Laura Robson Hires Maclagan On A Trial Basis

Written by: Staff on 5th June 2013

Laura Robson Hires Maclagan On A Trial Basis

epa03700509 British player Laura Robson returns the ball to US tennis player Serena Williams during their second round match of the Italian Open tennis tournament at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 14 May 2013. EPA/ETTORE FERRARI |

Laura Robson, the main focus of British female hopes at Wimbledon and rest of the upcoming grass court season, will fill the void in her coaching box for the next month at least, with Miles Maclagan, who guided Andy Murray for three years.

Maclagan will initially coach 19 year-old Robson, currently ranked 37th in the world, on a trial basis but there is a chance the relationship could become permanent if things work well. There was also an interest in employing Maria Sharapova’s former coach Michael Joyce but he is currently preoccupied dealing with family matters in California following the death of his father.

Robson has been without a coach since ending her seven month long partnership with Croatian Zeljo Krajan last month and 38 year-old Maclagan, who like his new charge actually lives in Wimbledon, has been out of work since parting with Marcos Baghdatis late last year.

“We’re going to start out for a little period over the grass to see how things go,” said former British Davis Cup player Maclagan who has also coached German Philipp Kohlschreiber but has never previously worked with a female player.

The Zambian born coach, who has Scottish antecedence, said: “It’s a new challenge and that’s why we have a trial period – to see what happens.

“When I first had a conversation with Andy and we started, I said, ‘I’ve got some thoughts but it’s sort of irrelevant because I need to know what you think about your game.’ Until you know someone it’s tough to make any calls.”

Robson, an Olympic silver medalist with Murray in mixed doubles and a former Wimbledon junior champion, lost at the French Open at the first round stage to Caroline Wozniacki but has a stack of impressive wins against top rated players including Li Na, Kim Clijsters, Petra Kvitova and most recently Agnieszka Radwanska in Madrid and Venus Williams in Rome.

“That is the big attraction of it,” said Maclagan. “She clearly has the mind for the big stadiums, for the big time, to take on the big players. It’s a key ingredient in anyone who’s going to play well.

“There’s a lot I need to learn about the women’s tour and, to be honest, Laura’s not someone I’ve really studied. I’ve watched her just in passing rather than studied her, so there’s a lot about her game that I need to know.”

“But just to see those things – a young player with a lot of firepower and the ability to take on the top players – is exciting.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Andy Murray, British tennis news, grass court tennis, Laura Robson, Miles Maclagan, Wimbledon, Zeljo Krajan