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Follow2014 Australian Open Report Card (Marquee Coaches)
With six singles titles and another six final-round appearances between them, it’s clear that Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang knew what it took for success at the Australian Open during their playing days.
But how did they do as coaches at the just-completed first major of the season?
While none of those Hall of Famers notched a perfect score like former world No. 2 Magnus Norman—whose charge, Stanislas Wawrinka, won the tournament—they did see their players all make the second week. Here’s a look at their performances from the coach’s box:
Stefan Edberg (coach to Roger Federer)
Grade: A
Federer didn’t exactly become Edberg 2.0, relentlessly attacking the net at every opportunity Down Under. However, he did play with a renewed confidence, a wave that he rode to the semifinals with wins against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray along the way. If he’s feeling comfortable with his childhood idol in his camp, this could be a rebound year for Federer with the Australian Open providing a taste of things to come.
Ivan Lendl (coach to Andy Murray)
Grade: A
Any type of back injury can be devastating to the career of a professional athlete, and it was only a few short months ago when Murray underwent surgery. For him to make the quarterfinals with so little match play under his belt is a testament to his ability, as well as that of his coach, who no doubt had to help Murray manage his expectations.
Michael Chang (coach to Kei Nishikori)
Grade: B
Nishikori played solidly throughout his four matches and, even though he lost in straight sets, pushed Rafael Nadal in the round of 16. He showed grittiness, much as his new coach did throughout his career. Like Chang, Nishikori can find himself at a physical disadvantage when facing off against the majority of the players ranked above him. Chang should be able to help Nishikori, a natural shotmaker, continue to counter that.
Boris Becker (coach to Novak Djokovic)
Grade: B-
One thing that’s defined Djokovic’s rise to the top of the rankings has been his ability to battle through and emerge victorious from the brink of defeat, reminiscent of Becker in his career. This time, though, it appeared Djokovic’s luck ran out against Wawrinka after beating him in two epic five-setters last year. While the loss can’t be blamed on Becker, it’s hard to imagine what he’ll bring to the table for Djokovic at this point. In the past, Djokovic has brought in outside coaches to help with his game (Mark Woodforde and Todd Martin, for example) while Marian Vadja remained in charge. Now, Becker is supposedly the man calling the shots. A much better performance by the coaching neophyte will be needed in the months ahead to avoid any type of failing marks.