No More “Yes-Men” Coaches for Caroline Wozniacki

Written by: Staff on 4th June 2012

No More “Yes-Men” Coaches for Caroline Wozniacki

epa03246772 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark serves to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during their third round match for the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, 02 June 2012. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA |

Caroline Wozniacki is pleased not to have to deal with any more “yes-men” coaches after hiring former Australian Open winner Thomas Johansson as her co-mentor for a trial run this summer. The Swede who also lives in the same Monte Carlo base as former No. 1 Wozniacki, will team up with the Dane for the grass campaign.

“It’s definitely different, because during the whole of my career I’ve always had someone there as well who just comes with some inputs or a second voice that’s helped my dad,” said Wozniacki.

“He tells me what he thinks and he’s not soft, which I don’t like. I don’t like when someone tells me, Oh, it’s great, it’s great when it’s actually terrible. It’s not terrible. It can’t be terrible. But it’s not good or I don’t feel it’s good.

“I want someone who is strict and tells me things how they are. He’s like that.”

Wozniacki lost in a three-hour third-round duel in Paris with Kaia Kanepi, marred by what the Dane considered extremely poor line calling in a match which ended as darkness fell. Wozniacki fought from 6-1, 5-1 down to win the second set in a tiebreak but lost in the third.

The No. 9 is looking forward to working with Johansson, who also runs the Stockholm Open ATP event. “”We have a good connection. Also he lives just underneath me, which makes everything easy when you’re going to go for practice and everything.

He’s played on the tour, he’s won a Grand Slam. He has the experience. He knows the women players because he’s been (television) commentating.

“I think he can come with some advice and some tactical things. He’s a hard worker as well, and I think that really suits me.”

Topics: 10sballs.com, Caroline Wozniacki, Roland Garros, Tennis Coaching, Thomas Johansson, Wozniacki