360° ZOO ... New; 360° 1:53. ... See others named Vedran Martic Add new skills with these courses. After Wimbledon and before the US Open, Martic and her coach, former tennis pro Sandra Zaniewska (she’s one year younger than Martic!) Beyond tactics, the mental conditioning needed for competing has surprised Zaniewska as a coach. But I think it was more for her than for me.”. It proved to be a pivotal moment for the Croatian. 9 seed; Halep shakes slow start. Share. “It’s important to have, you know, yeah, just a good relationship on those terms,” she said. AND she’s female........so she understands the female psyche and body. She has focused specifically on how to strengthen Martić’s mental game. 13 At Roland Garros, The Great Equaliser At Roland Garros: The Weather, Moya On Nadal’s RG Chances: 'The Margin For Error Is Much Narrower', 2020 French Open: Schedule, how to watch, news, scores and analysis, Rafael Nadal confident heading into most trying French Open yet, Coco Gauff stays cool in 2020 French Open first-round upset of Johanna Konta, Gauff tops No. I need to give her way more information before. So, I want her to be able to be pretty much like an observer more of herself rather than feel like, you know, she’s in there and there are so many emotions, so many things happening and then you basically cannot see things for what they are, you know,” she said. I think at the end of the day, you know, on matches like this, it just comes down to the fact that there were two players that really wanted to win and really played good tennis and really worked hard for this,” she said. "When she played she had a similar style to mine - ", Smiling, Martic continues: "The game I have is not always easy, because I have many options on the court - so for me to choose the right option was always challenging. Wimbledon 2019: 'She helped me find my identity' - Martic on partnership of equals with coach Zaniewska. Career high WTA ranking 14. "I think it's the best way to do it," she says. The pair had drawn attention over the course of a year in which Martic won her first title in Istanbul and reached her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at Roland Garros as one of the more unique collaborations on Tour, due in part to Zaniewska being younger than her charge. “But I always felt that I could help her and the thing was that I also told her, ‘If I can’t help you with something, I’m just going to tell you. Their partnership is exceeding even their own expectations. knows tennis. Maybe still far from winning but as close as she’s ever gotten.”. Her goal for Martić was to end last year ranked among the top 50. She had never coached before, and she had no intentions of ever being a coach. It’s not life. She walked off court and found the first empty spot for her to collapse to the ground and weep. “The biggest thing was about just committing to the way she wants to play. For three-and-a-half years prior to working with Sachs, Goerges' coach had been Michael Geserer - who has moved on to Jennifer Brady, the American who has risen from World No.116 at the end of 2018 to hit a career high of World No.56 this month. By continuing to browse our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Fédération Française de Tennis. Martic's ability to hit any shot in the book is, to most fans and opponents, one of her signature strengths. It’s not life. "I knew she would understand my game better than maybe other coaches who had more experience," says Martic. 36.9k Followers, 112 Following, 328 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Petra Martic (@thepetramartic) And I keep on telling her now, ‘Now you’re here, you have this momentum, just use it. “The biggest thing was about just committing to the way she wants to play. She just needs to be rational. What was it? MIND GAMES And then a Grand Slam comes. She didn’t take all of them the way she could have. Kristina Mladenovic Naomi Osaka. Martić wows fans with her ability to seemingly hit any shot in the playbook. And I think that’s really the only way that you can work with a player, whether you’re 25 or 45. At the US Open, Serena Williams plays against No. google_ad_height = 600; (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Enter your email address to subscribe to this website and receive notifications of new posts by email. Martic, who was defending quarter-final points at Indian Wells in March, lost in the first round to Poland’s Magda Linette 7-6 in the third. “I like the fact that, you know, I can come and give her some tips that are really specific to the match to what’s going on because then she is able to turn things around quicker,” she noted. She finished No. Martić was returning to competition after four years plagued by injuries, particularly a major disc protrusion in her lower back. “Now, who knows? Of course everywhere we come we want to win, no matter who is playing and I think that’s the case for every single player. “Of course, we have certain goals, you know, with performance and just growth goals,” said Zaniewska at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. 1,718 talking about this. Jan 19, 11:48 Result: Maria Kirilenko through in Toronto This is for us the most important thing, to have respect towards each other, to be honest and to do good work.". Her mother was facing very hard decision when Petra was 5 … Zaniewska, 27, is a year younger than Martic, and the Pole explains what it’s like being a young coach on tour. Maybe it’s gonna be even more.”