Fabresque
Legend
This is something I’ve always been interested in, former players with a big resume (legends) getting into coaching. It doesn’t seem like a bad plan, but think about it realistically. Who have been the best coaches in the world? Toni Nadal, Marian Vajda, Severin Luthi, are a few of numerous former players who had no big accomplishments as pros who made a massive career in coaching. Outside of the tour, we have Nick Bolletieri, Rick Macci, Bob Brett (not on tour currently).
So why do the former tennis legends all go back to coaching? Do they want to be involved in the game? They want to help a fellow pro? They want to get some media attention? The answer is simple, it’s not the players recruiting them, it’s the ATP. They always get legends back into the game with some lucrative offer that nobody would back away from, and they assign them a big name pro that isn’t doing so well for the ATP financially, and poof. The spotlight is back on said pro because they recruited a big time great from years past to help them rediscover their game or take them forward.
These high profile names really don’t do anything for the pro other than accompany them and, when the cameras are turned their way, talk to them and act as if they’re “coaching” them. Let’s be real here, was it really Boris’ incredible insight that led to a Djokovic massacre in 14-16? No, it was Vajda who helped him through a slam dry spell in 12 and 13 and got him to maintain a high level. Boris simply turned to Djokovic and talked for a few seconds into his ear because the cameras were pointed at him. Same thing works for Federer and Nadal. Was it really Edberg who helped Roger succeed? No, it was and always has been Luthi who guided Roger through. As for Nadal, he enlisted the help of Carlos Moyá to get him through his rough patch. Was it really Moyá? No, it was simply Tio Toni helping his nephew get through like they’ve done plenty of times in the past.
More on Moyá, why would Nadal hire him after a lackluster spell with Milos earlier in the year? Simple, he didn’t. It was the ATP’s clever plot to put a former Spanish great with Rafa to get him more media attention since they’re both from Spain. It was a smart move.
Now onto Agassi and Djokovic. Agassi contributed 0 to his game, and the only reason they were together was simple. The ATP wanted the greatest returner of all time help the guy who’s also considered the greatest returner of all time. It was ingenious, the media now thought Djokovic would go on another rampage with the help of a pro he can relate to so much. He didn’t, and fell more and more before he and the ATP decided to cut the tie off. Same thing with Stepanek, two close friends with one now retiring helping the other? You see what I’m getting at.
There have been examples of legends actually helping pros out, however. Michael Chang with Kei Nishikori, Johnny Mac with Milos Raonic (the latter being more mental based). But it’s this clever ingenuity by the ATP to set up pro’s with legends who had similar games to them when they were younger, or are friends, same nationality, etc.
So why do the former tennis legends all go back to coaching? Do they want to be involved in the game? They want to help a fellow pro? They want to get some media attention? The answer is simple, it’s not the players recruiting them, it’s the ATP. They always get legends back into the game with some lucrative offer that nobody would back away from, and they assign them a big name pro that isn’t doing so well for the ATP financially, and poof. The spotlight is back on said pro because they recruited a big time great from years past to help them rediscover their game or take them forward.
These high profile names really don’t do anything for the pro other than accompany them and, when the cameras are turned their way, talk to them and act as if they’re “coaching” them. Let’s be real here, was it really Boris’ incredible insight that led to a Djokovic massacre in 14-16? No, it was Vajda who helped him through a slam dry spell in 12 and 13 and got him to maintain a high level. Boris simply turned to Djokovic and talked for a few seconds into his ear because the cameras were pointed at him. Same thing works for Federer and Nadal. Was it really Edberg who helped Roger succeed? No, it was and always has been Luthi who guided Roger through. As for Nadal, he enlisted the help of Carlos Moyá to get him through his rough patch. Was it really Moyá? No, it was simply Tio Toni helping his nephew get through like they’ve done plenty of times in the past.
More on Moyá, why would Nadal hire him after a lackluster spell with Milos earlier in the year? Simple, he didn’t. It was the ATP’s clever plot to put a former Spanish great with Rafa to get him more media attention since they’re both from Spain. It was a smart move.
Now onto Agassi and Djokovic. Agassi contributed 0 to his game, and the only reason they were together was simple. The ATP wanted the greatest returner of all time help the guy who’s also considered the greatest returner of all time. It was ingenious, the media now thought Djokovic would go on another rampage with the help of a pro he can relate to so much. He didn’t, and fell more and more before he and the ATP decided to cut the tie off. Same thing with Stepanek, two close friends with one now retiring helping the other? You see what I’m getting at.
There have been examples of legends actually helping pros out, however. Michael Chang with Kei Nishikori, Johnny Mac with Milos Raonic (the latter being more mental based). But it’s this clever ingenuity by the ATP to set up pro’s with legends who had similar games to them when they were younger, or are friends, same nationality, etc.
