Re: Player/Coach Changes (Rosengren Swedish DC captain not coaching Söderling)
There is a French interview with Magnus about his work with Stan.
Here's a translation via Google (maybe some of the French speaking users can clarify it a bit more):
"Stan has to feed his killer instinct"
Magnus Norman, how would you describe Wawrinka as a person and as a player?
He is very pleasant to be around, generous personality. I appreciate working with him. It's rewarding. Stan is shy, unsure of himself. This is sometimes seen on a tennis court. He needs to build his confidence. This is a point on which I hope to help, which we have already started working. As a player, he's a talented, already has a successful career behind him. He just lacks some very good results on the big tournaments. But he plays the same time as Roger (Federer), Rafa (Nadal) and Novak (Djokovic), which does not facilitate the task. With them - and also Murray now - it is not easy to break into the Grand Slams. Our goal with Stan, is to achieve something in a major tournament.
This timidity does not grow to be too nice against certain opponents? He sometimes gives the impression of being denied the right to earn unconsciously ...
Absolutely. I had the same feeling as having the opportunity to observe closely. He needs to further develop a killer instinct. Especially during the important points. It should no longer play as "Mr. nice" but that killer instinct. Without changing personality. He just needs to address these key points with a warrior spirit.
It was striking against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Monte Carlo. What advice will you give to this Madrid hand (note: he beat the French in three sets in the night from Friday to Saturday)?
Here, the conditions are not the same as Monte Carlo. This is higher altitude here and they will play at night. As before any match, we will be well prepared, discuss the specific points to work together and adopt a strategy. But it is important to focus on the game for Stan. This will be our priority this evening (note: last night). The bottom line is that he can believe in him, in his ability to beat Tsonga. I do not want him to consider a good match. I want him to shows in the match winner.
In Switzerland, Wawrinka is often in the shadow of Roger Federer. Does it did not somewhat inhibited?
Maybe. Roger is unique. He is probably the best player of all time and it is clear that it is not easy to "cohabit" with him. But Stan is Stan. He has a great career. He was in the top 10, top 20 now. If we consider the number of players that are on the circuit, it is already an achievement. But he clearly has the ability and all the weapons to be ranked higher and still get very good results in major tournaments. He is fresh, physically and mentally. I feel he can push even further the performance.
What improvements are you aiming at the technical level?
There are several things for improvement in his game. Obviously, his backhand is world class. Perhaps the best in the circuit. At the right time, however, there is room for improvement. Although it is good. This is not so much the act that can be improved as its positioning on the court at the time of the strike. This is something that we can adjust. As the return of service. He is sometimes hesitant, do not really know whether to stay back to back or forward in the court. We can also work on the service. It has ups and downs. I would like it to be a more solid and constant service. These are small things we can improve on and which we have already begun to work.
Sometimes he shows signs of impatience and will mark the point in two or three keystrokes instead of extending ...
Indeed, we have also discussed this point. I watched it several times. Already when I was the coach of Robin Söderling and Stan played against him. I have a pretty clear idea about it. It's quite a mental aspect of the game. It has to do with his state of mind and pressure management.
The results you achieved with Söderling speak for themselves. What do you aim with Wawrinka?
I do not like talking about myself. I prefer to talk about Stan. We set the bar pretty high. We set goals to achieve, but we prefer to keep them to ourselves. I am convinced that daily work on small things can have a huge impact. Stan played very well since the beginning of the year. He had tight matches against Djokovic in Melbourne, Berdych in Davis Cup or Tsonga in Monte Carlo. Defeats. I think his victory against Ferrer in Estoril brought him a lot of confidence. It is a dynamic success. I hope it will continue. I see no reason why he should not win tonight (note: last night) against Tsonga.
The Djokovic defeat in Australia was painful but didn't it help to take a step forward?
I discussed this with Severin Lüthi who told me that Stan had much better digested this defeat than others. He felt that Stan had a good shot rather than moping. He was able to take the positive of this match and move forward. This surely explains his strong start to the season. There was indeed not that bad in this defeat. It was a match of very high level.
You swapped with Lüthi?
This was a priority on my list. It was important to me because he follows Stan for a long time and knows him better than me. We spent time together here in Madrid, watched two games of Stan together and talked a lot about his tennis. His impact on Stan the past two years was very helpful. I also talked with Pierre Paganini, his physical trainer.
What do you think of his time "solo"?
It was a good thing. Especially as he still had Paganini and Lüthi. Although he is sometimes unsure of himself, Stan is not less determined. He knows what he wants. He did not want to take a coach just for taking one. He wanted the right person, someone you trust.
That person was you and he expected you to be free ...
I am very honored. But I prefer to stay humble. It is not magic. You can not change things overnight. This requires dedication and patience. We started well. He won in Portugal. We also have to face losses and learn from them. But he grew mentally. We are in preparation for Roland Garros and Wimbledon, but it is in a position to do something here (note: in Madrid).
Original source:
http://www.lematin.ch/sports/tennis/stan-doit-nourrir-instinct-tueur/story/21146957