Laura's new coach - potential candidates

philwrig · Hall of fame

RE: Laura's new coach - potential candidates

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

tony_orient wrote:
Not related to Laura's search for a new coach, but very much related to her old coach:

Beyond The Baseline ‏@SI_BTBaseline 15m
Sam Stosur hires Miles Maclagan as her new coach. #wta

Interesting to see that miles has decided to continue in the women's game, albeit with a much more experienced player than Laura.

Thanks for that tony O. Really pleased for Miles. And Sam is one of my favourites (if a TAD frustrating at times . . . ). Hope they do well.

philwrig · Hall of fame

No news about any coaching appointments. Laura is currently training out in Florida at the Nick Saviano academy, who himself has actually been rumoured to be Genie Bouchard's new coach. She is training there with Rob, the LTA's head physio guy. Not sure whether he's there just as a physio or fulfilling the role of fitness trainer as well. Certainly it would seem that Dejan V... who was her trainer for a year is now out, contract up I'm guessing.

So interestingly not at Bolletieri's where she was during the summer. She's out there with her mum, so possibly evaluating maybe an American based coach. Certainly seems that all the top candidates are either unavailable or not been considered, as you would have assumed an appointment would have already been made as its an important time to have a team in place for the offseason training block.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Interesting stuff Phil.

I don't know if this was posted :

www.cityam.com/article/1382398941/edberg-backs-robson-over-decision-cut-ties-coach

but it's an interview with Edberg which doesn't have a lot new to add apart from one interesting general point which I mentioned before, namely that for him, as a tennis player, he did not want a coach who helped him work on his weaknesses but one who helped him strengthen his strengths.

It's a different approach and not definitely right but I know a couple of top French players who've also followed the same logic - to a truly amazing extent in one case i.e. absolutely no work on his backhand,, completely ignored. 100% concentration on his weapons. As Edberg says, it's a more positive approach and the weaknesses get better by default.

NB There's also been a large number of coach changes in the last couple of months by the French women too (several breaking their ties with the national federation) - Kiki Mladenovic, for instance, signed up at the end of September with Djokovic's old hitting partner, Dusan Vemic.

korriban · Challenger level

Coup Droit wrote:
Interesting stuff Phil.

I don't know if this was posted :

www.cityam.com/article/1382398941/edberg-backs-robson-over-decision-cut-ties-coach

but it's an interview with Edberg which doesn't have a lot new to add apart from one interesting general point which I mentioned before, namely that for him, as a tennis player, he did not want a coach who helped him work on his weaknesses but one who helped him strengthen his strengths.

It's a different approach and not definitely right but I know a couple of top French players who've also followed the same logic - to a truly amazing extent in one case i.e. absolutely no work on his backhand,, completely ignored. 100% concentration on his weapons. As Edberg says, it's a more positive approach and the weaknesses get better by default.

NB There's also been a large number of coach changes in the last couple of months by the French women too (several breaking their ties with the national federation) - Kiki Mladenovic, for instance, signed up at the end of September with Djokovic's old hitting partner, Dusan Vemic.

Your French player wouldn't be Jeremy Chardy by any chance? Blue Peter badge for me if I'm right.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

korriban wrote:
Coup Droit wrote:
Interesting stuff Phil.

I don't know if this was posted :

www.cityam.com/article/1382398941/edberg-backs-robson-over-decision-cut-ties-coach

but it's an interview with Edberg which doesn't have a lot new to add apart from one interesting general point which I mentioned before, namely that for him, as a tennis player, he did not want a coach who helped him work on his weaknesses but one who helped him strengthen his strengths.

It's a different approach and not definitely right but I know a couple of top French players who've also followed the same logic - to a truly amazing extent in one case i.e. absolutely no work on his backhand,, completely ignored. 100% concentration on his weapons. As Edberg says, it's a more positive approach and the weaknesses get better by default.

NB There's also been a large number of coach changes in the last couple of months by the French women too (several breaking their ties with the national federation) - Kiki Mladenovic, for instance, signed up at the end of September with Djokovic's old hitting partner, Dusan Vemic.
Your French player wouldn't be Jeremy Chardy by any chance? Blue Peter badge for me if I'm right.

Go to the top of the class ! smile

philwrig · Hall of fame

That Chardy guy has a wicked serve, oh and Laura has a soft spot for him, also heard the ladies think he's decent eye candy !

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

philwrig wrote:
Some more information here :

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2510223/Laura-Robson-picks-Nick-Saviano-coach.html

Not sure this is what the doctor ordered, but then again do we really know what the doctor should order.

