The Supercoaches - Year 1

[Kieran]

Let's check the pulse on the Supercoaches hired by some of the best players in the world. By Supercoaches I mean, previously great players who are now hired to sit in the stand and look anxious.

Here's the coaches, and their players in brackets:

Becker (Djokovic)
Edberg (Federer)
Chang (Nishikori)
Ivanisevic (Cilic)
Mauresmo (Murray)

I think three of these have certainly had an obvious and positive effect: Edberg, Ivanisevic, and Chang. Not only have their players improved on last year, but they've improved significantly, with Cilic actually winning a major, Nishi having a career season, and Roger getting back in the mix at the slams, and the ranking.

Becker's effect is more difficult to measure. Certainly, the year started badly in Oz, but picked up in the hards. Is Becker to blame for the start? Or the pick up? I can't see it. In Paris, Novak played the worst version of Rafa in ten years, but actually did worse than last year. But then he won Wimbledon, which is certainly plus points for Boris.

I also think his net game has become less shakey. But overall, Novak has declined post-Wimbledon, compared to the last three years. Is this Becker's fault? Or marriage and a baby? I tend to favour the latter. I'm struggling to find where Novak is hugely better off than he was. Maybe Billie, Denis or Nehmeth can leap to Boris side and state a case.

Mauresmo is a thorny one. I just think she's out of her depth, and a wrong match for Andy. If he's stubborn in this one, he'll get what he deserves. Maybe he'll find out in Oz where he really is, after he has a close season of training.

So I have 3 successes, one failure - and the jury still out on Boris...

 

[Riotbeard]

I think Boris has been successful, in that he moved into a really tight camp (where the coach wanted to stop being head coach and hang with his family), and kept his player consistent. This is probably Novak's best season since 2011. I wouldn't say he has necessarily dramatically changed Novak, but he did move into a good camp, and the results did not decline, which was certainly possible. As a result, I think it was a success, but maybe not as dramatic as it could have been.

 

[Kieran]

Well, the last years he was in 3 slam finals, and one semi. I think last year he was better, results wise, but this year he had the marriage and the baby, so his slump after Wimbledon can be excused. I agree that becker hasn't disrupted anything, and this was a significant personal year for Novak, so with or without Boris, his game would have been affected. I think the pluses for Boris are that he's probably brought a level of intimacy that Novak couldn't have with anyone other than a fellow great...

 

[DarthFed]

Pretty spot on with the ratings. I think this was Nole's best year since 2011 because he probably values winning another Wimbledon in a great fashion more than winning AO right now. It was more of a statement/signature win. But Kieran is right that all the other slam results were worse. The non slam results were better though so it is jury still out.

Edberg seems to be someone Roger will listen to and respect. Roger obviously admires Stefan and at this point in his career that can be beneficial in and of itself. People make a big deal out of him charging the net more but the difference is minimal, he has looked to come into net a lot for many years now. I think the racquet is the bigger difference maker right now...and it should be said that Roger's season was not a success at all but a big improvement on an awful 2013 for him.

 

[Billie]

I think Boris has been successful, in that he moved into a really tight camp (where the coach wanted to stop being head coach and hang with his family), and kept his player consistent. This is probably Novak's best season since 2011. I wouldn't say he has necessarily dramatically changed Novak, but he did move into a good camp, and the results did not decline, which was certainly possible. As a result, I think it was a success, but maybe not as dramatic as it could have been.

I agree with most of this. I don't know what drastic success you were looking for, but for me the direct influence of BB on Nole is his improved net play.

Nole and Vajda gave several interviews about their relationship with Boris. In short, the biggest challenge when BB initially started working with Nole was unfamiliarity between them. Nole's camp members are not only his employees, they are really his friends. It took a while to have somebody new mesh with the rest and especially with Nole.

BB on their goals in 2015: http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/570101/20141020/novak-djokovic-aims-world-1-year-end.htm#.VGqeNLktCM8

Nole on BB:

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/tennis/30014284

They must have all been pleased as they extended the cooperation for another year. I think Marian is the happiest of all as he can spend more time with his family and then join Nole whenever he feels like, fresh and enthusiastic (in his own words). The grind of the tour was getting to Marian, but this arrangement is so much better for him. They will work on improving Nole's serve for next year. According to Marian, it is precise but they feel they can add more power to it.

