RADWANSKA SIGNS MARTINA NAVRATILOVA AS COACH

Written by: Staff on 9th December 2014

LAUREUS AWARDS CEREMONY IN RIO DE JANEIRO

RADWANSKA SIGNS MARTINA NAVRATILOVA AS COACH

epa03619642 US-Czech former tennis player Martina Navratilova arrives for ceremony of Laureus Awards in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 11 March 2013. EPA/Antonio Lacerda |

When Agnieszka Radwanska revealed she would soon be announcing one of tennis’ greatest champions as a new addition to her coaching team, speculation went into overdrive.

Now with 18-time Grand Slam singles winner Martina Navratilova revealed as the legend who will work with the sixth-ranked Pole at selected tournaments including the four Grand Slam events, it seems like a case of stating the blindingly obvious.

Initially Radwanska broke the news when she posted on Twitter: “So happy to announce @Martina as the newest member of my coaching team!”

Navratilova is more than happy to take up the part-time appointment working alongside Radwanska’s full-time coach Tomasz Wiktorowski. It will give the 58 year-old a chance to help out one of the most consistent WTA players never to win a major title and also continue with all her television and media commitments as well as other interests.

“I can’t wait to get started on this new phase of my career and I am really excited,” said Navratilova who will first link up with Radwanska for a spell of off-season training in Miami after Christmas. “I was delighted when Agnieszka asked me if I would collaborate with Tomasz.

“I did not sleep very well last night, thinking about getting back into match mode and the competitions.”

Agnietszka Radwanska of Poland returns to Serena Williams of the US during their final match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 07 July 2012. EPA/GERRY PENNY

Sixth ranked Radwanska came nearest to winning a major at Wimbledon in 2012 when she was beaten by Serena Williams in the final. Navratilova has of course prevailed in singles at the All England Club nine times and the 25 year-old Pole outlined the reasons for the collaboration when she said: “Martina’s achievements speak for themselves, and I hope that I can learn from all her experience. She is my tennis idol.

“We are originally from a similar part of the world so we share an understanding about tennis and life, which I’m sure will translate into a successful relationship.”

Three months ago Navratilova went public about her desire to join the growing list of ‘celebrity’ coaches when she said at the US Open she would be interested in coaching a top player if the opportunity arose.

“There’s no substitute for that one-on-one, getting into the nitty-gritty of the game,” she said. “And you can only really do that with a top player, when you’re just searching for that little edge. That sliced backhand or the dropped volley that you may only use once or twice a match but may mean the difference between winning or losing. I’m sure it’ll happen.”

Radwanska has been working with Poland’s Fed Cup coach Wiktorowski since 2011 when she relieved her father Robert of coaching duties. Croatian Borna Bikic, a former coach of Jelena Dokic, briefly joined Radwanska’s team a year later.

Story via Bob Larson tennis news

Topics: Agnieszka Radwanska, Martina Navratilova, Tennis Coach, Tennis News