Andy Murray and “Positive” News Novak Djokovic, “Sunshine Double” and excitement for Queen’s – Laura Robson Column | Tennis news
In his latest Sky Sports column, Laura Robson responds to Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, who expands his coaching partnership, looks forward to the ‘Sun Dual’ Indian wells and Miami Open -Ii gives an insight into the hectic role in his role as the director tennis to Queen’s …
Andy Murray continues with Novak Djokovic is really positive news. Andy has four young children and probably doesn’t want to work all these weeks on the way now that he’s just stopped playing, so I’m sure after the Australian Open it took them a minute to make their schedule.
I think this was the case of choosing and selecting a tournament where a partner, and sounds like he will be in Indian Wells and Miami in March.
It would be really interesting to see how their partnership was developing, because it seemed like they were just getting to know each other and trust each other with a plan of play and tactics. I think you need to build that communication with any coach you start with, and it takes a little time, so the fact that they have given yourself a few more months makes a lot of sense.
The ‘Sunshine Double’ of Indian wells and Miami is very difficult for any player to withdraw, because it is a completely opposite conditions – although these are two hard drive tournaments. It’s really long – both events are 12 days – and it’s just a huge change in conditions, crossing from one to the other because Miami is so hot and moist, compared to the Palm Springs desert.
Indian wells, I have always struggled especially, because it is much slower than you think. This does not always favor the British, who generally prefer slightly faster conditions and the Pacier claims the terrain that plays more lively, because you get out of your shots a little more.
Katie Boulter comes out with the injury of the foot, so he hopes to fit into it again, while Emma was in Raducan in the Middle East, trying to upgrade to the form we saw from her in Australia. She really competes well and ensures that she is trying to do the right things on the field.
I don’t think he’s right, really, hire someone new, just for that. It must make it sense to her and that must be the right person. There are not too many amazing coaches that can travel full time, so the options are quite limited. You wouldn’t want to get into a new partnership without 100 percent of confidence.
Another final of ATP for Jack Draper, had a few weeks of training in London after the Australian Open to try to physically return a hundred percent, and this shows with the form we saw this week in Qatar. Some qualities of victory and a difficult finale against Rubles [losing 7-5 5-7 6-1} but a week he can be really chuffed with.
The young guns are firing!
I’ve also been very happy to see Joao Fonseca and Mirra Andreeva doing so well on tour recently. They were my two picks at the start of the year to have breakout seasons, so it’s going well for me so far – although we’re only in February.
Andreeva is still only 17, but I feel like we have known her for a long time already. We’re just waiting for that super special Grand Slam result from her, and it feels like this is the year for it. I think clay is an incredible surface for her, it allows her to show off her movement and what a great athlete she is. Let’s see what happens in Paris!
Fonseca, meanwhile, got everyone excited in Australia, because he plays such a big brand of tennis for an 18-year-old – his forehand is absolutely huge – and the shot-making is what gets people fired up. It was just an amazing week for him to get his first ATP title in Argentina this month, and hopefully he can build on that momentum going forward.
I first saw him play in person [when tournament director] in Nottingham last year. He finished lost to Billy Harris in a match that started grass and ended up indoors … In the end we had to move them because it was the only second round that had not yet finished because of the horrific British time. After being a difficult day, he still came and said thank you to everyone who worked in the tournament.
He has a really good head on his shoulders, and you want to see someone to do well. So, since last summer I was a big fan and hoped to see that breakthrough.
Download as the director of the Queen’s Club Women’s Tournament …
Recently, I have been busy with my new role as a tournament director at the first women’s tournament in Queen’s since 1973, which will be part of the lead to Wimbledon this year. It’s hard to know what to expect. Obviously, I have Nottingham to compare it, but as a brand new tournament, it just seems like there is much more work to do.
The male event lasts for so long, and we want to bring something individual to the women’s event, making sure that it has its own identity, its personality and vibration. We have completed many things: a match schedule plan and several players names was published this week, which had a super positive reaction.
We have Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys, Daria Kasatkina, Boulter and Raducan, they have announced so far, with a few more who will come in plan. It is exciting for girls who saw the event of men on TV or heard of the history of the club and the tradition.
That makes my job easier. You don’t need to convince people much to come and play … and I think the entrance list will really reflect it.
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