OT INTERVIEW BY PETER FIGURA

when I finished she got to number 32. I think we did a good job together, and I think it was a good experience for me not only because of the results. I didn’t really have any problems working until she NATHALIE started winning a lot (smiling...) I did my job, and results are always going to speak volumes. TAUZIAT PF: What do you see in Bianca TAUZIAT DISCUSSES HER (Andreescu) as a player? EXPERIENCE AS A COACH NT: I think she has good opportunities to be really really good. But she has to remember PHOTOS BY PETER FIGURA about the principles of the game and not to forget what she has to do and learn to get there. Because even being number 3 junior in the world does not mean that much (laughing). What I mean is that no one will remember her ranking as a junior. She has to be a good player on the WTA Tour.

I WOULD SIMPLY ASK GENIE: WHAT IS YOUR GOAL? TO WIN A GRAND SLAM OR TO BE FAMOUS? IT’S THAT SIMPLE!

Bianca Andreescu

PF: How difficult is the transition PF: More and more former I ALWAYS WANTED TO player everyone is there for you to from a junior player to the WTA players are rejoining the tour COACH, AND TO COACH help you out. As a coach you have Tour level competitor? (both the ATP and WTA) as YOUNG PLAYERS. THIS to take a step back because your NT: First you have to improve coaches. Your thoughts on that? WAS MY DREAM JOB; TO player is the most important and your game a lot, and I mean NT: Well, I think that this is good COACH SOMEONE WHO it’s a different story. But I have no a lot! Bianca right now in my for tennis, and the main reason LOVES TENNIS AND TO BE problem with that because I am opinion plays at the 250 level they are doing it is that they like ABLE TO HELP THEM HELP not that type of a person that likes and she is only 15. But you have tennis and want to give back. THEM OUT to be in the spotlight. If the player to remember not to go too quick. This is definitely my case. I’ve does well, everyone knows who You have to win Tier 1, then tier 2, always wanted to coach and work at 37, and then the twins at 41. At the coach is, so the main thing for then you can start thinking about particularly with younger players that point I didn’t travel or coach me is that the player I am working big tournaments. Last year was a to help them improve their game. that much. Now I am older and the with is successful. great year for her reaching finals Even when I was still playing on the kids are a bit older too so I started PF: Would you rather work with of Granby – 25K, but she has to Tour I was trying to help younger coaching again, and I love it! Tennis a young up and coming player repeat that. She has to win 10K, players in whatever way I could. is my biggest passion. or with someone who already is then we will go to 25K, then 50 PF: It took longer for the WTA PF: How was the transition from established? or 100K. What we really need to Tour to encourage former players player to coach? NT: For me it is better to work work on is how to construct her to start coaching... NT: I always wanted to coach, and with a young player because they career. It’s like building a house. NT: Well, the problem is obviously to coach young players. This was listen more, they want to learn. It’s Brick by brick, but the foundation having a family, and it’s difficult my dream job; to coach someone different with those who already has to be the strongest. Right now to do both things. At a certain who loves tennis and to be able play on the Tour. But I liked working I am going to be in trouble with this level you have to travel a lot so it’s to help them help them out. The with Eugenie (Bouchard) and Alex building process. This is caused difficult to manage both efficiently. difference between being a player (Wozniak). Eugenie’s ranking was by the fact that now she is very For me I just have my first child and a coach is that when you are a around 400 when we started and good, so there is more and more

