#33: Antonio VanGrichen – The Man who Coached Azarenka from age 15 to WTA Top 10

In this episode you are going to listen to Antonio Van Grichen, Antonio is a former player himself representing Portugal in Davis Cup. He then went to the Harry Hopmann Tennis Academy as a Coach & has worked his way up ever since.

Antonio has been the coach of players such as Jarmila Wolfe former Gajdošová Tamira Paszek, Vera Zvonereva, Ana Ivanovic, Monica Puig, Marcos Baghdatis & was the Coach of Victoria Azarenka from when she was 15 & World Number 1 Junior all the way to Top 10 WTA singles & Doubles when she was 20.

In this Episode you’ll get to know:

– About the journey he had together with Azarenka

– The dialogue going on in his head when he is considering to start working with a new player

– Why you need to be a little bit crazy to succeed within tennis

Enjoy the show!

Timestamps

01:30 How Antonio got into coaching
03:38 How Antonio only picked up a racquet to coach from 16-19
04:46 Going to the Harry Hopman Tennis Academy
07:52 The Initiating a coaching relation with a player
10:13 Long term projects
11:04 Some coaches just want to go on the tour
12:05 Delusional players
20 she was 6 in singles (7 in doubles)
15:34 What correction that was made to Azarenka’s forehand
17:33 The changes Azarenka made on her forehand
19:03 Coaching Marcos Baghdatis
22:06 Why Antonio is not on the tour at the moment
23:20 Being selfish kept me sain
24:26 Ultimately it is about human beings
26:32 Willingness to suffer
27:48 Importance of being a great communicator
29:00 Common sense
30:21 Observation
31:40 The monk that sold his Ferrari
33:01 Most important values
34:00 The fine line bewteen succes & failure
35:18 You need to be little bit crazy to succed
37:27 Health & time
38:34 Every player is a different person
40:33 Get in contact with Antonio