Coach of four former World No.1's including Sharapova, Sampras, Austin and Davenport passes away
Tennis NewsTuesday, 17 September 2024 at 11:30
The former coach of Lindsay Davenport, Pete Sampras and Maria Sharapova, Robert Landsdorp has passed away at the age of 85.
Landsdorp started his career and stint as one of the most successful coaches of the modern era with 16-year-old Tracy Austin. She won the 1979 US Open title and then suddenly became WTA World No.1 before winning another US Open title.
As the years went on, he also helped aid the development in particular of Pete Sampras who won 14 major titles, Lindsay Davenport with the American's game really finding foundation and footing under his tutelege. She won three major titles as well as five titles for Maria Sharapova.
The aforementioned change to the foundation of their game saw players adopt the coined Landsdorp Forehand which he taught his pupils to hit a consistent, flat and powerful groundstroke.
“There was a point to all that torture,” Sharapova said in her book on Landsdorp. “Everything was done in the service of a philosophy. Every drill had a reason, was taking the player somewhere.”
“He was like a second father to me,” said Davenport in 2013. “We were super close. He was really gentle with me.”
Honoured by the USTA with a lifetime achievement award back in 2005, he was further honoured eight years later with fellow coaching legends including Nick Bollettieri who also passed away recently. He also stood by Maria Sharapova during her doping trial testifying in favour of the Russian.
"'I don't know the details, but she didn't do it on purpose. It's impossible. There's no way she would cheat. No way in hell would she have taken drugs knowing it was illegal, especially Maria with an image she has - her image is squeaky clean - so she wouldn't take a chance," he said at the time to Daily Mail.
He also coached Eugenie Bouchard for a short time back in 2018 as she looked to return to her best. A serial winner as a coach and a sad miss to the sport.
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