Modern Tennis Coaching: Key Strategies and Successful Partnerships

Elite professional tennis coaching demands a wide range of skills, including technical expertise, strategic thinking, interpersonal abilities, and motivational techniques.

Traditional coaching often emphasized a strict, authoritative approach. However, this style is becoming less effective with today’s athletes.

Marta Kostyuk, who describes herself as passionate and expressive, was surprised by her coach Sandra Zaniewska’s approach when they began working together in the summer of 2023.

Kostyuk explained that in the past, coaches would not tolerate her emotional outbursts and wouldn’t try to understand or communicate with her.

However, Zaniewska listened and showed understanding, which Kostyuk found to be “next-level coaching” she had never experienced before.

Zaniewska emphasized the importance of listening to the player to gain insights into their feelings on the court. She believes that understanding the player’s perspective is crucial for effective coaching.

This philosophy of listening and understanding is central to several successful coach-player relationships in tennis. Here are three examples:

Peter Ayers/Emma Navarro

Peter Ayers began coaching Emma Navarro nine years ago when she was 14. He was impressed by her natural talent, her hand-eye coordination, and her dedication to practice.

Ayers, a former college tennis player, describes their coaching approach as evolving from directives to perspective-sharing. Initially, he provided more direct instructions, but as Navarro matured, the relationship shifted to a more collaborative approach where Ayers offers his perspective, and Navarro drives her own development.

He highlights the importance of allowing players to grow, express themselves, and become independent, even if it leads to challenges in the coach-player relationship.

Navarro’s journey has been one of continuous growth. After a successful year at the University of Virginia and winning the NCAA singles title, she transitioned smoothly into professional tennis, achieving a Top 10 ranking and being named WTA’s Most Improved Player of the Year in 2024.

Navarro acknowledges the new pressures of being a Top 10 player but is working hard to manage them. Ayers remains supportive, focusing on her personal best rather than specific rankings, emphasizing their shared journey and mutual respect.

Conchita Martinez/Mirra Andreeva

Conchita Martinez and Mirra Andreeva began their partnership last April. Initially, Andreeva was reserved and hesitant to take advice, especially after losses.

Andreeva realized that she needed Martinez’s guidance and started actively seeking her coach’s advice. They established open communication where Martinez shares her observations, and Andreeva is encouraged to be honest about her feelings.

Martinez values open communication and creates a non-judgmental space for Andreeva to express herself. She understands when Andreeva is serious or resistant, adapting her approach accordingly.

They are working on all aspects of Andreeva’s game, including baseline play, serving, and volleys, incorporating doubles practice. The focus is on developing a more aggressive style to complement Andreeva’s defensive skills, speed, and power.

Before each match, they discuss tactics together. This collaborative approach has been successful, with Andreeva achieving a strong win record this year.

Even with a young player like Andreeva, listening is key. After Andreeva’s Dubai title, they shared their excitement and discussed their feelings during the final, highlighting the importance of mutual understanding and shared experience.

Martinez is proud of Andreeva’s progress and focuses on continued improvement, emphasizing hard work and ignoring external pressures.

Sandra Zaniewska/Marta Kostyuk

Sandra Zaniewska began coaching Marta Kostyuk after Wimbledon 2023. Her process involves a detailed analysis of Kostyuk’s game, comparing her own observations with Kostyuk’s self-assessment and future aspirations.

Zaniewska aims to align these perspectives to create a focused development plan. Initially, she felt Kostyuk’s flat hitting style led to errors, while Kostyuk saw it differently. They found a middle ground, and Zaniewska focused on managing Kostyuk’s on-court emotions.

Zaniewska understands the pressure and expectations Kostyuk faced from a young age, having won the Australian Open juniors at 14. She believes that past unmet expectations might have affected Kostyuk, emphasizing compassionate listening and understanding in her coaching.

Under Zaniewska’s guidance, Kostyuk has shown consistent improvement, reaching WTA 500 finals, her first Grand Slam quarterfinal, and a WTA 1000 semifinal.

Kostyuk describes their relationship as professional but also fun off-court. She emphasizes the importance of clear communication and maintaining a healthy balance between friendship and professional hierarchy for success in any relationship, including coach-player partnerships. She is optimistic about their future together.