Sam Sumyk explains his arrival in the ATP

Fernando Murciego | 6 Feb 2025 | 15.30

Sam Sumyk leaves the WTA and starts a new stage in the ATP. Source: Getty

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Many were surprised this season to see Sam Sumyk touring the men's circuit as the new mentor of Arthur Cazaux. But of course, what mission was left for him to fulfill in the WTA? After helping top champions like Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka, Eugenie Bouchard, Garbiñe Mugurza, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, or Donna Vekic, the Frenchman understood that it was time to switch sides. What led him to take that step? In a recent interview with Tennis Majors, we can hear the coach recount his career and unveil his new goals from the sidelines.

From WTA to ATP

“I don't know if it's a natural change, but it's not strange either. My impression is that when you've been in the women's circuit for so long, as is my case, you're probably labeled as a female coach. When certain players are looking for a coach, I don't think they consider someone from the women's circuit, although it also depends on personal connections. In the 30 years I've been on the circuit, I only had two offers to coach men, but I wasn't available, so I turned them down.”

Between men and women

“It's different, they are ultimately different personalities. Even if you train two girls, they are different individuals, perhaps from different cultures, or even different generations. You can have a player at the end of her career and another just starting, that's what it's about. There are certainly differences between men and women, of course, but we're talking about the same sport. I always say that you can coach anyone, no problem. I don't think there is a group of coaches for women and another for men.”

Arthur Cazux, his new pupil

“I think it's a great project, it will allow me to learn even more and become a better coach. I'm with an interesting player, a project that will help me grow. For me, it's all about having fun, I don't think about rankings. In these partnerships, things have to be beneficial for the player, but also for the coach, in the sense that it has to help me learn something. I start to get bored when I see that I'm not learning anything. That's when it becomes a job, and I tell myself it's best to stop.”

Does the Sumyk method exist?

“I don't believe in methods, I believe in successful formulas, not methods. There is no method, it doesn't exist, but there are formulas. For each project, you have to find the formula for it to succeed. A method implies that you have found the trick and apply it all the time, that's why it works. But then it's not true, selling a method is a scam.”

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sam Sumyk explica su desembarco en la ATP