Laura Robson is Advised to Hit the Ball Big

Written by: Staff on 9th May 2012

Laura Robson is Advised to Hit the Ball Big

epa03178948 Laura Robson of Great Britain returns the ball to Jelena Jankovic of Serbia during their first round match of the WTA E Boks Danish Open tennis tournament in Farum, north of Copenhagen, Denmark, 11 April 2012. EPA/KRISTIAN JUUL PEDERSEN DENMARK OUT |

For the past year, Michael Joyce has been coaching U.S. up and comer Jesse Pegula, the 18-year-old daughter of Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula, who has cracked the top 300 under his watch. Joyce coached Maria Sharapova for most of her career before the two split at the start of 2011. He has also had a recent good look at British teen Laura Robson, who has a 5-8 record this year and is stalled at No. 123. Robson, also 18, is currently looking for a full time coach.

“I saw her play a couple years ago and was really impressed and then I saw her practice recently with Jesse and I wasn’t impressed because I don’t think she knows what the hell she is doing,” Joyce told Daily Tennis. “Instead of using her weapons she’s playing like a clay courter. I told her mother that you better find somebody because Laura has to go back to hitting the ball big and find her identity. She’s a big girl and has a big serve and Jesse was killing her. Robson was probably 100 times the player that Jesse two years ago. But Laura has lot of talent and could be good.”

Joyce cautions patience with young players because unlike in the 1990s and early part of the last decade when teenagers could break out and win majors, most girls are peaking later now as the game gets more physical.

“My philosophy with Jesse and I told her parents this, is that she just turned 18 and who cares what she plays like next year or in two years? It’s what she is going to play like when she’s 21 that matters, that’s when hopefully she’s playing her best and then if she’s going to be anything in the sport, it will be then. “

Topics: 10sballs.com, Daily tennis news, Jesse Pegula, Laura Robson, Maria Sharapova, Michael Joyce, Sports, Tennis News, Women Tennis