. You still have to be honest with yourself and with them. Interested in advertising on this site? And that’s the point. Zaniewska, actually a year younger than Martić, reached a career-high No. ... Tennis Coach - Life Coach /Self-employed at Tennis Star academy / professional tennis player. Best ATP World Tour Match of the year (3) in 2010, 2011, 2012. Again I can’t practice but I really need to, like what’s going on?’ And someone took a really great picture of us, Petra is like down on the court and crying and I’m just there holding her, and I’m like, ‘Listen, we’re going to do whatever we can, even if it’s standing, we’re just going to hit balls and that’s it. Two years ago, Petra Martic sprung a surprise when she hired Sandra Zaniewska, a fellow player a year younger than her with no coaching experience, to guide her full-time. "Opinions about things, things we like to do - it's every single time and now we just laugh about it. Do you want to be you and just, you know, be authentic and play the way you want to play, what really gives you joy? To find out more about our use of cookies and how you can disable them, please see our Privacy Policy. Fifth time is the charm.....Petra Martic celebrates her first career Grand Slam quarter-final in five attempts with a 5-7 6-2 6-4 win over Kaia Kanepi. https://t.co/7mM6cVEJqV#RG19 pic.twitter.com/tp1XukheYQ. Her upsurge, she says, is validation of an unusual coaching choice she made two years ago, just as she was returning to the tour after several years beleaguered by injury: to hire fellow player Sandra Zaniewska full-time. Martic, who is one of the leading Croatian tennis coaches, takes over from Zeljko Krajan who mutually parted […] She noted Martić, from Croatia, looks up to Martina Navratilova. Jan 2005 – Dec 2010 6 years. This season has seen the Croat tick off a number of long-desired milestones: a maiden title in Istanbul in April was the precursor to a first Grand Slam quarterfinal run at Roland Garros last month. "[Developing] it was very hard," she remembers. “Now I can’t go. She’s looking a little bit more around but she’s really aware of it. NEW YORK ⁠— Serena Williams and her coach Patrick Mouratoglou moved to allay fears over her right ankle after she turned it during her U.S. Open win over Petra Martic. We're both human beings and we try to treat each other as such. So, if this is the way you want to play, then we’re going to take this and we’re going to try to make you the best player possible in this way. His father, mother, salary, wife, family and more. It’s just tennis. It’s a tough moment but on the other hand it was a great experience, great match, great growth opportunity, great entertainment for all these people that saw it. It comes down to fitness. She’s just able to, you know, have a better overview.”. 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Since March, Martic has compiled an 18-4 record in total, carrying her form over to grass in style to reach the Birmingham semifinals last week, and hit a career high ranking of WTA World No.24. Tags. Click here to find out more info. ", Zaniewska has also been able to turn her career-ending injuries into a source of advice as the two have sought to maintain Martic's health. Split , Croatia. By continuing to use this site you agree to the use of cookies. However, Zaniewska would eliminate on-court coaching, or at least make it uniform at all events. That maturity and growth in character has translated to confidence and, in turn, wins on the tennis court, Zaniewska said. Zaniewska said she has been reading and studying to learn how to be a more effective coach. “Tennis, it comes down to so many things than just hitting a ball, you know. Zaniewska said she has been reading and studying to learn how to be a more effective coach. “I think this, just the sole commitment, for her, was the biggest difference, because, you know, then she goes out on the court and she’s able to, even if things are not going well, but she is playing her way, she is able to kind of rationalize with herself and say, hey, OK, you know, maybe it’s tough right now, but I’m doing what I really want to be doing and this is how I want to play and this is how I want to get better, so then, you know, it also gives her a kick to just keep on going and trying in this way,” she said. LONDON, UK - At the age of 28, Petra Martic feels that she is coming into her own. “I saw it as a really beautiful moment, of someone who played a match and lost by only one point difference but played a great match and came out just so hurt that it didn’t fall her way. But the player herself hasn't always seen it that way. But for the last two years I would say that I've really figured out what I want because of her. W orld No.17 Petra Martic and coach Sandra Zaniewska will not continue their partnership into 2020, Zaniewska has confirmed to the WTA.. Martic has won one singles title on the WTA Tour—the 2019 Istanbul Cup, and reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 French Open. The Croatian formally started working full-time with her coach, former top-150 player, Sandra Zaniewska, after last year’s Australian Open. ON THE GROW Every week receive player features, tournament news, and WTA Insider content with the WTA First Serve newsletter. I feel so much better’. Sandra Zaniewska. We hadn’t even bought tickets for Indian Wells because we thought she wasn’t going to play.”