Laura's new coach - potential candidates

philwrig · Hall of fame

RE: Laura's new coach - potential candidates

philwrig · Hall of fame

korriban wrote:
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!!!!
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.

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

I suppose what I meant is that you have always been one of Laura's main critics, whereas I have always been one of her biggest supporters. And to agree with your line of thinking would have been alien to me, because I didn't think there was enough evidence, to back up your opinions. However I'm starting to move a little in your direction with regards to Laura, maybe say 25-50 %.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

For my tuppence ha'penny worth, it seems the sort of set-up that a player of 27 might chose i.e. a player who was confident and experienced on tour and just needed a bit of a coaching set-up behind her for the 'down' weeks and some input from a hitting partner while on tour.

It really doesn't seem like a set-up for someone in Laura's position.

Off on a tangent slightly, but who is responsible for doing all the tournament inscriptions/ hotel bookings/ flights/ booking court practice time etc. etc. etc. Will this be Jesse ? Full-time ?

I think the idea of a joint trainer for two girls who are friends and a similar level has a lot of appeal,, in fact, rather like how the Williams sisters managed - you don't actually play each other that often (Laura and Genie less than the Williams!) and there's a lot to share and lot of benefit.
But this is only if it's equal and one player is not the 'poor relation', which this sounds a bit like.

I would have thought that Laura would want a dedicated, full-time coach - but maybe she's tried a few and wants to try a different approach. Bottom line, it's still down to her (and I still think she'll manage it at some point).

Maza1987 · Challenger level

philwrig wrote:

I hope I'm completely wide of the mark, and of course the proof will be in the pudding, but if by the end of this year she has made no progress, what we might have hoped for Laura's career as fans may not actually ever come to fruition.

The proof of the pudding can only ever be in the tasting. Never in the pudding itself. smile

Sorry, I couldn't let it slide. wink

philwrig · Hall of fame

Maza1987 wrote:
philwrig wrote:

I hope I'm completely wide of the mark, and of course the proof will be in the pudding, but if by the end of this year she has made no progress, what we might have hoped for Laura's career as fans may not actually ever come to fruition.
The proof of the pudding can only ever be in the tasting. Never in the pudding itself.
Sorry, I couldn't let it slide.

That's a little bit lazy of me I know, but you got the gist, at least I hope everybody did.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Coup Droit wrote:
For my tuppence ha'penny worth, it seems the sort of set-up that a player of 27 might chose i.e. a player who was confident and experienced on tour and just needed a bit of a coaching set-up behind her for the 'down' weeks and some input from a hitting partner while on tour.

It really doesn't seem like a set-up for someone in Laura's position.

Off on a tangent slightly, but who is responsible for doing all the tournament inscriptions/ hotel bookings/ flights/ booking court practice time etc. etc. etc. Will this be Jesse ? Full-time ?

I think the idea of a joint trainer for two girls who are friends and a similar level has a lot of appeal,, in fact, rather like how the Williams sisters managed - you don't actually play each other that often (Laura and Genie less than the Williams!) and there's a lot to share and lot of benefit.
But this is only if it's equal and one player is not the 'poor relation', which this sounds a bit like.

I would have thought that Laura would want a dedicated, full-time coach - but maybe she's tried a few and wants to try a different approach. Bottom line, it's still down to her (and I still think she'll manage it at some point).

I agree with that last paragraph, she'll eventually find the right course at some point. just a little bit frustrating as a fan to see her struggling to find the right coaching setup.

PaulM · Tennis legend

This has mess written all over it

philwrig · Hall of fame

Genie B confirmed in a radio interview, that when on the road Saviano will only coach her, so basically its all in the hands of this Witten guy.
You never know he may be the answer, but it has to be a long shot.

steven · Tennis legend

I can't come up with a comment about this that doesn't start "I'd love to be proved wrong, but ..."

steven · Tennis legend

Matt Cronin is now reporting that "the reason Robson went with Saviano/Witten is cause she couldnt reach coaching deal with Mark Woodforde. May still hire another coach in '14"

That does sound like a very plausible reason, it can't always be easy to get these things sorted.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Yes it makes more sense and confirms this a stop gap pretty much. Which is still frustrating.

philwrig · Hall of fame

Woodforde worked a little with Nole I remember, and he also commentated a bit at the Indian Wells tournament for the Beeb this year. Not sure he's done alot of other coaching, but he certainly would offer something a little different.

So we're basically back to square one, and it can't be easy to find another coach once the season has started. Playing well knowing that your coaching situation is only a stop gap affair won't be easy.

On another level, no new coach for Hev either means, unlike the end of last year when we were so positive about 2013, we really are the opposite about 2014. Maybe there is a contrarian view out there which will predict a successful 2014 !

korriban · Challenger level

kundalini wrote:
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

Definitely!

philwrig · Hall of fame

Yes that has got lost, if real progress is made there, the coaching setup won't necessarily hold her back.

PaulM · Tennis legend

Yes that is an encouraging step forward.