Those of us who follow Jelena Jankovic closely were thrilled when JJ hired back her former coach, Ricardo Sanchez, for she has always played her best tennis under his watch. But the second Jankovic-Sanchez team has split, too. Sanchez has signed a one-year contract with Caroline Wozniacki.
There's more: Sanchez was not the "mystery coach" helping the world number 1 during the U.S. Open--the one whose name was supposed to have been revealed right after the Open. So the Mystery Coach remains a mystery, and the next question is: Who will coach JJ?
I wonder how well those personalities will mesh, truthfully. Although, one could make a case that Wozniacki might need a stand-up-to-her sort who is not her father to get her headed in the right direction (just not Mexico!). ;)
ReplyDeleteStill, it will certainly raise eyebrows that a defensive-minded #1 player who plays too much and hasn't won a slam hires a former coach of defensive-minded #1 player who played too much and never won a slam.
It's rich. But I think Sanchez did help Jankovic, if perhaps not all the time. I, too, thought about the potential personality clash, not just between Caroline and Sanchez, but between Piotr and Sanchez, because you know Piotr's not going away.
ReplyDeleteThis is about the only time I am looking forward to an on court coaching exchange because finally we will get to hear from the mouth of Wozniacki just what it is that she wants to accomplish when she is on court. I would very much like to know what tactics she employs for each match and it will be interesting to see how the combative personality of Sanchez when it is put up against Little Ms. Sunshine. WTA...never a dull moment
ReplyDeleteI think you're probably reading this the way I am, Karen. Sanchez hasn't even seen "combative" yet :)
ReplyDeleteIndeed Diane. If Piotr's on court moments are anything to go by, even though I am not a betting person, I doubt that this coaching relationship will last for more than 6 months, if that much. If she fails to win either of first 2 GS of the season, they may just call it quits.
ReplyDeleteEven more interesting is what will be JJ's response seeing as she had just rehired Sanchez during the American hard court swing.
This is all very interesting, but I'm pretty sure Piotr will still be doing the on court coaching.
ReplyDeleteI suspect armchair tennis fan Rory McIlroy might give Caroline a few of his own tips as well, so she's going to be torn in all directions next year. She's going to need all of her legendary positivity to get through 2012 unscathed, especially with the return of the big hitters like Serena and Kim.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right, Cheri. I'm really pretty curious about what direction she goes in. She has her work cut out for her.
ReplyDelete