Current Tennis Players Who Would Make Great Coaches
Great players don't necessarily make good coaches. In fact, most ATP and WTA Tour coaches were not superstars in their playing days.
Yet the trend of top players hiring former tennis stars, even legends, continues. Earlier this week, Agnieszka Radwanska hired Martina Navratilova as her coach. Last year, Roger Federer hired Stefan Edberg. Ivan Lendl helped guide Andy Murray to two Grand Slam titles before they ended their relationship. Murray then hired two-time Grand Slam winner Amelie Mauresmo.
The two first-time finalists in the 2014 U.S. Open both had former superstars as coaches. Marin Cilic has Goran Ivanisevic and Kei Nishikori works with Michael Chang.
When asked if he was ready to join the growing list of superstar coaches, Pete Sampras said no. He cited his desire to be home with his family and a disinterest in traveling. Perhaps Sampras understands that coaching is completely different from playing.
Some who enjoyed success as players may find coaching relationships difficult. Jimmy Connors lasted one match as head coach of Maria Sharapova.
Although Serena Williams is considered one of the greatest players of all time, she may lack the temperament it takes to go through a player's setbacks.
Sharapova's stubbornness and single-mindedness are two reasons she is so mentally tough. However, her reluctance to make adjustments during matches is not the stuff good coaches are made of.
Coaching requires patience, focus and the ability to impart sound instruction. It takes a certain temperament to know how to push without being too pushy. Good coaches resist the urge to create "Mini-Mes." Instead, they help a player maximise their own talent.
With that criteria in mind, which current tennis stars would make good coaches?
Novak Djokovic
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Novak Djokovic's attention to detail and preparation would make him an excellent coach. He has tremendous work ethic and a superb fitness regimen.
His jovial demeanor and playful approach to things should make him easy to work with. Besides his seven Grand Slam titles, Djokovic has the experience of breaking through in an era dominated by Federer and Rafael Nadal.
He could be just the right coach for a young player struggling to crack the Top Five.
Venus Williams
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Venus Williams has shown her leadership skills on and off the court. Unlike sister Serena, Venus remains calm in the face of adversity. She seems to have her mother's temperament.
Having been coached by her parents, Venus has seen how coaches prepare. Being able to manage a chronic illness while competing in a professional sport demonstrates an ability to adapt, essential for great coaches.
The seven-time Grand Slam winner would be good for a young player like Madison Keys. Keys is someone who has all the tools, but lacks game-management skills. Williams, like her sister, learned how to play the big points even bigger. She could teach a mentally fragile player how to fight to the finish.
Roger Federer
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Roger Federer has the game, the respect and the temperament. But could he find the time? A father of four, Federer could postpone coaching until he's well into his 50s. That would be fine. Because he'd bring with him one of the best overall games in tennis history.
Federer would make a good coach for a player who embraces all aspects of the game. It's hard to imagine him having much patience for someone who simply wants to live at the baseline.
Svetlana Kuznetsova
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Sometimes inconsistent, Svetlana Kuznetsova is perhaps second only to Serena Williams when it comes to an all-court game.
Kuznetsova was raised in a sports family and her father is a cycling coach. Sometimes the children of coaches make the best coaches.
Her father, Alexandr Kuznetsov, coached six Olympic cycling champions and is the coach of one of Russia's top cycling clubs.
Winner of the 2004 U.S. Open and 2009 French Open, Kuznetsova would make a great coach for the hard-court player struggling to find success on clay. In addition to winning the French Open, Kuznetsova was a runner-up in 2006. She has reached the quarterfinals or better at Roland Garros seven times.
Although she is Russian, Kuznetsova spent much of her childhood training in Spain. She is perhaps the best mover on clay in tennis. She would be perfect for someone like Victoria Azarenka, who is struggling to find success at Roland Garros.
Mike and Bob Bryan
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Mike and Bob Bryan have taken doubles to new heights, competitively and commercially. They have mastered the art of digging up impossible shots.
They won't be able to pass along that sibling familiarity. However, if they can teach doubles teams even half of what they know, they'd have future Slam winners as pupils.
Martina Hingis
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Martina Hingis retired from playing singles and then returned to play doubles. She coached Sabine Lisicki for part of this year.
Like Venus Williams, Hingis knows how to hit winners from anywhere on the court.
Her game is solid top to bottom. She managed to finesse her way to Slam titles even as the era of the Amazon players emerged. Hingis would make a great coach for someone like Simona Halep, a player dedicated to improving all aspects of the game.
