The Lessons of Pancho Segura

Coaches are the missing link between inquiry and understanding – none more so than Pancho Segura, the Hall of Fame coach and player who was ranked number one in the world for three years.

In the last installment of Caroline Seebohm’s amazing series on Segura’s life and career, she discussed his long-term relationship with Jimmy Connors and how he helped influence the development of Connors’ game, leading to victories at Wimbledon and the U.S.Open in 1974, as well as other triumphs. (Click Here.)

In this exclusive article for Tennisplayer, I share the strategy that Segura imparted to Connors and hundreds of other players, based on both numerous interviews and my own experience working with him on court. This includes one of the ultimate drills ever devised for developing the skills and confidence required to play the style of game Pancho believed was most effective.

Over more than 30 years, Segura provided me with a remarkable tennis education, one that covered topics ranging from grips to the psyche of a champion. I was not the only person who benefitted from this man’s extraordinary wisdom and generosity. There are likely hundreds of tales of players who wandered into Segura’s orbit and became…