. "It's not a fight - yet! She didn’t take all of them the way she could have. I think it was more a big thing for her, thinking like, ‘Okay, is it really going to work, am I making a mistake or am I not?’ I know at the beginning she was struggling really a lot, and I was just there saying, ‘Hey, if you want we try it, if you don’t, we don’t. "We're pretty different, but we manage to put it together," sums up Zaniewska of the unconventional path the pair are forging. Will be used in accordance to our Privacy Policy. But after six months, Martic, who blends power and finesse to make for one of the most well-rounded and dangerous skillsets on tour, realised how valuable Zaniewska's input had been. - and we broaden our horizons.". (adsoneplanetonly = window.adsoneplanetonly || []).push({ }); Enter your email address to subscribe to this site and receive notifications of new articles by email. Follow Martic's rollercoaster year that led her to her maiden slam quarter-final. “It’s not even for her,” she said. Zaniewska, 27, is a year younger than Martic, and the Pole explains what it’s like being a young coach on tour. PHOTO GALLERY: visit the new Roland-Garros stadium! by croatiaweek December 11, 2019 inSport Vedran Martic (Photo: HTS) ZAGREB, 11 December 2019 – Vedran Martic has been named the new coach of the Croatia Davis Cup team, the Croatian Tennis Association (HTS) confirmed on Wednesday. If it’s going to hurt, then we’re going to do even less, we’re going to work with what we have. World No.17 Petra Martic and coach Sandra Zaniewska will not continue their partnership into 2020, Zaniewska has confirmed to the WTA. Will be used in accordance to our Privacy Policy. With even more success, the partnership could broaden the horizons of many more players about what a coach-player relationship can be. “And herself as the player, as someone that, you know, is able to do it really well, then she is able to see, yeah, to notice things better when it comes to, you know, her maybe being a little bit too emotional, but also when it comes to tactics and her techniques. For the last two years I would say that I've really figured out what I want because of her. She was sidelined with a career-threatening back injury in 2016 that saw her drop out of the top 600. Coach Talks: Sandra Zaniewska leads Petra Martić by example By James Henry (August 16, 2019) CINCINNATI — Sandra Zaniewska seems like any other female tennis player. Apple cider vinegar! Martic, who says she has experienced unhealthy coaching dynamics in the past, sees her collaboration with Zaniewska as one between equals. By early April, Martic had started the clay-court season healthy and worry-free, reaching the semis in Charleston before her great results in Istanbul and Madrid. In 2017, the duo's careers overlapped going in opposite directions. (In practice, Martic says that while she wants to be mindful that she needs to do without it at majors, "it's harder in the moment" to resist when she realises a few words from Zaniewska can set her right mid-match.). Zaniewska gave her quite the pep talk. Martić, 28, won her first WTA title in Istanbul in April. Here’s a close look at Martic’s journey to her best form this season, with insight from her coach Sandra Zaniewska. Coach and player is a secondary thing. “For me this age thing wasn’t really a big thing. Entering Roland-Garros, Martic had the third highest winning percentage on tour of return points won against the first set (42%) and in Paris this fortnight, she is tied second in the percentage of return games won (61%, 23/38). “And herself as the player, as someone that, you know, is able to do it really well, then she is able to see, yeah, to notice things better when it comes to, you know, her maybe being a little bit too emotional, but also when it comes to tactics and her techniques. And that’s the point. Or, do you just want to go and, yeah, try to, you know, win at any cost and anyhow? “For me, it’s not really that important. The Arkansas women’s swimming & diving team has announced the hiring of Petra Martin as the program’s new assistant coach. It stopped her from practicing properly and it wasn’t until Zaniewska spent five hours one night in Doha, googling Martic’s symptoms, that they found a remedy that helped her. “For her, it was always tricky to, you know, figure out, or maybe believe in, the fact that the way she plays can be successful, as well, because there are so many girls that just hit really fast and flat and, you know, points are short, while she likes to construct the points a little bit more,” Zaniewska said. I just see it as another match. And I kept on telling her for weeks, every day,” said Zaniewska. I would lose a match and I'd just be sitting waiting for the answers. ROME (AP) - From singles to doubles, hard courts to clay courts, North America to Europe, Denis Shapovalov just keeps playing - and, for the most part, winning. “I always tell her not to look too far ahead. “For me, the most important part is the awareness, you know. Zaniewska said a tennis player’s ability to hear, digest, accept and act on their coach’s advice is