Genie has said that Nick Saviano is her new coach and that he will be with her for the important tournaments. Bouchard commented, "I found myself spending more time in Florida this year and it will continue to be my training grounds next year so Im going to train with Saviano most of the time. Hell travel with me more, especially to the majors. She (Tauziat) helped me a lot. But since Ive been spending more time in Florida, Nick is my main coach"

http://www.tennisworldusa.org/Tennis---Eugenie-Bouchard-splits-with-coach-Natalie-Tauziat-articolo14164.html

-- Edited by kundalini on Wednesday 20th of November 2013 02:53:46 AM

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

philwrig wrote:
That Chardy guy has a wicked serve, oh and Laura has a soft spot for him, also heard the ladies think he's decent eye candy !

Oh yes, Chardy definitely has a bit of that 'wild' boy going on ! Seemingly very popular wink

Mind you, from the French female fan base point of view, they don't have a huge amount to cheer about - the Gasquet/Tsonga/Benneteau contingent don't really cut the mustard as far as Mlle. Frenchie is concerned so I guess we can't begrudge them Chardy - not sure they'd be happy to share him with Laura though . . .

philwrig · Hall of fame

Some more information here :

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2510223/Laura-Robson-picks-Nick-Saviano-coach.html

Not sure this is what the doctor ordered, but then again do we really know what the doctor should order.

philwrig · Hall of fame

There's a pic of her new team posted on her facebook page, not sure who the guy on the left is with the Lacoste tshirt.
(not sure, Saviano,Laura,Witten, Rob)

korriban · Challenger level

philwrig wrote:
Some more information here :

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-2510223/Laura-Robson-picks-Nick-Saviano-coach.html

Not sure this is what the doctor ordered, but then again do we really know what the doctor should order.

Well working with a coach who also coaches her best friend, EB, who is also likely to be one of her biggest theats over the next few years is an interesting choice. He also has a mentoring arrangement with Sloane Stephens, another big rival. Furthermore, EB has already stated that Saviano will be travelling with her to the Grand Slams and major tournaments (like Lendl), so it would appear that Laura gets some of his his coaching when in Florida, but that Saviano will have a much more active coaching role with Bouchard.

If this is just about who coaches/trains her in Florida, then that seems very sensible. What about the rest of the year?

This looks half baked - surely Laura should have someone travelling with her on the our week in week out with a big reputation to preserve and a track record of success. Nothing against Jesse Witten, but whilst it's a name I've heard of, that's about it really. Will any of us be surprised if there's another change of coaching line-up by the Summer?

-- Edited by korriban on Wednesday 20th of November 2013 08:32:34 AM

-- Edited by korriban on Wednesday 20th of November 2013 09:26:41 AM

korriban · Challenger level

Phil. I presume you mean that you hate to agree with me.......on this particular train of thought.......rather than you hate to agree with me. Period!!!! wink

But seriously, if I didn't know better this smacks of a marriage of convenience because the more attractive coaching options have either been signed up elsewhere or flat turned her down. Coaches will due their due diligence on players as well as the other way round (and there are now plenty of ex-Laura coaches to chat to)....perhaps some of the star coaches have had reservations. The fact that Laura's new "coach" has decided to go to GS and other big tournaments with Laura's best friend and not her is a clear statement, and arguably the situation is faintly embarrassing!

-- Edited by korriban on Wednesday 20th of November 2013 05:27:25 PM

-- Edited by korriban on Wednesday 20th of November 2013 05:39:28 PM

kundalini · Specialist Reporter + Intermediate Club Player

More from Matt Cronin - "Lost in Robson coaching news is hire of renowned fitness trainer Mark Wellington 2 travel w/ her, who helped Vika & Maria improve footwork"

Now that sounds more hopeful. As philwrig said in the OP, the fitness side is at least as important as the coaching in this instance.

-- Edited by kundalini on Wednesday 20th of November 2013 08:48:29 PM

philwrig · Hall of fame

Just had a little thought with regards potential candidates. If Woodforde turned it down on financial terms, the even more high profile names would have wanted more £'ss, we forget that Laura isn't a top 10 player and therefore cannot afford the big bucks to attract a top coach. The LTA funded Brad Gilbert, at a time when Andy wouldn't have had the funds to employ him. So that has to be a factor which I hadn't considered.

Looked up Mark Wellington's credentials, who is an Englishman based in Florida, and found out that he has helped alot of high profile names, but generally speaking earlier on in their careers. e.g Azerenka in 2009 an important time in her career but still before her big breakthrough. Also Sharapova when she was only 17.

www.wsperformance.com/about-mark/introduction.html

-- Edited by philwrig on Wednesday 20th of November 2013 10:45:59 PM