PETE ZIEBRON
Will Roger Federer approach the net more in 2014 with Stefan Edberg as his coach? Pete Ziebron Images
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori all recently enlisted the help of former Grand Slam Champions on their respective coaching staffs. Meanwhile Maria Sharapova hired Sven Groeneveld, former coach of 3 Grand Slam Champions.
A couple of days ago in Brisbane, Federer elaborated a bit on adding 6-time major champion Stefan Edberg to his team, alongside coach Severin Luthi: "I thought if we could do a few weeks together, maybe ten, maybe twelve, it could be something fresh, new, inspiring. Him being the legend he is and someone I look up to so much, anything he will say will mean very much to me and my team. Like that I think we can build on that."
Earlier this month, world #2 Novak Djokovic announced that he brought on 6-time major champion Boris Becker to join longtime coach Marian Vajda: "I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with Boris. He is a true legend, someone who has great tennis knowledge and his experience will help me win new trophies from the Grand Slams and other tournaments.
Boris is a great person, too, and I am sure he will fit in our team in the best possible way. Boris brings a new fresh approach, and together with Vajda he will make a winning combination.
“My goal for 2014 is to play my best tennis and to get in shape for the Grand Slams and Masters 1000s. These tournaments have the most weight in our sport, and I want to prove my worth there. The team is now strengthened and we hope for maximum results.”
Kei Nishikori, who reached a career high of world #11 last June has his sights set on bigger results in 2014 and and has hired of 1989 Roland Garros Champion Michael Chang. "End of this year (2013) I was start thinking to finding someone advise me more about something I need to get top 10. That was my goal this year (2013) and I couldn't do it.
I think top 10 is always my goal. I want to do well more in Grand Slams, because the best result last year or this year was round of 16. So hopefully I can go quarterfinal or semis. I think that's going to be my next goal."
Nishikori is pleased with the immediate impact that Chang has had with him to date: "He's (Chang) so detail and he tells me a lot of things that I feel improving a lot. Yeah, I think it's good matchup. He knows a lot of players that I need to know. Yeah, he change some stuff of my tennis, but it's going well."
Finally, Maria Sharapova returns from injury and is seeking a solution to being able to end a 13 match losing streak to Serena Williams that dates back to 2004. The new voice in her camp is Sven Groeneveld, who helped Caroline Wozniacki get to #1 in the world and also coached Monica Seles, Mary Pierce and Ana Ivanovic to Grand Slam titles.
Sharapova spoke about her new coach this week in Brisbane: "From the first time we met I really liked what he had to say. He came in as a very experienced person, player. He started from the very beginning of the game, and one of the things I've always liked in a coach is when he coached against me ‑ and he's been there for many years coaching against me ‑ and I like when someone comes in and is honest and truthful and says it like it is. He's that. He puts it all out on the table. He's a team player."
As the players have shared with us, they eagerly await fresh and inspiring approaches, new goals and experience that their new coaches have and will share with them in 2014. Looking forward to watching the new implementations and executions of new strategies on the court in Australia and throughout the year.