crucial. During the Round of 16 at the 2019 US Open, 23 Grand Slam title holder Serena Williams faces world No. Risk more. Her first coach was Zdeslav Ozretić, when she was age 15 Vedran Martic (ex coach of Goran Ivanisevic) took over her and now she is with Zoltan Kuharszky. Second seed Maria Sharapova eases to a 6-4 6-1 win over Croatia's Petra Martic in the first round of the Australian Open. Greece. “For her, it was always tricky to, you know, figure out, or maybe believe in, the fact that the way she plays can be successful, as well, because there are so many girls that just hit really fast and flat and, you know, points are short, while she likes to construct the points a little bit more,” Zaniewska said. “My personal favorite was Rafael Nadal,” she added. The partnership between two players so close in age also makes for a refreshing on-court dynamic. That is why she was asked two years ago by Petra Martić, who broke through with her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the 2019 French […] Tennis "If one is dominating it's not going to work because the other will be unhappy. 14 in January 2020. Petra Martić (Croatian pronunciation: [pêtra mâːrtitɕ]; born 19 January 1991) is a professional tennis player from Croatia.Having made her international debut in 2008, she reached a career high singles ranking of No. Previously on the WTA circuit, Petra Martic split with her coach Sandra Zaniewska and Julia Goerges also split with her coach Sebastian Sachs. Read more: Petra Martic relishing 'second chance' in Paris. À ce jour, elle compte deux titres en simple et un titre en double dames sur le circuit WTA . "I was injured many times because of the fact that I wasn't listening to my body," she recalls. Her goal for Martić was to end last year ranked among the top 50. It’s just a game. But I think, yeah, at the end of the day, if I could choose, I would say let’s take it out altogether because it just makes the players, I think, grow more.”. The reigning champion only needed 45 minutes to breeze past teenager Swiatek. @WTA https://t.co/KF0XueCgKm, “She was like, ‘Whatever, give me anything, I don’t care anymore’, because she was just so desperate,” recalls Zaniewska. Coach and player is a secondary thing. Every week receive player features, tournament news, and WTA Insider content with the WTA First Serve newsletter. Their success could encourage other female players to seek out and partner with a female coach. She finished No. Zaniewska, by contrast, was finally calling time on a career that had also been beset by injury: having reached a career high of WTA World No.142 in 2012, the year she qualified for her only Grand Slam main draw at Wimbledon, she would play her final match in Ilkley in June 2017. Brady, who was a Nottingham semifinalist in June and the Indian Wells 125K runner-up in March - as well as taking Wimbledon champion Simona Halep to the brink of defeat in a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5) Toronto thriller in August - will be looking to continue this year's improvement with the 49-year-old German. “She had her chances. In May, she reached the top 30 for the first time in her career, and made it to the fourth round at the 2019 French Open (her first ever Grand Slam quarterfinal) and achieved the same a month later at Wimbledon. Translate to: Related Posts. Stephens has brought the laughs to the interview room this fortnight in Paris. google_ad_client = "ca-pub-5861398688896602"; ©2020 - all rights reserved Martic had a tough start to 2019. “If I’m there and I’m able to go there and just give her all the answers, it’s like, OK, you know, why would I even think for myself then? 32 and currently is No. We use cookies to provide our services and for analytics and marketing. So, if she plays 10 great shots, notice that, as well, and don’t just notice the one that you played bad, because, yeah, you know, if you just focus on this, then the next 10 can basically go and be even worse.”. The moment was captured by the tournament’s behind-the-scenes cameras, showing her crying uncontrollably with a towel covering her face. Zaniewska watches videos, including interviews, of other athletes, even in other sports. 22 Petra Martic on Sunday, September 1. “So, I said let’s not try and get ahead of ourselves for the next year just because we ended up so much higher,” Zaniewska said. Even in women’s tennis, coaching is a man’s world. “I said, I don’t know, maybe it’s not going to be top 20. Zaniewska also hopes to change others’ minds about on-court coaching. In Paris, Martic recalled the scepticism she had faced after hiring Zaniewska: "When I started working with her, everybody was doubting my decision. "I always tell her, listen to it, it's really good - it's better that you listen to it than not at all, because I know how that can go - in a bad way.". Sandra Zaniewska celebrates charge Petra Martic's run to her maiden Grand Slam quarterfinal at Roland Garros 2019 (Jimmie48/WTA), Petra Martic and Sandra Zaniewska train together at the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham (Jimmie48/WTA), Petra Martic relishing 'second chance' in Paris. It's a rare professional partnership in a number of ways: not only is the Pole one of the still all-too-rare travelling female coaches on tour, but at 27 years old she is in fact younger than her charge.