Coach reveals what makes Dominic Thiem and Roger Federer similar
In an interview to Ubitennis, Dominic Thiem's coach Nicolas Massu has revealed what combines the Austrian player and Roger Federer. The Chilean, who is following Thiem this week in the Barcelona Open, said: "Every player of Dominic's age has a clear game plan, a routine. What a coach can do is to give some little adjustments that can still allow him to feel comfortable. I think Dominic is talented enough to play both from the baseline and two meters away from it. In the same way, he can return both aggressive and stay behind to give himself more time on the return, as he has a big strength. He has already shown that in Indian Wells. He is a complete player and he can do that. We are trying to make him a complete player who can use an entire variety. If he can play behind he can do it, if he can play aggressive he can do it. If we look at the Indian Wells final, he broke Federer in the final stages of the third set thank to an aggressive return and then forehand. He played a lot of points managing to be aggressive and leading the rally. He does not need to change too much but build this variety that can give him an extra boost. The opponents need to know that Dominic can return in both ways so that he can be unpredictable. This is Federer's secret today, he is unpredictable. And so his opponent needs to constantly be careful and think what the Swiss can do. And Dominic can do that too."
"Every coach has his mindset, I try to get information, understand, I was already doing it as a player. My goal was to acquire as many info as possible. That's a hard sport where you need to be at 100 per cent all days and weeks even though that's not always possible. What I try to do, both as a coach and Davis Cup captain is to give all my support and send positive messages. I do everything to help mentally who is on the court."
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2UL8wn7
No comments