Former British No 1 Greg Rusedski is to coach Victoria Azarenka until at least the end of the US Open, I’m told. First spotted on court with the two-time grand slam champion at Wimbledon and working in Canada this week. inews.co.uk/sport/tennis/g…
Victoria Azarenka teams up with Greg Rusedski for US Open after initial Wimbledon trial
WTASaturday, 10 August 2024 at 15:30
Victoria Azarenka despite limping out of the recent Canadian Open will enlist the help of a new coach during the US Open which has been brought forward from Wimbledon.
The former World No.1 will enlist a familiar face in Greg Rusedski who was initially with Azarenka on a trial basis during the grass court major. But she had to withdraw due to a shoulder injury.
Former British No.1 Rusedski has been on court with Azarenka in Toronto this week alongside her long-term coach Maxime Tchoutakian and according to i, the arrangement is for Rusedski to work with the 35-year-old until the end of the US Open.
There is also scope for the agreement to continue onto a longer-term deal if both parties agree and the geography isn't too much of an issue. Rusedski is based in the UK having moved over to the country during his playing days and representing them.
While Azarenka has lived in Boca Raton in Florida for most of her career and when the US Open concludes, the tournaments start to thin out towards the end of the season giving scope for the agreement to be sussed out.
On court, he was the fastest server in the world at one point and reached a Wimbledon Quarter-Final and US Open final in 1997. He also reached a career-high of World No.4.
But this was the pinnacle of his career as he never made it past the fourth round of a Grand Slam ever again. He has limited coaching experience albeit he did spend nearly a decade for the LTA working in talent identification and player development. He also worked with Kyle Edmund and also has done shorts stints with Heather Watson, Johanna Konta and also was mooted to be working for a time with Denis Shapovalov.
He keeps a vested interest though in the women's game working for various broadcasters as a pundit in both Amazon Prime and also now Sky Sports and has been vocal in his support of Emma Raducanu. Now he will see it through an even different lens as he looks to continue the career of Azarenka who has had a resurgence since a dip in her career in the late 2010's.
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- Done, looks good!
AceOfBase17-09-2024 - FYI: The term 'snub' is a much overused verb by writers of sensationalist rags. [SNUB: rebuff, ignore, or spurn disdainfully]. That is not the definition of what is going on with frequent withdrawals from tournaments.
mandoist16-09-2024 - No offence, Mr. Lloyd, but where have you been the past two years?? How long have you been a tennis fan? This 'article' may be informative for newbies or fair-weather tennis observers but the majority of fans know the root of the multiple issues within WTA. The #1 issue being the subject of health & well-being which has been (or has attempted to be) addressed with the WTA Elitist council members last season. WTA was extremely dismissive of players' concerns and opposed to such a meeting. Eventually giving-in due to publicity and allowed selective players only -- no rep's, no medical personnel, and no team members. The meeting was a farce as WTA soon after that released an even more hectic schedule... with mandatory tourneys! Guess they weren't taking notes?? BTW: There is a lot missing from this piece concerning "withdrawals". No writer has yet taken the jump to get behind the scenes and dig at the problems -- obvious organizational problems. IMO, the top two issues are WTA's lack of proper attention to health & well-being of its Money-Makers; and Financial Greed. Tip to Mr. Lloyd: there is no "snubbing" when these players withdraw. These women have to take such measures as withdrawing from a tourney, and occasional time-off from the circuit, to protect themselves -- because WTA refuses to take any measures at all (although not allowing matches until sunrise is a start). Surely you can do better than point fingers at players. The finger-pointing should be directed entirely at WTA (and ATP). Be a true journalist, Mr. Lloyd, and research them!!mandoist16-09-2024
- Uh-oh.... Now Raducanu is being forced to compete! Let's see who withdraws next... I wonder??mandoist15-09-2024
- And this is such a shock to WTA?? How many times are they (WTA & ATP) going to keep stepping in their own s*** ???mandoist15-09-2024
