Wawrinka praises the union of Sinner and Norman: "He has made a great choice"
The Swiss shared his opinion on the arrival of his former coach to the Italian team: "He can help Jannik continue to grow and maintain his hunger for victory."
The arrival of Magnus Norman to Jannik Sinner's team is already starting to provoke initial reactions, following the departure of Darren Cahill from the Italian's team. In fact, one of the most important comments comes from Stan Wawrinka, who until two weeks ago was the Swede's pupil and with whom he achieved his three Grand Slam titles (Australian Open 2014, Roland Garros 2015, US Open 2016).
The Swiss, officially retired after bidding farewell at the ATP 500 in Basel, views Norman's arrival on Sinner's bench positively, where he will team up with Simone Vagnozzi. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the former world number 3 shared his thoughts on this move. “Jannik has made a great choice. He is already the best in the world, so this is not about changing his game, although he will continue to focus on the paths he has charted over the last four years. Magnus is very good at picking up on the small details and working on the mental aspect: how to stay calm and keep a cool head in decisive moments.”
Additionally, he revealed what aspects Norman can incorporate into Sinner's game: “He also brings a fresh perspective and great experience in Grand Slam tournaments. I think he can help Jannik continue to grow and maintain his hunger for victory, which is the hardest thing when you are at the top. Magnus knows how to understand people. He knows when to push, when to stay silent, and when to simply believe in yourself. In my case, he instilled the belief that I could win the biggest titles. Such confidence is very rare.”
Wawrinka rules out becoming a coach in the short term
Speaking of coaches, the natural progression for many former players is to start their careers as coaches. However, Wawrinka has currently closed that door: “Not right away. After so many years on the tour, I want to dedicate myself to my family and enjoy life away from constant travel. Tennis, however, will always be part of me; someday I would like to share my experience with young players, perhaps more as a mentor than a full-time coach.”
With his retirement, one of the foremost exponents of the one-handed backhand departs, perhaps one of the most technical and aesthetically pleasing to execute. Furthermore, at a time when it seems to be in danger of extinction: “It’s an extraordinary shot and it’s part of what I am as a player. Tennis has become faster and more physical, so it’s natural that more and more players choose the two-handed backhand. However, I hope that young players continue to understand that great victories can also be achieved with a one-handed backhand. It’s a shot with an important history in tennis,” recalled Stan Wawrinka, who begins a new chapter after more than 23 years as a professional tennis player.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Wawrinka bendice la unión de Sinner y Norman: "Ha hecho una gran elección"