ATP: Nick Kyrgios – When will his girlfriend coach him?
The ATP's trial run of allowing off-court coaching during matches in the second half of the season could lead to exciting constellations.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Jun 25, 2022, 08:20 pm
Nick Kyrgios announced in one of his on-court interviews last week in HalleWestfalen that he plays tennis once or twice a week with his girlfriend Costeen Hatzi. The progress is remarkable, the two will probably compete in mixed doubles at the Australian Open 2023. No, wait, Kyrgios caught this announcement right away. However, it is quite possible that recreational player Costeen will occasionally sit in the place that ATP has planned for Nick Kyrgios' coach.
Because it is by no means clearly defined who is allowed to act as a coach, as Kitzbühel tournament director Alex Antonitsch and Lars Uebel, sports director of the TennisBase in Oberhaching, explained in the latest edition of "Quiet, please - the tennisnet podcast". If you want to coach in football in the upper leagues, for example, you have to get a coaching license. In several stages. Who will coach the matches on the ATP tour in autumn is solely up to the player concerned.
qpcoaching2022
Ivanisevic probably successful without a coaching license
Now, of course, there is no doubt that Goran Ivanisevic has the necessary competence to convey relevant information to his protégé Novak Djokovic. According to general opinion, the Croatian does not have a coaching license. The successes also speak for Ivanisevic, who already led Marin Cilic to the title at the US Open 2014.
But there are also other examples, as Alex Antonitsch explains. Mikael Ymer had his then 15-year-old brother accredited as a coach in Kitzbühel. Humanly moving, sporty tends to be worthless. But of course the Ymers have to agree among themselves.
Uebel and Antonitsch also agree that coaching is actually much more important for juniors than for professionals. There the players would be formed and can still process relevant information. However, this area is the responsibility of the ITF. And of course it's also true: Especially in the area of youngsters, the parents, who are not always competent as carers, often talk a lot and loudly, but only rarely competently. Then a few encouraging words from Costeen Hatzi!