Marc De Hous, former coach of Clijsters, will now coach Malisse!

1782 Views 30 Replies 18 Participants Last post by alelysafina, Oct 26, 2005

JuanRodriguez

Discussion Starter · Sep 14, 2005 (Edited)

Xavier Malisse and Kelly Jones aren't working together anymore, although Xavier reached the 4th round at the US Open where he pushed Andre Agassi to 5 sets. And with Jones Xavier also won his first ATP-tournament (Delray Beach in february). But nevertheless Xavier needs to find his 10th (!) coach. Could this be a record?

Here's the list

1991-1997: Ivo Van Aken
1997-2001: Nick Bollettieri+U.Rianna
apr-dec '01: David Felgate
dec '01- june '02: Dean Goldfine
june '02- apr '03: Craig Kardon
may-july '03: Steven Martens
aug '03 - may '04: Carlos Zapata
may-aug '04: Philippe Dehaes
sep '04 - sep '05: Kelly Jones

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Tennis Fool

· #2 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse sends off coach nr. 9

I think Safin and Flip are up there.

XMan I always found overrated. I can see him getting to another SF, but nothing more.

Castafiore

· #3 · Sep 14, 2005 (Edited)

Re: Xavier Malisse sends off coach nr. 9

You're kidding!
:banghead:

On sporza.be, it was written that La Derniere Heure reported that it was Jones who sent off Malisse and not the other way round.

adee-gee

· #4 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse sends off coach nr. 9

Xavier :fiery: will you just settle down and achieve what you should be able to with the ridiculously large amount of talent you have!

JuanRodriguez

Discussion Starter · #5 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse sends off coach nr. 9

Castafiore said:
You're kidding!
:banghead:

On sporza.be, it was written that La Derniere Heure reported that it was Jones who sent off Malisse and not the other way round.

you're right. I kinda changed the title of this thread. :angel:
Still I'm searching for the article at http://www.dhnet.be but I can't find anything about it. I'm pretty curious to know what will be the reason this time.

Maybe it could be that Xavier wasn't telling everything to Jones. During the US Open there was an interview from a Belgian newspaper with Jones where they asked about Xavier's withdrawal for the davis cup tie against the USA. Jones didn't know at all that it was Xavier himself who decided not to play davis cup again.

Castafiore

· #6 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse sends off coach nr. 9

JuanRodriguez said:
Maybe it could be that Xavier wasn't telling everything to Jones. During the US Open there was an interview from a Belgian newspaper with Jones where they asked about Xavier's withdrawal for the davis cup tie against the USA. Jones didn't know at all that it was Xavier himself who decided not to play davis cup again.

Very true.

I read an interview with him in the Flemish press during the USO. Jones was boasting about having had a good and calming effect on Xavier but when the journalist asked a couple of things about Xavier, his solo career and the Davis Cup...it became clear that Jones didn't have that close contact he was boasting about.

Xavier has to be one of the most frustrating players out there to support. Lots of talent but you can not overlook the fact that he's not the easiest guy to work with.

Komaan, Xavier...laat ons nu eindelijk eens wat meer van dat talent van je genieten, alsjeblieft.

Action Jackson

· #7 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

Malisse should hire Filip Dewulf as a trainer, but at the same time he has to have a serious look in the mirror and see what he wants out of tennis and focus towards that.

Castafiore

· #8 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

GeorgeWHitler said:
Malisse should hire Filip Dewulf as a trainer,.

You think he'd make a good trainer?

Xmanfan

· #9 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

mm - I didn't know this. I actually think Xav needs someone with higher profile and someone who's gonna tell him how it is and takes no shit. Whether he'll put up with that or not I don't know. Does he need someone calm (like say Darren Cahill - yes I know he's with AA but that won't be forever and if Federer doesn't get there first who knows..) of does he need someone with a gob on him like Brad Gilbert.

I am sure that the reason Xavier is difficult is because if we get frustrated with him god knows how frustrated he gets with himself. I think he needs someone who will push him all the way, tell him how it is, but he must let that person do it. He needs a coach that he needs more than a coach that needs him (if you see what I mean).
Someone said in an earlier post that he may reach a slam s/f but nothing more. Maybe true. But he has the ability to win a slam and boy if he ever does, the floodgates will open.

I hope he gets the right person.

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Castafiore

· #10 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

Xmanfan said:
mm - I didn't know this. I actually think Xav needs someone with higher profile and someone who's gonna tell him how it is and takes no shit.

