enjoys his practice time so much is testament to having the right people around him, not that they go easy on him so it's all a bit of a lark.

Getting rid of Krajan was the best thing she could have done. He should never have been appointed in the first place.

-- Edited by PaulM on Friday 18th of October 2013 08:27:01 AM

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 I agree with this 100%.

think stevens idea for martinas very interesting a few other former pros might work too

jana novotna
did a decent job with bartoli (though marions signed up for hopman cup so may not be so retired after all) very calm and patient

lindsay davenport/kim clijsters - convinced that would be a great match but in both cases probly impossible (lindsay kids & tv work, kim kids & flipper) both have massive respect amongst there peers not just for the records but also cos of the sort of person they are. think that could get through to laura much better mebbe than a martinet

think laura would prefer a woman coach - not really basing that last thing on anything but my own feelings i dont wanna state opinions as facts

I saw that, plus Laura was at Adidas HQs earlier this week, too easy a call surely ?!

Update :

Hogstedt snaffled up by Woz and Sears has publicly stated that he is not one of the potential candidates.

Looks more and more likely that it will be Sven, Laura on holidays at the moment in Argie.

-- Edited by philwrig on Thursday 31st of October 2013 03:33:44 PM

haha, got that one a bit wrong !