Coaching at the highest levels of professional tennis demands a wide range of skills. Technical expertise, strategic thinking, interpersonal abilities, and motivational talent are all crucial components for success.
Many, particularly those from older generations, might envision coaches as strict figures of authority. However, this authoritarian approach is ineffective with today’s athletes.
When Marta Kostyuk, who describes herself as passionate and emotional, started working with coach Sandra Zaniewska in the summer of 2023, she was genuinely surprised by Zaniewska’s approach.
“In the past, when I displayed this kind of behavior,” Kostyuk explained, “previous coaches would immediately reject it. They wouldn’t try to understand my feelings, have a conversation, or simply give me space to be myself.”
“Sandra did, and I thought, ‘This is next-level coaching. I’ve never experienced this before.’”
Listening – a truly revolutionary concept.
“It’s fundamental, isn’t it?” Zaniewska shared in an interview last month. “The player is the one hitting the ball and competing on the court. A coach needs to listen to gather as much insight as possible from the player because we can never truly experience what they feel on the court. The only way to effectively help them is by actively listening as they express their feelings in words.”
“Just listen and try to understand their perspective. Without that, a coach’s impact is limited.”
This philosophy of listening and collaboration is central to several successful coach-player relationships in professional tennis. Below, we examine three prominent partnerships:
Peter Ayers/Emma Navarro
Peter Ayers first encountered a 14-year-old Emma Navarro nine years ago at the LTP Tennis Academy in Charleston.
“It was her vision, her hand-eye coordination, her connection with the ball – hitting it so consistently,” Ayers recalled. “And also her incredible work ethic. She genuinely seemed to enjoy the hours spent on the court, simply hitting tennis balls.”
Ayers played college tennis at Duke University, and after his professional playing aspirations shifted, he transitioned to coaching. He beautifully described the evolution of their coaching relationship:
“We often discuss the concepts of directives and perspective. I believe when a player is younger, the coaching is more directive. Initially, it was more about me having a clear vision, communicating it effectively, and guiding her, with her trust and commitment as the player driving the process.”
“As time progresses, it evolves from directives to perspective. She is now the one leading, she’s the one on the court hitting the shots. I am incredibly proud of her dedication and our shared journey in transitioning from a more adult-child dynamic to a relationship between young adults.”
Naturally, like any long-term relationship, they faced occasional challenges.
“Absolutely,” Ayers admitted. “It’s impossible to avoid bumps in the road with a young person growing up. You want those challenges; you want them to explore their independence, to express themselves and mature. This naturally tests the relationship in different ways.”
“This journey… it has to become their own. Something they actively choose, not something imposed upon them.”
And that’s precisely what it has become for Navarro. After a successful year at the University of Virginia, where she won the NCAA Division I singles title as a freshman, her transition to professional tennis has been seamless. Navarro concluded the 2024 season ranked No. 8 and was recognized as the WTA’s Most Improved Player of the Year.
“Being in the Top 10 brings a new kind of pressure,” Navarro acknowledged from Australia. “Playing against opponents who don’t carry that same pressure – they have nothing to lose – it’s a different position to navigate, but I’m working diligently to manage it.”
Ayers, now in his 10th year coaching Navarro, is by her side. He refrains from setting specific targets, but stated, “Who knows what’s possible? We have dreams, she has ambitious dreams. Ultimately, if she can say, ‘I became the best player I could be,’ and I can agree, ‘Yes, you did,’ then that’s the ultimate success.”
“We always remember our beginnings, the effort it took, the countless long and demanding days, and the wonderful and challenging moments. We cherish it all and take nothing for granted, respecting everyone involved in this journey.”
Conchita Martinez/Mirra Andreeva
When their partnership began last April, there was an initial distance, particularly when the then 17-year-old Andreeva faced losses.
“Initially, I tried to cope with it on my own,” she admitted at Indian Wells. “I wasn’t really looking at her or listening. I was trying to figure things out myself. But a few matches showed me that it’s not effective to be out there alone. I hired her as my coach for a reason.”
