Djokovic and Agassi split

[brokenshoelace]

Coaching in tennis, at least when it comes to great players, has always been overrated.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Novak looks more desperated than anything else, he is into a labyrinth and he can’t find out the exit

“Labyrinth” .. Miss Carol your English continues to be much better than a lot of our level of English .. Very well put my friend

 

[atttomole]

Coaching in tennis, at least when it comes to great players, has always been overrated.

True. It is the player that has to execute the strategy. The coach may be useful sometimes when the player runs out of ideas, and may provide alternatives.

 

[Federberg]

Coaching in tennis, at least when it comes to great players, has always been overrated.

definitely agree with this. For me it's not the lack of coaching that concerns me. It's the chaos and helplessness that seems to be surrounding him that worries me. I don't think we can say he's done yet. If his actions are meant to cauterise whatever was wrong then we need to give him at least 6 months to stabilise his situation. He seems like such a gregarious character, you have to think these team relationships have been more important for him than some of his rivals. I think this year is probably a write off as things stand. I'm eager to see how things go for him next year

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Lendl

 

[the AntiPusher]

That’s a damn shame...Ever since his famous Bollywood incident Djoker has become a mental midget... Only Fed and Rafa across the net may be able to garner Novak’s interest level.. He just doesnt seem too interested in competing..Its a damn shame.

 

[Carol]

“Labyrinth” .. Miss Carol your English continues to be much better than a lot of our level of English .. Very well put my friend

Thanks so much, I’m trying

 

[DarthFed]

I agree that coaching is not really the issue here with Novak, but I do think it can help all players at certain points in their career, even the greats. Sometimes having a different voice after many years is helpful. I think Ljubicic and Moya may deserve more credit than they get for Roger and Rafa's resurrections.

 

[mrzz]

I know there are exceptions, but some times I feel the better the guy was as a player, the worst he is as a coach. Problem is if the guy had a huge talent, it will be always hard for him to gauge the fact that the guy he is coaching may simply not be able to do some things as good as he thinks it should be done. Obviously there is nuances and exceptions and details but you got the idea. There is a reason why, for example in football, so many guys who were lousy players who could barely kick the ball without falling over his butt ended up as great coaches (again, a few exceptions I know).

 

[Horsa]

I know there are exceptions, but some times I feel the better the guy was as a player, the worst he is as a coach. Problem is if the guy had a huge talent, it will be always hard for him to gauge the fact that the guy he is coaching may simply not be able to do some things as good as he thinks it should be done. Obviously there is nuances and exceptions and details but you got the idea. There is a reason why, for example in football, so many guys who were lousy players who could barely kick the ball without falling over his butt ended up as great coaches (again, a few exceptions I know).

I agree. When you're good at something & teaching others how to do what you're good at sometimes you go too fast or you take for granted that things you find easy other people will too. When training others I had to get out of the habit of saying it's self-explanatory really but I got put on training people more often because I was told I was good & people like me teaching or training them. There are so many people who know what to do but can't actually do it themselves. They're very good at giving advice & teaching other people how to do things but when they try to do it have problems. I'm like that myself. I've taught many people who've gone on to be very good at what I taught them & have benefited from my advice but when I've tried to do what I know I should or take my own advice I haven't been very good. There are a lot of things I actually know how to do but when I get round to doing them I have problems with.

 

[Federberg]

Sometimes not having a coach is a good thing too. It's clear there's a mental component to what Novak is going through right now. Perhaps some time alone will help him regain the perspective he needs. After that he’ll actually benefit from team relationships again. For now I’m not sure it’ll be constructive from what I’m observing

 

[Moxie]

I agree that coaching is not really the issue here with Novak, but I do think it can help all players at certain points in their career, even the greats. Sometimes having a different voice after many years is helpful. I think Ljubicic and Moya may deserve more credit than they get for Roger and Rafa's resurrections.

I agree, mostly. I do think it bears remembering that Djokovic has changed his service motion to accommodate the elbow, which might want an actual coach's eye.

 

[Horsa]

Sometimes not having a coach is a good thing too. It's clear there's a mental component to what Novak is going through right now. Perhaps some time alone will help him regain the perspective he needs. After that he’ll actually benefit from team relationships again. For now I’m not sure it’ll be constructive from what I’m observing

Definitely. Maybe what he needs is for him to think about what he really knows about the game & how he works best (after all who knows a person better than themselves) & give himself a bit of headspace (we all need it at times) for him to work everything out for himself & then just to keep trying & practising & go out & do it.

 

[Moxie]

Sometimes not having a coach is a good thing too. It's clear there's a mental component to what Novak is going through right now. Perhaps some time alone will help him regain the perspective he needs. After that he’ll actually benefit from team relationships again. For now I’m not sure it’ll be constructive from what I’m observing

I rather go with what you say above, though, about Novak being a gregarious fellow and benefitting from being surrounded by a team. Tennis is pretty lonely business. Roger did really well without a coach some years back, but he manufactures his own confidence, and he's always had Mirka as helpmate and travel companion. Rafa and Novak both to me seemed to like the team...folks you trust helping keep up your confidence and attitude. Who knows if time alone could help him...I'd would personally, though, guess no. And everyone seems to be forgetting Stepanek.

 

[Federberg]

I rather go with what you say above, though, about Novak being a gregarious fellow and benefitting from being surrounded by a team. Tennis is pretty lonely business. Roger did really well without a coach some years back, but he manufactures his own confidence, and he's always had Mirka as helpmate and travel companion. Rafa and Novak both to me seemed to like the team...folks you trust helping keep up your confidence and attitude. Who knows if time alone could help him...I'd would personally, though, guess no. And everyone seems to be forgetting Stepanek.

I guess you didn't hear the news then. He's parted company with Stepanek as well

 

[Federberg]

Furthermore, he clearly isn't listening to his team at the moment. There's no point trying to put lipstick on a pig. He needs to be receptive and if it means being alone for a while then maybe he'll re-learn the value of different voices

 

[Moxie]

I guess you didn't hear the news then. He's parted company with Stepanek as well

Wow...I hadn't. With the guest appearance by Mario Ancic last summer, that's 5 coaches in a year and a half. Somebody was making fun of Raonic the other day for his 11. Djokovic has got to be on some pace for that. As you say above, I guess there isn't anyone that can help him right now if he doesn't want to listen. Maybe it is time to trust himself, first. Then he can trust someone else.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Stepanek's original plan was to become a coach of Nick Kyrgios after retiring. I think he changed course because he presumed Novak would be able to pay him more. I think he will now go back to plan A and check with Nick (who I think will accept him).

 

[Busted]

That’s a damn shame...Ever since his famous Bollywood incident Djoker has become a mental midget... Only Fed and Rafa across the net may be able to garner Novak’s interest level.. He just doesnt seem too interested in competing..Its a damn shame.

I have to admit that I'm surprised by this. I thought Djokovic would have his caca together by now. Elbow injury aside, in June it'll be 2 years since he won the FO in 2016. That's a long time to be mired in a "slump" or to suffer from "burn out." Maybe he needs to do a McEnroe - and just walk away from the game for a year. Sure he'll be 32 IF he comes back, but is that really any worse than wasting all of this time just going through the motions?

 

[Busted]

Stepanek's original plan was to become a coach of Nick Kyrgios after retiring. I think he changed course because he presumed Novak would be able to pay him more. I think he will now go back to plan A and check with Nick (who I think will accept him).

Nick Kyrgios needs someone more...uh...how should I say this...SCARY than Radek Stepanek. You know who would be a good coach for Kyrgios? Roger...but he's a little busy on the tour...