Count Maria Sharapova among the many players who favor on-court coaching.
Sharapova retained coach Sven Groeneveld throughout her 15-month doping suspension and the coach has been a constant source of tactical advice and encouragement during her comeback matches in Stuttgart and Madrid.
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The five-time Grand Slam champion said her coach’s vantage point provides a different vision.
“I definitely fight my opinion during those coaching changeovers,” . But, yeah, in certain moments, yeah, when you go up to the game, you're playing your first point, you have those few words from your coach. You definitely recognize he's there for a reason. What you see from the sidelines is so different than when you're playing. It's just a different viewpoint.”
Interestingly, Sharapova also came face-to-face with her former coach in Madrid. Thomas Hogstedt, who now coaches Genie Bouchard came out on court during the Canadian’s three-set Madrid victory over Sharapova.
Sharapova said Groeneveld’s ability to identify and communicate winning patterns is helpful.
“When you're in the moment, you don't recognize some of the patterns, the things you're doing,” Sharapova said. “It just kind of comes automatically. Sometimes it's good because it's instinct. Sometimes you just have to trust what your team sees. That's why they're there. That's why you hire a team, to help you with everything.
"I mean, I think his advice was just to settle down a little bit, not go for the lines as much on the serve, which I was doing, as I said before. All made sense.”
Photo credit: Christopher Levy