“At first, I had to consciously make an effort to look at her, approach her, and ask for guidance. Actually, I don’t even need to ask anymore. She just tells me what she observes and thinks. We agreed that she would share her insights and observations.”
This honesty is mutual.
“Ideally, you cultivate a relationship where she feels comfortable being completely open and honest,” Martinez explained. “Knowing that I won’t judge her, but I will take her feelings into consideration. If she says, ‘I’m feeling this way,’ I won’t react with ‘No, you have to do this.’ I believe I can sense when she’s being serious or when she’s just not feeling it.”
“She’s very upfront about her feelings.”
The pair has been working on all aspects of Andreeva’s game – baseline play, serving, volleys – often through doubles practice. Like many young players (like Coco Gauff), Andreeva is naturally strong defensively but needs to develop a more aggressive approach. The goal is to utilize her speed and power to attack the net more frequently.
Before each match, they spend 15-20 minutes discussing Martinez’s suggested strategies. This approach has yielded positive results this year; Andreeva has won 13 out of 16 matches.
Listening, even to a 17-year-old with limited professional experience, is essential. And it’s a two-way street. After Andreeva’s breakthrough title in Dubai, following media engagements and recovery, they shared dinner. Both were excited and eager to understand each other’s feelings during the final.
Martinez typically projects a calm and composed demeanor during matches, but Andreeva revealed that she was nervous at the start of the final.
“When the match began, it was 0-2, 0-30, and she was thinking, ‘Hmm, not the ideal start. Okay, let’s see how this goes,’” Andreeva recounted. “But then, the nerves dissipated, and she felt more relaxed.”
Martinez expressed being “super proud” of her player, and Andreeva thanked her for her unwavering support in Dubai.
What is Andreeva’s potential?
“She’s already exceptionally talented, isn’t she?” Martinez said with a smile. “We’ll progress step by step. We need to continue working diligently and tune out the distractions – there’s plenty of noise. Our focus is on continuous improvement in every area.”
Sandra Zaniewska/Marta Kostyuk
Taking on a new player demands a thorough analysis. Zaniewska’s process with Kostyuk began after Wimbledon 2023, when Kostyuk was ranked No. 34.
“I started by watching several of her matches, deeply analyzing her game – identifying areas for potential change,” explained Zaniewska, a former professional ITF player. “After my initial assessment, I ask the player about their own perception of their game. How do they see themselves currently and envision their best tennis in the future?”
“I create three perspectives: my analysis, their current self-assessment, and their future aspirations – and then I try to align them, determining the specific areas we need to work on to help them reach their goals.”
For Kostyuk, it was a complex situation because at 22, she already possessed a full range of shots. Zaniewska’s initial impression was that Kostyuk hit the ball too flat, leading to excessive unforced errors. Kostyuk, naturally an aggressive player, didn’t fully agree. Eventually, they found common ground.
The primary challenge was managing Kostyuk’s on-court emotions.
“Marta achieved remarkable success from a very young age, winning the Australian Open juniors at 14 – an incredible feat,” Zaniewska noted. “I believe there were significant expectations placed upon her, both externally and internally, from a very young age, which she may not have always met.”
“When those expectations aren’t immediately realized, self-doubt can creep in: ‘Am I not improving? Am I not a good player anymore?’ She has navigated through these challenges, and now, perhaps, things are becoming more settled. It’s about listening with empathy and understanding.”
Kostyuk has won only one WTA Tour title to date, in Austin two years ago, but has shown consistent progress under Zaniewska’s guidance. She reached two WTA 500 finals last year, in San Diego and Stuttgart, her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open, and her first WTA 1000 semifinal at Indian Wells.
She describes her relationship with Zaniewska as “professional,” adding that they enjoy each other’s company off the court.
“However,” she emphasizes, “there’s a delicate balance between being friendly and maintaining a… how do you say, subordination? Structure? Hierarchy? We experience the same ups and downs as everyone else. It’s not always perfect; there are challenges.”
“Yes, I believe open communication is crucial in any relationship – at work, at home. It’s the key to success in any endeavor. I think we’re doing well. I’m excited about what we can achieve together.”
Rupert Caldwell