What makes a modern tennis coach? These three teams show the way

Coaching at this elite level of professional tennis requires a lot of skills: technical knowledge, strategic vision, social skills and the ability to motivate are some of the big ticket items.

In many spirits, in particular those of older generations, coaches are the stiding embodiment of authority. But that harsh approach does not work with the current athletes.

When Marta Kostyuk – because of her own admission, fiery and emotional – started working with coach Sandra Zaniewska in the summer of 2023, she was honestly surprised.

Usually, when I had this kind [boorish] Behavior, Kostyuk, all other coaches, nobody would accept it for one second or try to understand why I feel like this or try to have a conversation with me, or even let me.

She did that, and I had something like that, wow, this is coaching at the next level. I've never seen this.

Listening, what a concept.

It's really everything, right? Zaniewska told Wtatennis.com, month from the East. It is the player who touches the ball, who plays. So the coach must listen to get as much information as possible from the player, because they never feel what they feel on the field. The only way we can help them is to try to listen when they put all those feelings into words.

Just listen and try to understand. Without this there is nothing that you can do as a coach.

This philosophy is the core of various coach players combinations on tour. Below we highlight three thriving partnerships:

Peter Ayers/Emma Navarro

Nine years ago, Ayers crossed paths for the first time with 14-year-old Emma Navarro on the LTP Tennis Academy in Charleston.

Only the eyes, the hands, the connection – that the ball struck again and again, so repeatable, Ayers said. Also how prepared she was to work on it. How much she seemed to enjoy the hours on the field, the action to just hit the ball.

Ayers played tennis at Duke University, but when a professional career did not work, he turned to coaching. He described the evolution of their relationship in this way:

One thing we have a lot about is the idea that there are guidelines and perspective. I think when a players are younger, you work more with guidelines. And so I would say it's more about having a vision, certainly communicating, but giving her and eventually, shopping while the coach controls it.

And then, when you continue, it is less about guidelines and more about this is my perspective. You are the one who drives this, you are the one who touches the balls. I am really proud of the work she has placed in it, we have put it in because they can make the transition from that more adult child situation to a young adult.

Of course, just like in a long -term relationship, there were incidental problems.

Oh, certainly, said Ayers. There is no way that you can't have any bumps with a young person who is growing up. You want bumps, you want them to spread their wings and express themselves and become more and more independent. That will always make a relationship with another test.

This journey must be yours. Something you choose, and not something that has been chosen for you.

And so it has become for Navarro. After a year at the University of Virginia, where she won the NCAA Division I -Singles title as a first -year student, Shes passed smoothly. Navarro finished the 2024 season at number 8 in the Pif WTA ranking list and was elected until 2024's most improved player of the year.

I am in a new place that brings a bit of busy, said Navarro from Australia. Being top 10 and many players who don't have that pressure – they have nothing to lose. So it is a different position to be in, but I work very hard to manage that.

And Ayers, have come in 10^oneYears with Navarro is with her. He offers no specific goals, but said, who knows – we have dreams, she has dreams. And she probably dreams of the highest. But in the end, when he says: 'I think I am the best player I could be and I say:' I think you did, then that is the goal.

We never forget where we come from. And what it made and how many long, difficult days and how many beautiful and challenging moments. We cherish it, we do not consider anything for granted because we have so much respect for everything that is here.

Conchita Martinez/Mirra Andreeva

When they started working in April in April, there was an understandable distance, especially when 17-year-old Andreeva was losing.

I tried to tackle this a bit myself, she explained in Indian Wells. I didn't look at her. I didn't listen. I tried to do it alone. Then a few games showed me that, well, it doesn't work when I'm there alone. I hired her for a reason like my coach.

In the beginning I forced myself to really look at her, to come and ask for advice. I don't even have to ask. She just tells me what she thinks. We agree that she will tell me what she thinks, what she sees.

Honesty works both sides.

Hopefully you have a relationship where she is open and can say everything, Martinez said. And know I'm not going to judge. But I'm going to take that into account: 'Ok, I feel so or that way. I'm not going to say: “Arrrggghh, you have to do this. I think I know when they are serious or 'ok, I don't want to do this.

She is very honest with that.

The two have worked on everything – Bemandlijn, Serve, Volleys by playing a lot of Doubles. Like many young players (see Coco Gauff) she is well equipped to defend, but must be more aggressive. The idea is to take advantage of her speed and strength and more often.

The two sit down for each match and discuss tactics in the course of 15 or 20 minutes. It has worked well this year; Andreeva has won 13 of 16 games.

Listening, even to a 17-year-old with little experience as a professional, is vital. And it also goes the other way. After Andreeva broke through with her title in Dubai, after making the media rounds, through recovery and cooldown, the two sat down to dine. They were both excited – and curious to know how the other person felt during that final.

Martinez makes an attempt to present a calm, Stoic front during competitions, but according to Andreeva she was nervous in the beginning.

I started, it was 0-2, 0-30, so she was just like: 'Hmm, it's not the best start. Ok, went to see, said Andreeva. After that the nerves of course just flew away and she felt good.

Martinez said she was very proud of her player – and Andreeva, in turn, thanked her for supporting her so good in Dubai.

How well can Andreeva be?

She's already very good, isn't it? said Martinez smiling. I mean, little by little we are going ahead. We have to work hard – and not all this sound, there is a lot of noise. We will continue to work to get better everywhere.

Sandra Zaniewska/Marta Kostyuk

The hiring of a new player requires something that is approaching a forensic investigation. The process started for Zaniewska after 2023 Wimbledon, when Kostyuk no. 34 was in the Pif WTA ranking.

Looking at a few games, diving deep into the game – what I see can be different, said Zaniewska, who played professional tennis at ITF level. After I have done my own analysis, I ask the player, what do you think of your game? How do you see yourself – today and when you will play your best tennis?

I have three photos. My opinion, their current vision and their future vision – and I try to put it together in a certain way, so where do we really work to get you where you want to be?

For Kostyuk it was a difficult proposition because she already has all the shots at 22. The first thought of Zaniewskas was that Kostyuk turned the ball too flat and made too much not -forced mistakes. Kostyuk, a kind of player, didn't see it that way. Eventually they met in the middle.

The biggest problem was trying to temper Kostyukshumeur.

Marta has had such a great success since she was so young and won Australian Open Juniors at the age of 14 – I mean, who does that, right? Said Zaniewska. I think there were many expectations that were put on her, not only through the world, but also at a very young age that she may not have met.

And then it doesn't happen and you ask yourself: “Did I no longer make progress? Am I no longer a good player? So they have been experienced a lot of this, now it is probably the moment when it settles a little more, right? It listens to the player with compassion and understanding.

Kostyuk has only won one WTA Tour event, two years ago in Austin, but there is a steady general improvement under Zaniewska. A year ago she reached two WTA 500 finals, in San Diego and Stuttgart, her first Grand Slam quarterfinals on the Australian Open and first WTA 1000 semi -final in Indian Wells.

She describes her relationship with Zaniewska as a professional and says they have a lot of fun outside the field.

But, she said, it's a very thin line, being friends, but also to keep this, how do you say, subordination? Structure? The hierarchy? We go through things like all people. They are not always flowers and butterflies and everything is always great.

Yes, I think it is important in every relationship – on Job, at home – it is important to keep communication at a very high level. That is the key to succeed everywhere. I think we are doing pretty well. I am enthusiastic about what we can build.