?Coach is like a doctor!?
By Jan Stanski
What do you think what is the state of Swedish tennis in the world? What is your prediction for next years?
I think Swedish Tennis has seen the low. We are on the way up again. More juniors starting to work hard and we have some decent results in the juniors. It?s not as good as a few years ago however.
Norman, Edberg, Enqvist. Great names on the court in the past. Now in the coaching box. Why is that?
I hope it?s not because we have nothing else to do..haha.. No, to be really honest I really don?t know. Swedes are in general very reliable and hardworking people and I think that are two important factors perhaps.
How the workout in your tennis academy „Good to Great” look like? What are the plans for the future?
At the moment we have about 40 players from different parts of Europe focused more on the Nordic and eastern parts. We have 10 full-time coaches traveling with the players and I?m pretty proud of our program. Our facilities are however not that great and we are currently planning to build a new tennis center with approximately 14 indoor courts and 10 outdoor courts, gym, accommodation and restaurant.
Do you have your own role model coach you like to follow or imitate in some way?
I imitate all the coaches at the academy. I learn a lot from them. We have a mix of ex-players and more academic coaches. Younger and older. It?s really fascinating. I also talk a lot to my good friend Thomas Johansson.
What are the goals for Stanislas Wawrinka you set up together for the future?
The goal is to be as well prepared for all events that he is playing as possible. He has won a Grand Slam, Masters 1000 and ATP 250 this year but I can really feel that he wants more.
Your player – Stanislas Wawrinka joined to the elite club of competitors having the title of Grand Slam and ATP Masters as well. He beaten already the icons of tennis – Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal. What is the main thing he changed in his game to have so great results in recent period of his career?
I think the main thing would have been his mental approach. He believes a little more in himself now I think. He has pushed his worse level up a bit and that?s because of his mental stability. We have also been able to prepare well for all events and he has been free from injury. I think he has a great team around him. A great physic that takes care of his body. Great fitness trainer whom I really admire and a great agent that thinks long term.
Did you have some funny story with Stan?
Many funny stories. But beeing a coach is a little bit like beeing a doctor. Your patients are your players. What is beeing said between you and your player stays there. It?s about trust. Stan is however a very humble man with a big perspective in life. He is a family man to we understands each other very well outside the court as I?m a father of 2 as well.