 

[Johnsteinbeck]

the title of the thread sounds like the title of a DC comic book series...

 

[Federberg]

Pretty spot on with the ratings. I think this was Nole's best year since 2011 because he probably values winning another Wimbledon in a great fashion more than winning AO right now. It was more of a statement/signature win. But Kieran is right that all the other slam results were worse. The non slam results were better though so it is jury still out.

Edberg seems to be someone Roger will listen to and respect. Roger obviously admires Stefan and at this point in his career that can be beneficial in and of itself. People make a big deal out of him charging the net more but the difference is minimal, he has looked to come into net a lot for many years now. I think the racquet is the bigger difference maker right now...and it should be said that Roger's season was not a success at all but a big improvement on an awful 2013 for him.

With regards to his net game, I think 3 things have changed:

1, he's more committed to it now, and really believes in the strategy. It's not some.. 'ah well! Nothing else is working so I'll try this' strategy anymore.

2, his volleying techniques is better, he gets lower to the ball at contact, and doesn't rely purely on his hand eye coordination (which is one of the most under-talked about strengths he has)

3, possibly the most important thing.. but there is a lot more intelligence with regards to his court positioning now. Before it almost seemed like he came in kamikaze style. Now he really tries to force the opposition to hit a narrow corridor to pass him. Admittedly he often mishits his approach, thus making a passing shot easier. But it's a huge improvement in recent months

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

After Novak winning Wimbledon this year,Boris Becker kind of grew on me,I still dont understand why Novak hired him in the first place,still Novak feels comfortable with him,to me that is a most important factor for a coach and a player.I still prefer Marion.

I think Chang has been a great choice of coach for Kei Nishikori,he proved this year he can withstand playing 5 sets of tennis and his return game to me has improved leaps and bounds this year.I will be interested to see if Kei can build on his 2014 form in 2015.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

I always liked the Boris idea. A great baseliner hires a guy who was a great serve and volleyer. Just the contrast itself is a positive in my opinion.

For Roger, he needs a sounding board, a person who he can respect as opposed to an X's and O's guy, and Edberg is a great choice.

Ivanicevic - Cilic combo has the "us against the world" feel to it and it is working just fine.

I will make my final decision about Amelie after the AO.

Chang seems to be a good fit for Kei as well. Kei needs to get fitter and learn to go deep every tournament. He was saying he did not understand how the top guys did it year in and year out and he was done just playing 7 matches at the Open. Chang can change that mentality.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

^reply to fashionista^^
djokovic thought he had lost his mental edge in major finals after losing 4 out of 5 or so, he wanted someone who knew what it was like in crunch moments of major finals and could empathise/help/suggest things to get over the winning line..

obviously boom boom boris's experience of winning majors and also going on mental walkabouts in finals was the man for novak, and he wanted to improve net game/volleys etc and when to be "sneaking into the net" (helloooo Kieran),

at 27yrs djokovic wants to be shortening the points more as he goes into his late 20s, even though he's remained injury free this approach is a good idea..(but the overhead volleys masterclass by becker hasn't happened yet.)

 

[Kieran]

Chang and Goran are the two surprise hits here. Neither is working with an all-time great player, and both Nishi and Cilic have had issues (one with injuries, the other with lozenges), but their coaches first-hand experience of the tour, and also cultural proximity, has helped. As Murat says, Goran and Marin have an "us against the world" vibe and it works for them. But also, strangely, Goran has shown his intelligent side, his nurturing side. He's not all headcase and smashed rackets, blown leads. he's obviously been able to transmit the benefits of his experience to Cilic.

Chang, likewise. He's developed a fierce mentality in the Samurai, too. A good scrapping, leave it all out there, attitude. This bodes very well for Nishi. I don't think he'll be phased by his success this year. The work ethic is too strong for him to get giddy...