Pro Coaching: How Does It Really Work?

Printable Version Wimbledon gave Paul Annacone a rare Grand Slam double. What influence does a tour coach actually have in producing Grand Slam champions? If we look at the great players in the modern game, there is far from one answer. Or possibly, even any that are certain. Players have won Slam titles with professional coaches, with part time coaches, with family coaches and with the absence of coaches. At least in some circumstances, a coach may not be a critical element in reaching the highest levels on the tour. And the presence of a great coach is not necessarily a guarantee that a talented player will ever win a Slam under his guidance. Just two months ago at Wimbledon, Paul Annacone became a rare member of the coaching fraternity when he saw his player, Roger Federer, win a Grand Slam. Annacone’s accomplishment is rare. That makes him one of a handful of coaches with two players winning a Slam title under his guidance. (He was also the man in 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras’ corner for the majority of his career.) Annacone is obviously a great coach. But consider this. In 2004, while Federer was in between coaches…