Prizes
Five coaches have been nominated as coach of the year 2024
Malisse, Planque, Russell, Stine and Trotman made the short list
December 03, 2024
ATP
Five coaches have been nominated for Coach of the Year at the 2024 ATP Awards.
By ATP staff
Before the champions are crowned in front of packed stadiums on the ATP Tour, they are made to practice on the court under the watchful eye of their coaches. These coaches often work behind the scenes, happy to leave the credit to their players. At the 2024 ATP Awards, our five Coach of the Year nominees take the stage.
This year’s nominees are Xavier Malisse (Alexei Popyrin’s coach), Emmanuel Planque (Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard), Michael Russell (Taylor Fritz), Brad Stine (Tommy Paul) and James Trotman (Jack Draper). The nominees and winners in this category are voted on by their fellow coaches.
The winners of the ATP Awards will be announced during Awards Week, starting on Monday, 9 December.
Xavier Malisse (Alexei Popyrin)
As part of Popyrin’s coaching team alongside Neville Godwin, Malisse – a former Top 20 player in the PIF ATP Rankings – has helped the Aussie climb to the elite group stage this season. Under the tutelage of Malisse and Godwin, a former Top 100 player himself, Popyrin won the biggest title of his career at the Cincinnati ATP Masters 1000 and entered the Top 25 for the first time.
“Neville and I worked a lot on the backhand. We were working on a lot of variations, cutting a little bit, then working on the serve,” said Malisse, who also credited fitness coach Evan Jenkins and physiotherapist Valentin Hollier for developing Popyrin. strength.
Malisse and Godwin also emphasized patience with Popyrin, encouraging him to work more points and attack at the right time.
Malisse’s training style in his words: “Neville and I are a little different. When we are in the game, Neville can be too strong sometimes, talking to Alexei. I am always very relaxed, I try to control emotions. , which is not always easy but I like to say small things at the right time.
Emmanuel Planque (Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard)
Planque has guided 21-year-old Perricard to a breakout season, with the Frenchman winning his first two ATP Tour titles (Lyon, Basel) and breaking into the Top 30 of the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time.
“Giovanni had a very good 2024 season, able to improve his style of play week by week,” said Planque, pointing to the four tournaments (including three on the ATP Challenger Tour) that Perricard won from February to May. “He is starting to get used to high-level games. The end of the season sent us this message by winning against Basel. However, we know that we still have a lot of work to do one day to be among the best players. .”
Coach Perricard was also nominated for the 2024 ATP Medal, in the Most Improved Player category.
Planque’s coaching style in his own words: “It’s not easy to define your work style. Of course, I want and strongly believe in work principles but in reality, I just hope to be a humane, fair, and respectful coach for the athletes I work with.”
Coach of the Year 😎 #ATPAwards pic.twitter.com/fElcl0XNFH
– ATP Tour (@atptour) November 25, 2024
Michael Russell (Taylor Fritz)
Russell helped Fritz reach his first Grand Slam final at the US Open and his first title match at the Nitto ATP Finals. After posting a 17-4 record at Grand Slams, more than doubling his previous record for major wins in a year, the American finished the season at No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Asked where he had the biggest influence on Fritz’s game this season, Russell’s answer reflected his holistic approach to coaching: “I think it has some influence on all parts of his game to continue to be more physical and more explosive on and off the court, to be more comfortable at the net and more confident in pressure situations.” and in sections.”
Russell’s coaching style in his own words: “My coaching style can be a mix of internationalism, democracy, and democracy. You have to have open communication and be empathetic while building structure and accountability. Taylor and I have a very synergistic relationship.”
Brad Stine (Tommy Paul)
Stine helped Paul win three titles this season (Dallas, Queen’s Club, Stockholm) after the American entered 2024 with one ATP Tour title to his name. Those three winning weeks, along with the final run at Delray Beach, led Paul to finish the year at No. 12 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
Stine feels that his biggest impact on Paul this season was on the mental side of the game, particularly his “commitment to his appearance as a player and his mental toughness”.
Stine’s coaching style is in his own words: “Cooperation.”
James Trotman (Jack Draper)
Trotman was in Draper’s corner during the Briton’s breakout season, including his first two Tour titles in Stuttgart and Vienna. Set to turn 23 on December 22nd, Draper will finish the year at the top PIF ATP ranking of No. 15.
“I think the biggest area I helped Jack with his tennis this season was playing with more aggression, especially in the big moments in the matches,” Trotman said of his season with the British No. 1. “The mind in those situations you have to play to win.”
Draper was also nominated for the 2024 ATP Award, in the Most Improved Player category.
Trotman’s training style in his own words: “My training style can be more about sticking to a plan and less aggressive, given the nature of the Tour and its ups and downs. Try to identify those areas of improvement and work towards making those improvements over time.”
