Jimmy Ain’t Complaining , We are Just Saying

Written by: Staff on 14th August 2013

Jimmy Ain't Complaining , We are Just Saying |

The great Jimmy Connors using a closet as a changing room….Not exactly. But sort of. It’s a little known fact that coaches on the tennis pro tour don’t get great access to showers or lockers. I’m not certain of all the situations week in and out. But generally its shocking. If memory serves it started back in the Martina Hingis days. Martina’s mother would give all the girls/ ladies in the locker room ” ugly face ” . Sometimes she got into discussions or made comments.

Result. Ladies lockeroom closed to all coaches.

End result. As Sven Groeneveld says in his blog today , he only sometimes has a shower. ( Sometimes towels ) Rarely has a locker. Usually it’s a toilet and sink. So basically they change in a bathroom. For Sven being head coach of the Adidas high performance team he is on site over 12 hours a day ! Every day ! What a shame that our coaches are treated so badly. Basically the men coaches should be allowed in the men’s lockerooms. And the lady coaches should be in the ladies lockerooms. Or sites need to start building proper locker rooms for coaches.

Since I’m on a tear here. Lets look at how many passes each player gets for each event. Answer. Not enough. Each player usually get 2. When you factor in parents. Passes gone ? Factor in siblings or significant others. Or a coach. A physio. A trainer. An agent. Manager . sports shrink … In Rogers case his wonderful parents , 2 nannies. 2 coaches and unknown endless friends and Sponsors.

Note to tourneys. All tourneys. Build bigger player guest areas. Allow more passes and more flexibility. Be very accommodating to the coaches. Give them courtesy cars. More meal tickets. More of the treatment they deserve. Not asking for VIP ! Just basics !

Regarding the great Jimmy Connors. Great to have you back around the pro tour. You add so much to our sport. We say stay around ! Tennis needs your spirit and the knowledge you possess.

The site plugs the Jimmy Connors book. Buy it. It’s great. “The Outsider “

Topics: Jimmy Connors, Martina Hingis, sven groeneveld, Tennis, The Outsider