Benefits

Common wisdom says that Fed has tried periods without a coach but now I hear about Severin I wonder if that was ever true. I expect Feds relationship with his coaches has changed as maturation and experience takes hold. They won’t be the all knowing people they were to him when he was less experienced.At the top of the game though they become more important because they see what Roger sees and then some. They get to trade ideas with Roger sharing his experience from the court and the coach sharing experience from the stands. What I do see is that Roger values the input of others. All the profiles I have ever seen of him emphasise this aspect. His biographies do aswell. He changes coaches to learn more because he values outside knowledge.

I also feel the influence of his wife is key too. She may not be a coach but she is an ex WTA pro and they met while playing the 2000 Olympics. Agassi gives a clear insight into the benefits of having a wife who both understands and loves the game. She can help in both obvious and non obvious ways. She knows the demands he faces when he goes out on court. All the other wives and girlfriends can guess but she really knows thehm. Knows what her husband will need. I expect she also enjoys the life more. She will have plenty of her own friends and grew up on tour. I don’t expect the other wives and girlfriends to enjoy tennis and value the tour quite as much. With Steffi at his side Agassi went on for several more years. With Mirka I am hoping Fed will go on just as long. Being a contender throughout.