TENNIS   COACHING

coach and player must be realistic about the process and avoid being reactive to temporary setbacks. “If you fail to plan, plan to fail,” he said.

Gilles Cervara, coach of former world VIRTUAL CONFERENCE No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, says a good coach sets a good example, and that begins with communication. Coaching Inside Information today is a collaborative e ort to facili- tate the player’s potential. The coach is the team leader—the conductor of The fi rst World Tennis Conference the orchestra. virtual event brought together 60 experts Apostolos Tsitsipas, father and coach of world No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas, to discuss high-performance coaching. insists that in order to become suc- cessful, players must have passion and By Emmy Caporale love the work, because the journey is long and arduous. The coach is the team leader, and as such, must utilize The fi rst World Tennis Conference, be a complete competitor, and coaches experiential as well as theoretical organized and presented by the Global must continuously assist players in knowledge to sustain a learning envi- Professional Tennis Coach Associa- releasing pressure they’re feeling. ronment. tion (GPTCA) in partnership with the Segal Institute, was held virtually in Jean Phillipe Fleurian, Davis Cup play- Boris Becker, a six-time grand slam late March. The four-day event, which er for France and former world No. champion and former world No. 1, was certifi ed by the ATP, assembled 37, believes that in order to succeed coached Novak Djokovic for three more than 60 experts in multiple as a professional, a player needs to seasons. He says it’s imperative to fi elds to discuss high-performance be mentally tough and able to handle remain focused on break points—go coaching—including these tips from frustration and setbacks. Losing needs for your best serve and change the some of the impressive participants. to become a learning experience. serve position based on court surface. (For more on the conference, visit When serving, he said, “You are the worldtennisconference.com.) Nicolas Massu, a two-time Olympic captain of your own ship!” gold medalist, former world No. 9 and Toni Nadal, a GPTCA vice president coach of Dominic Thiem, contends Ivan Ljubicic, former world No. 3 and longtime coach of nephew Rafael that talent alone is not enough. Play- and coach of Roger Federer, says it’s Nadal, stressed the importance of ers will not succeed unless they are critical that everyone on the player’s proper preparation and technique. willing to fi ght, make sacrifi ces and team possess discipline and respect. Players need to train in the same man- have passion for the journey. Coaches must engage in active listen- ner in which they’ll be playing match- ing to improve a player’s weaknesses es. They also need to have respect for Ursula Radwanska, a former Top 30 and take advantage of their strengths. the game and need to understand that player, demonstrated balance, weight they can’t improve if they are angry. transfer and engaging the entire body Wolfgang Thiem, father of US Open And coaches, to be their best, need to to generate power on the backhand. champ Dominic Thiem, runs an acad- be passionate and need to listen and Contact on the forehand volley is emy in Vienna for players ages 14 to learn from their peers. made between the hips and shoulders, 18. He says coaches must have passion she said, keeping the head upright and if they hope to succeed. If parents see Gabriel Markus, a former Top 40 play- body stable. the coach committed, they will trust er, discussed principles and factors to him or her and the process. It’s crucial develop high-performance competi- Liam Smith, former coach of world to fashion a learning environment tors. A player must have options—slice No. 14 Gael Monfi ls, takes a long-term where players perfect their technique backhand, drop shot, etc.—in order to view toward player development. The and develop a sense of fairness. 

22 RACQUET SPORTS INDUSTRY June 2021