Hi everyone,
This blog will not go down in history as the most frequent updated one as I wrote in my last blog post about a year ago:) Thats the only thing we will know for sure! But hey here I am again. 1 year later:)
Just about to start the 2025 season. It will be our 11th year working together. Stan made a really good end to the 2023 season but in the last match of the season he fractured his foot on MATCHPOINT against Van Asche. I remember it like yesterday the moments after the match in the locker room. Stan had pushed so hard to be back in top 50 and was looking forward to Gert some well deserved holiday. Instead it was back to the doctors and the rehab. It was very very tough mentally.
The injury really was tough to comeback from as we just came back from a big knee injury and was back in top 50. So 2024 was a tough year up until the last few weeks of the year where I really felt the level was back again. He played some great tennis in Shanghai, Stockholm and Basel. On top of that I think we had a great off season as well.
So going in to 2025 I’m optimistic. Stan is ranked 158 and is very motivated to be as professional he can be on and off the court. We have been working really hard and we are trying to also enjoy and have fun this last part of his career. You can see how much he loves tennis.
For me as a coach the work has changed off course. It’s not the same as it used to be working with a 28 year old compered to a 39 year old. There is a lot of things you need to know and read about coaching older athletes. In fact it’s very challenging and I learn a lot. There is a lot of talks and studies on developing young players but not as much on coaching ageing players. So it’s very interesting.
We were hoping to play some matches before Australian Open but in the end decided to go early to Melbourne and prepare on site. He has been hitting with Berretini, Ruud and world number 1 Sinner, just to name a few, so the days here has been very solid. But as we all know it’s one thing to play well in practise and something else playing a match. But I feel optimistic.
I arrived a few days later than the others in the team as I had planned vacation with Jessica and her son in Malaysia.The team is the same as in the end of last year with Dario and Pierre involved in the fitness and Julien is the main fysio.
The last few days in Melbourne before the tournaments starts will consist of a mix between training and recovery.
After Australian Open we will stay in Europe and play the indoor swing. So happy to have the opportunity to compete at this events as Stans ranking dropped a bit and we had to get a WC to get in to the events. Thanks so much for the opportunity.
And tanks for the support to our team. We will keep working hard and enjoy this last chapter!!
Have a nice weekend!
//Magnus
