The coaches that give tennis a bad name

It's fair to say, some of tennis's coaches are among the most notorious in sport. This is often due to aggressive, intimidating, and violent behavior against their players, who are sadly in many cases also their children. Other times, these coaches may have off-court issues or simply been too outspoken in the public space. Let's take a look at some of tennis's most polarising coaches.

Boris Becker is never too far away from controversy. The former player turned coach has worked with players like Novak Djokovic and Marin Cilic and was known for his aggressive coaching style and for his willingness to take risks. Most of his biggest criticisms come from off-court issues, such as his multiple divorces and being jailed for two-and-a-half years in April for hiding £2.5m ($3.13 million, €2.92 million) of assets and loans to avoid paying his debts in 2022, according to the BBC.

Nick Bollettieri was a legendary coach who has worked with some of the biggest names in tennis, including Andre Agassi and Monica Seles. However, he rubbed a few people in the game up the wrong way and was criticized for prioritizing winning over sportsmanship and for his emphasis on physical fitness over technique. 

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Some pundits have described his coaching style as harsh and demanding, while others, such as Agassi, praised him for his ability to get the most out of his players.

Toni Nadal is the uncle and former coach of tennis superstar Rafael Nadal. He's known for his tough love coaching style and for his emphasis on hard work and discipline. However, he's also been criticized for being overly controlling and for putting too much pressure on his nephew to succeed. 

Rafael has spoken out about the difficulties of working with his uncle and has described their relationship as challenging, according to Bleacher Report. 

Judy Murray is the mother and coach of tennis champions Andy and Jamie Murray. While she's praised and beloved for her commitment to grassroots tennis and for her work in promoting the sport to young people, she has come up against some vocal critics over the years over her outspokenness on the sport and on her son's careers so much so it almost caused her to quit her role, according to the Daily Mail. 

She was also accused of 'sportswashing' in 2022 after accepting a role as a tennis coach at a tournament in Saudi Arabia, overlooking their human rights record, for a reportedly lucrative pay day, according to the BBC.

Darren Cahill is a highly respected coach who has worked with players like Andre Agassi and Simona Halep. He's known for his analytical approach and for his ability to help players improve their technique. However, he's been called out for pushing his players too hard and at times, and on at least one occasion publically berating Halep during an Australian Open match, according to Seven News. 

Damir Dokic's coaching methods were often described as aggressive and volatile. He had been seen publicly berating and physically attacking Jelena during tournaments and and was known for pressuring her to achieve success at all costs. Jelena has spoken out about the physical and emotional abuse she suffered at the hands of her father and has described their relationship as abusive and controlling, according to ABC News. 

As far as tennis coaches go, few can compete with Jim Pierce for controversy. He was infamous for his explosive outbursts and for his tendency to verbally and physically abuse his daughter Mary during her matches. He was known for shouting obscenities from the sidelines, so much so it led the Women's Tennis Council to introduce the 'Jim Pierce rule' in 1993, which signified that a part of a player's entourage could be banned from any event, according to The New York Times. 

Mary has spoken out about the trauma she experienced as a result of her father's abusive coaching style and has described their relationship as deeply troubled, Sports Illustrated reported in 1993.

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Robert Lansdorp was a highly demanding coach who expected a lot from his players, which included Austin, Lindsay Davenport and Maria Sharapova. He was known for pushing them to their physical limits and for being highly critical of their performance. Some players have described his coaching style as harsh and intimidating, while others, such as Sharapova herself, have praised him for his ability to bring out their best. 

Patrick Mouratoglou is known for his innovative coaching methods and for his work with tennis superstar Serena Williams. He's known for his analytical approach and for his focus on mental toughness and strategy. However, not all players have enjoyed working under his guise and some have criticized him for being too involved in his players' personal lives and for crossing professional boundaries. Aravane Rezai even described their working relationships as being 'in a prison', according to Tennis Forum.

Richard Williams is the father and former coach of tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams. He's known for his unorthodox coaching style and for his emphasis on education and personal development. In her 2011 memoir, "On the Line," Serena Williams described her father as a "strict taskmaster" who would punish her and her sister harshly for mistakes or losses and would often make them practice in dangerous or uncomfortable conditions, such as on cracked or slippery courts, to toughen them up, The Guardian reported. 

He has also been criticized for his confrontational attitude toward other players, coaches, and media members. In 2001, he famously clashed with Indian Wells tournament director Raymond Moore over alleged racist remarks made toward his family, leading the Williams sisters to boycott the event for many years.

Piotr Wozniacki is the father and former coach of tennis player Caroline Wozniacki. He's known for his tough love coaching style and for his emphasis on discipline and hard work, but his style hasn't always gone over well publicly. In an article by The New York Times, Piotr was described as "intense and domineering" and had a reputation for being difficult to work with.  

Brad Gilbert is a former player turned coach who has worked with players like Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick. He's known for his analytical approach and for his ability to help players improve their strategy and mental toughness, but has attracted some controversy in this time, a lot of which has come from a sideline job as a commentator where he is known for providing at times frank and unfiltered opinions on players and the sport.  

John Tomic is a former professional tennis player and coach from Croatia who has been involved in several controversies during his career, most of which center around his temperament and treatment of players, including his son Bernard.

One of the most notable incidents involving Tomic occurred in 2013, when he physically assaulted his son's hitting partner, Thomas Drouet, during the Madrid Open, according to the Daily Mail. Drouet suffered a broken nose and other injuries as a result of the assault, and Tomic was arrested and charged with causing bodily harm.

He later pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to eight months in jail. Shortly after this, it came to light that his son Bernard had been on the receiving end of similar violent acts, according to The Daily Mail.

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