By Erik Gudris | Monday, December 15, 2014

 

The recent wave of new celebrity coaching announcements, including Martina Navratilova, is based on Grand Slam ambitions of many players.

Photo Credit: Getty

Ivan Lendl. Trendsetter.

That didn't seem likely this time two years ago when the Czech great and Hall of Famer agreed to coach Andy Murray in a move that surprised and delighted many. But when their partnership yielded Olympic Gold and two Grand Slam titles for the UK No. 1, it started what has now become a must-have item for every player along with racquets, shoes, and VIP airport lounge access - a celebrity coach.

Coaching changes at the end of the season are nothing new. But it's been hard to not notice the frenzied amount of hiring of former tennis greats. Once that appeared only reserved for the elite of the game, including Roger Federer who linked up with Stefan Edberg and Novak Djokovic who continues his work with Boris Becker. Now many players, no matter what their ranking, are trying to tap into the experience and confidence of some of the sport's greatest champions.

The biggest news in this latest wave is Agnieszka Radwanska and her new partnership with tennis icon Martina Navratilova. Long admired for her insightful tennis commentary, Navratilova has been cited as a potential coach for some time. Now it appears Radwanska, who has yet to win a Major, is hoping Navratilova will inspire her to take that next step to help her finally win her first Grand Slam.

American players are looking to former greats of their own. Madison Keys will now work with multiple major winner Lindsay Davenport. John Isner, announced he was teaming up with Justin Gimelstob, a former player more known for his tennis commentary of late. While James Blake will serve as a consultant to rising talent Jack Sock.

And one can't forget Andy Murray's own recommitment to working with Amelie Mauresmo. After Lendl parted ways with the Scot this spring, Murray hired the French great earlier this summer. Murray recently decided to keep working with Mauresmo while letting go of two long time team members Jez Green and Dani Vallverdu.

Celebrity coaches don't have to be well-known former players either. Several tennis coaches, due to their previous success, are also much sought after when their former partnership with a player ends.

Keys was also set to work with Wim Fissette who recently helped Simona Halep reach her first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros. The Keys/Fissette partnership ended after only a few days making Fissette once again a sought after coach. Veteran Daniela Hantuchova announced she would be training in the pre-season with Carlos Rodriguez, best known for coaching Justine Henin and recently Li Na before she retired.

So why the increase in players latching on to big names so suddenly? Seeing Djokovic and Federer enjoy continued success with their respective famous coaches likely had a lot to do with it. Marin Cilic, working with fellow Croat and Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, going on to win his first major at the US Open only confirmed for many that indeed there is something special to having someone in your corner who knows what it's like to win majors. And that's the main goal for players, especially those who are either mid-way or almost perhaps near the end of their careers.

For players like Radwanska, there was a definite sense she needed to do something different if she wanted another shot at a major final. Why the 18-time Grand Slam champion decided now to take up coaching is probably due to a lot of factors, but it's clear Navratilova feels she can really help Radwanska right now or she wouldn't have taken the job. The biggest question remains if the new partnership will finally help Radwanska beat some of the WTA's biggest power hitters on a more consistent basis, including World No. 1 Serena Williams. Achieving that, so far, impossible result for the Polish star will be Navratilova's biggest goal next year.

On the ATP side, there's a definite feeling that time may is running out for some of the guys hoping to win their first major. Who can forget Tomas Berdych this fall trying to convince Ivan Lendl, without success, to come back and coach him as he did with Murray. Isner's recent choice of Gimelstob certainly raised a lot of eyebrows. While the two Americans may be familiar with each other and get along, will it help Isner's goal of trying to reach that elusive first major final with Gimelstob also still committed to his television commentating duties and being a member of the ATP board?

It's also a fact that there's no guarantee of a famous coach brining great results, as we've seen in the recent past. Ana Ivanovic worked with a variety of well-known coaches who never were quite able to propel the Serbian star back to her former glory when she was No.1. That only happened this year when Ivanovic worked with several lower-profile, yet highly effective coaches from Serbia that seemed to give Ivanovic more confidence and calmness in her game. The result - Ivanovic is now back into the top five.

Though Paul Annacone, who worked with both Pete Sampras and Roger Federer, was expected to be a great boost to Sloane Stephens, that partnership ended this summer with less than stellar results. And let's not forget last year's ill-fated pairing of tennis great Jimmy Connors with Maria Sharapova, a bizarre partnership that lasted for the course of just one match.

Being able to tap into the mind of someone who has achieved the ultimate glory that you are still seeking is what is motivating many of these recent coaching decisions. But let's not forget that Navratilova, Davenport, Gimelstob, etc. also have other personal and professional commitments as well that they aren't giving up. Players literally have to live with a coach day in and day out in-between checking in and out of hotels, catching planes, and everything else it takes to be a pro player. And not all players and coaches mesh well either personality wise, culturally wise, or just as people. The celebrity coach that manages to create a sense of comfort, familiarity, and still impart all their wisdom every day for a whole year could be the one that we start talking about as "coach of the year" by the end of next season.

Call it initiative, for some, desperation, or for others a once-in-a-lifetime chance, this trend of hiring celebrity coaches won't end any time soon. But if more players decide to "hire famous or go home" may all depend on this recent crop of famous coaches yielding a harvest of Grand Slam riches next year.