Archive for: coach
Novak Djokovic has decided to make a change and hire a new fitness coach. Novak still understands that he is still a lot way behind Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer and hopefully this new addition will bring some improvements.
Djokovic has hired Gebhard Phil-Gritsch, famous for coaching Austrian clay-court specialist Thomas Muster to the No. 1 ranking during the 1990s. “I felt that I needed a change,” Djokovic, 21, said Friday. “I needed something new to improve on.”
As to the specifics of his new regimen, neither the Serb nor his manager, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, would delve into any details. But at the very least, it seems the shuffling has boosted the confidence of an already confident Djokovic. Conditioning has been cited as a weakness in Djokovic’s game over the last few seasons. There has been a sense that the immensely talented Serb is more vulnerable than his opponents to the extreme heat frequently experienced Down Under in January or on the U.S. summer circuit.
Austria Fed Cup captain Alfred Tesar will leave his job after eight years at the end of the season, the country’s tennis federation said Thursday.
“Alfred Tesar and the Fed Cup team achieved outstanding successes,” federation general secretary Peter Teuschl said. “But after eight years … it’s time for a new start.”
The federation has yet to name a new captain.
“In the current situation, we have not found a common denominator to successfully continue my work,” the 60-year-old Tesar said.
In its first match under Tesar in 2002, Austria upset the highly favored United States 3-2. The team went on to reach the World Group semifinals that year and again in 2004, but had little success afterward and was relegated to the Europe-Africa Zone in 2008.
Roger Federer is again looking for another coach as Jose Higueras is the new USTAs Director of Coaching for Elite Player Development. Higueras was employed by Federer to improve his results in the clay court season.
The new person tipped for the job is of course Aussie Darren Cahill. Cahill guided Lleyton Hewitt to the top of his game and then helped Agassi make a major comeback late in his career. However, Las Vegas-based Cahill, currently a television analyst with ESPN, has been a long-term coaching target of Federer ever since he split with Peter Lundgren at the end of 2003. The Adelaide-born Aussie was a close friend of the late Peter Carter, Federer’s coach during his formative years who was tragically killed in a South African road accident.
As Early As Possible. Yes, go out after your volley. Do not wait for it to come to you.
This does a few things.
Firstly it gets you moving forward to the volley. With your body momentum going forward you will use your body weight as the main power in the volley. Most people who stand very flat footed tens to swip and slap at their volleys in an attempt to generate power.
Secondly, it forces you to take an attacking approach to the volley which really threatens the opponent.
Thirdly, the earlier you hit the ball the higher over the net the ball is at contact. The longer you let the ball come to you, the lower your volley will be hit. So, with a lower volley you will then need to hit up on the ball to clear the net and are forced to play a softer shot.
Forth, with your momentum going forward you will continue to get closer to the net on the next volley – therefore closing out the point at the net.
Fifth, you will naturally hit the ball out in front of your body which is essential for good volleys.
Wow – all these results just by thinking about hitting it as early as possible !
Volley positive, go forward and close the point out.
Michael
During a match we tend to tighten up in pressure situations. Serving is where these pressures can mount up. Why? Well, we are expected to win our serve AND we are in control of when the point starts. (Here also lies the opportunity to become a very sold server – more about that another time) If you find yourself pulling your serves into the net it is usually due to you dropping your ball toss shoulder too early. Right handers – your left shoulder. Left handers – your right shoulder. (if ball toss shoulder wasnt clear enough 
)
This is definitely the case IF you find you are looking at the ground after serving. Some people are hunched over after the serve with little forward momentum.
So what to do? A very easy cue to remember in the match – is ‘keep your front shoulder up high’. I mean, really keep it up high for as long as you can. In actual fact it will be forced down eventually as you make impact and follow through the serve.
See the example of the picture in this article. Federer has his left hand and shoulder reaching high. His front shoulder is much higher than the back shoulder.
‘Keep your shoulder high’ is the simple cue in the match to get your serves back on track.
By forcing this action you will stay very tall during the serve and it will force you to go ‘up’ and ‘out’ to the ball.
Stay tall, feel strong, and build a solid serve you can rely on in any situation.
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For singles players The Tennis Court can become a lonely place. There are so many things going on out there and it is left to you to process them all and work out what to do.
Well here is a tip. Pretend, in your mind that your towel is your new best friend and coach. Take him or her with you all over the court. Your towel follows you down each end of the court and every time you need a chat do it! (You can actually wipe your face and forearms with it too !)
It may sound strange, but by talking to your towel – probably not too loud – you are actually talking to your self, and having to construct your thoughts in a coherent way. Therefore the jumbled ideas in your head become clearer. Listening to yourself or asking yourself questions, you WILL give your self answers.
There is a great book called ‘The Inner Game of Tennis’ and early in the book it talks about Self One and Self Two. You become the player and the coach. Talk about what to do next, if you are feeling tired etc. IT is also a way for you to ‘vent’ and become more relaxed afterward.
By talking to the towel you start to ask the coach in you clear questions and YOU WILL get answers. Remember not to talk too loud, maybe you dont need to actually say anything out loud, but just go through the process and see how that goes !
Thanks for listening and keep the feedback coming in.. It is great to hear !!
Michael
