Wertheim; Mail
Big-name coaches add intrigue to new season
What are the chances of Serena Williams hiring Steffi Graf to surpass Graf's Open era record of 22 Grand Slam titles? Not that Serena needs any help, but it's always great to have someone who did that in your corner. Also, how about Maria Sharapova hiring Monica Seles (to beat Serena); Victoria Azarenka hiring Martina Navratilova (to work on her fitness so that she can avoid retirements/withdrawals and be consistent all year); and Aga Radwanska hiring Gabriela Sabatini (to help her win her first Slam; Martina Hingis would be a good fit for Aga's game, but wanted to stick to the '80s)? I know the answers -- especially the first scenario, as Graf on the WTA circuit again, even as a coach, is never going to happen -- but it's a fun exercise to think through.
-- Anonymous
Well played. Imagine, a few years ago, you were asked the following: Which one of these coach-player columns is factual and which is fake?
A
Edberg-Federer
Lendl-Murray
Becker-Djokovic
Chang-Nishikori
Sharapova-Connors
B
Graf-Williams
Sabatini-Radwanska
Seles-Sharapova
Navratilova-Azarenka
Wait.
Anyway, I cannot imagine Graf -- mother of two, devoted spouse, intensely private, never a tennis-phile -- returning to coach. I like Hingis and Radwanska. And I really like Navratilova and Azarenka. In general, I like the idea of more female coaches.
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20140108/coaches-sharapova-mailbag/#ixzz2pqns6Lro
Big-name coaches add intrigue to new season
What are the chances of Serena Williams hiring Steffi Graf to surpass Graf's Open era record of 22 Grand Slam titles? Not that Serena needs any help, but it's always great to have someone who did that in your corner. Also, how about Maria Sharapova hiring Monica Seles (to beat Serena); Victoria Azarenka hiring Martina Navratilova (to work on her fitness so that she can avoid retirements/withdrawals and be consistent all year); and Aga Radwanska hiring Gabriela Sabatini (to help her win her first Slam; Martina Hingis would be a good fit for Aga's game, but wanted to stick to the '80s)? I know the answers -- especially the first scenario, as Graf on the WTA circuit again, even as a coach, is never going to happen -- but it's a fun exercise to think through.
-- Anonymous
Well played. Imagine, a few years ago, you were asked the following: Which one of these coach-player columns is factual and which is fake?
A
Edberg-Federer
Lendl-Murray
Becker-Djokovic
Chang-Nishikori
Sharapova-Connors
B
Graf-Williams
Sabatini-Radwanska
Seles-Sharapova
Navratilova-Azarenka
Wait.
Anyway, I cannot imagine Graf -- mother of two, devoted spouse, intensely private, never a tennis-phile -- returning to coach. I like Hingis and Radwanska. And I really like Navratilova and Azarenka. In general, I like the idea of more female coaches.
Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20140108/coaches-sharapova-mailbag/#ixzz2pqns6Lro
