tour

Coaches

My coach: Thomas Hogstedt

I'm traveling on tour with Thomas since January 2006. We got in touch in November 2005. His ideas of improving my game convinced me. And so our first tournament was in Doha in the beginning of the season 2006.

Thomas is born on the 21st of September 1963 in Mariestad (Sweden). In 1981 he turned professional. Two years later he was top-40. In 1983 he won his only tournament, in Ferrara. 1995 he finished his career and started to work as a coach. Thomas worked with different players like Magnus Norman, Jonas Bjorkman and Nicolas Kiefer.

Nick Bollettieri

When I am at home in Florida, I always practise at the Bolletieri Tennis Academy. It belongs to IMG now but Nick is still the CEO of the tennis section. He has been my coach since I was 13. Of course, he is very experienced as he has coached many world class players: Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Monica Seles, Mary Pierce, only to name a few.

Nick was well aware of his responsibility when I first came to his Academy. I was only 13 years old at that stage and hardly spoke any English. He thinks very success-orientated. Since he had discovered my talent he paid special attention to me. He was something like a second dad for me when I first came to Bradenton and my parents were living in Germany.

In a jet through the sky of Indian Wells

When I turned 20, Nick made me a very special present: a trip in one of the jets of the 'Blue Angels' squadron. Before Nick became a tennis coach he was a paratrooper and still has lots of friends among those guys. On March 9, 1998 I took off into the blue sky of Indian Wells. An unforgettable experience.

More than a tennis guru

Today, Nick is more a friend to me than the big tennis guru Nick Bollettieri, as he is often referred to. Besides working together on the tennis court, we often go out together for a meal or play golf. Nick doesn't have time anymore to constantly travel around the world nor does he want to do it. The present solution we have worked out is therefore perfect: Red travels around the world with me and Nick usually stays in Florida. However, for special occasions and big games, he is on the spot, too. We also keep in contact through regular talks on the phone.

Special relationship

The relationship between a travelling coach and the player is certainly not an easy one. On the one hand you spend plenty of time together so that you have to get along well. On the other hand the coach is also an employee of the player and receives his monthly salary. In times when the player is not playing well, it is always tempting to blame the coach for everything. Of course, disagreements occur which this special kind of relationship has to endure. I learned how big a problem this can become in the beginning of 2001. During this time, I changed my coach 3 times.

After having been separated from Red for a while I started to appreciate working with him even more. Fortunately, our friendship has not suffered. I learned how important it is for me to not only have a tennis expert supporting me but to also having a nice person next to me all year round.

My coaches in chronological order

Peter Haas (until I was 13 years old)
Nick Bollettieri (since 1991)

Raul Ordonez and David 'Red' Ayme took terms in accompanying me to tournaments in the first years

Gavin Hopper (December 2000 - February 2001)
Harold Solomon (end of February 2001 - end of March 2001)
Sven Groenefeld (April 2001 - June 2001)
David Ayme (July 2001 - August 2005)