28 SPRING 2016 | TENNISONTARIO.com NATHALIE TAUZIAT

people that want to get involved Eugenie experience that I’ve had with life. It’s an issue of priorities. But in her career- agents, sponsors, Bouchard Eugenie I am working hard with you don’t see that with Federer and even parents. I am not sure Bianca to focus on tennis first, for example, because you if the parents know tennis very and make it the most important know that his priority is to win well. On top of everything she is thing right now. tournaments. Everything else is injured so there is some sense of PF: Were you trying to protect there but you know that his main panic. People forget that injuries Eugenie from all those focus is tennis. And that’s the are part of the game, so I am distractions? difference. ok with that. It’s not a big deal. BA: Yes, I told her many times PF: Who do you see from up and Maybe she will have a couple of when I was working with her. I coming players to have a chance months off this year, but when was always telling her: tennis to be really good? you look from the perspective of has to be a priority. You have to BA: Well, of course Bianca a career – it’s really nothing. We win first. If you win, everything (smiling), Dalma, Galfi, Potapova. don’t have to be so stressed out else will fall into place. When we Bianca has a really good chance to about that. More important is to stopped working together she be the best of that group. find a good solution for her to was number 32 WTA. She wasn’t PF: When you decide to work with come back. as famous as she is right now, she the player what are you looking for, PF: All this noise around the game played very good tennis in 2014, and what’s the most important for you? is that what stops good juniors was working with a very good coach BA: The most important is the from being successful later on? (Nick Saviano – PF). And we know respect. When I coach someone NT: Yes, most of the time that’s EUGENIE I THINK FORGOT what happened after. Everyone I want them to respect the game the case. I can say today, that this THAT EVERYTHING THAT makes mistakes. Look what and myself of course. We have to applies not only to junior players. HAPPENED IN HER LIFE happened to Ana Ivanovic. After have a good feeling working with Just look at Eugenie. She plays IS BECAUSE OF TENNIS, winning Roland Garros she lost her each other, we have to need each Wimbledon finals one year, and AND NOT THE OTHER WAY focus. And for her it was very hard other. It’s nice to have a player to after that she gets so distracted AROUND. SO I HOPE THAT to come back even though she has whom you give, but the player also by many things, and as a result SHE WILL FIND TIME TO willpower and worked very hard at it. has to give back. And as I say to ended up destroying herself and UNDERSTAND THIS AND PF: The competition for Eugenie whoever I work with – everybody her game. The main reason for BE ABLE TO COME BACK. is much tougher now don’t you on the team has to find their spot. that was that she wasn’t thinking think? More young and good There are so many people involved. about tennis that much. Everything PF: You’ve just said – jungle. players out there.... Maybe it is not the most important around tennis was more What’s the state of the WTA Tour BA: There are a lot of young girls to have a big team, but you have to important; like being famous, to in your opinion? and a lot of talent. Eugenie got be with the people you trust. go everywhere she wanted, this NT: I am not really on the tour right where she was in 2014 because of PF: How do you find the balance, celebrity status. But what Eugenie now as I work with juniors , but her focus and hard work. She is a young player with all the people forgot is that to win a Grand Slam when I was playing there were too hard worker, no doubt about that. around them? you have to practice. You have to many things outside of tennis that But it all went downhill because BA: That’s part of my job. Right be on the court and stay really are distracting. Quite often good her entourage influenced her. now, the better the player is, you are focused. looks are more important than the Had she won a Grand Slam that dealing with more people around. PF: Do you think she can come game, there are agents, sponsors, probably would be OK. But she Sometimes it takes too much time. back to where she was before? contracts, etc. I found that totally didn’t and started to do many The new coach today has to manage NT: She is really young, she can unnecessary and frustrating. I things around tennis and those things around the player. This is so come back, but it will take a while. think that the most important thing things would not help her to play different from 10 years ago. We have It will not happen overnight. She is the game itself. Sometimes I feel good tennis. to be careful with so many people has to work with a good team that the WTA and to a degree the PF: What would you tell her now? around, and careful in so many again and I think she is on the right media don’t understand the game. BA: I would simply ask her: what is ways. I have people approach me track with a good coach. But I am very happy that with guys your goal? To win a Grand Slam or claiming they were the agents of the PF: But she still has a tough like Federer or Djokovic people to be famous? It’s that simple! player and they were not. This can time beating anyone ranked are talking about their game. And PF: Is there a reason why so be dangerous. above her. those top players are really focused many girls go up and down in the This is also the reason why some NT: Yes, but that’s exactly what I on the game. rankings? From Top 10 to outside coaches cannot put up with those mean. She needs time. And this is Eugenie I think forgot that of Top 50. It happens way too often. distractions. I don’t talk too much also because she has lost more than everything that happened in her life What’s your opinion on that? with Eugenie. She wanted me to a year with poor performance, and is because of tennis, and not the NT: Some of them, like Ivanovic, work with her for 2 weeks (and as you can see the other players other way around. So I hope that didn’t manage their careers actually her agent called me about they know that. And you know it’s she will find time to understand well. You know: photo sessions, that – which I found somewhat a real jungle out there. The other this and be able to come back. boyfriends, fashion shows, etc. strange). When we were together players know what’s happening PF: Are you trying to be cautious Too many distractions. The the respect was mutual. Now I do with Eugenie and try to take full working with Bianca? questions is: do they want to win not have the same feeling. So advantage of this situation. NT: Yes! Because of this a Slam or just to have a good I prefer to stay away.

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