Trainer number 9 said that the "no shit" approach doesn't work with Xavier. According to him, X-Man needs a soft touch because tough discipline is counter-productive (he said that Xavier is actually quite a sensitive guy)

Xmanfan

· #11 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

Yeah I'd go with that. But maybe softly softly doesn't get him fired up enough on the court. He's a grown man, can't be mollycoddled all his life. What about Paul Annacone - that'd be cool and besides Henman won't use him for much longer, he he.

Action Jackson

· #12 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

Castafiore said:
You think he'd make a good trainer?

Actually I would.

madmanfool

· #13 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

Castafiore said:
Trainer number 9 said that the "no shit" approach doesn't work with Xavier. According to him, X-Man needs a soft touch because tough discipline is counter-productive (he said that Xavier is actually quite a sensitive guy)

very true

I think Xavier would only take the no shit approach from Bollettieri. And I doubt that Dewulf has such coach desire

alfonsojose

· #14 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

He needs Jen back :smoke:

Mrs. B

· #15 · Sep 14, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

get Brad Gilbert! :devil:

Castafiore

· #16 · Sep 15, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

Read this in my newspaper today:

Jones said that he can't teach anything more to Xavier Malisse. Xavier has all the tools and shots to play high level tennis but the problem is that he rarely uses his talent to the maximum. He needs to be able to switch to a top level game more often and he's the only one who can make that switch in his head.
He also accused Xavier of not taking tennis seriously enough (not training as hard as he could/should be) and the fact that communication with Xavier is not always easy is another factor.

Xavier didn't comment. The Malisse saga continues...

Xmanfan

· #17 · Sep 15, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

It seems that everyone is turning against him at the moment what with this and Davis Cup. I think he must be feeling pretty low right now (shame considering how well he played at US Open). I feel Jones is a bit bad for saying he can't teach him anymore - I mean Roger Federer can't really be taught any more but I'm sure coaches would jump at the chance of being his coach. It's not just about the strokes its about support, watching opponents matches and feeding back info. It's about the mental aswell as the physical.

I think perhaps Xavier doesn't always try because he doesn't have the belief. When he hits amazing shots he looks astounded. He doesn't know (or doesn't believe) how good he is. Maybe all these people throughout his career telling him he hasn't got it mentally means he believes them. And people giving up on him is not the way to go. A coach needs to make the player trust him and trust his committment in my book. And that goes for any player not just Malisse.

If he'd gone out first round without trying I could see the problem but the guy played as though his life depended on it out there. I really hope he finds someone that can make the breakthrough with him, I really do.

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Action Jackson

· #18 · Sep 15, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

Malisse has to do it for himself, he can have the greatest people around him, but it counts for nowt, if he doesn't do it, sacking coaches all the time isn't the best way of going about it, a bit of stability would help for sure.

Castafiore

· #19 · Sep 15, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

He didn't sack his trainer this time but Jones stopped their working relationship.
But, you're right...he needs to make things work for himself and search for a bit of stability. Many people say that he's a good guy deep down but not easy to work with. He needs to put in the effort.

The sad thing is that he seemed to like working with Jones:

From the newspaper "La Derniere Heure":

La belle aventure de Xavier Malisse a l'US Open a donc pris fin, lundi, mais qui sait justement si elle ne sera pas synonyme d'un nouveau départ. Considéré par beaucoup comme l'un des joueurs les plus doués du circuit, mais réputé pour son attitude parfois nonchalante et incontrôlable, Xavier Malisse a fait preuve d'une grande force de caractère à New York, ce qui devrait pouvoir lui servir pour le futur. «Je reste sur une semaine et demi géniale ici. L'US Open est mon tournoi favori. J'ai le sentiment que le travail à l'entraînement effectué ces derniers mois avec Kelly Jones est en train de porter ses fruits. Je crois avoir gagné en maturité et j'espère continuer sur ma lancée d'ici à la fin de la saison, à commencer par le tournoi de Mons, dans un mois.»

Translation:
The beautiful adventure of Xavier Malisse in the USO has come to an end this monday, but who knows; this may a turning point. By many, he's considered to be one of the most gifted (talented) players on tour, but he's also known for his attitude that's sometimes nonchalant and incontrolable but Xavier has shown a great strength of character in New York that could help him in the future. "The week and a half in the USO has been brilliant. The USO is my favorite tournament. I have the feeling that my work in training during the last months with Kelly Jones are showing results. I have gained maturity and I hope to continue in the same way towards the end of this season.

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Action Jackson

· #20 · Sep 15, 2005

Re: Xavier Malisse in search for coach nr. 10

Castafiore said:
He didn't sack his trainer this time but Jones stopped their working relationship.
But, you're right...he needs to make things work for himself and search for a bit of stability. Many people say that he's a good guy deep down but not easy to work with. He needs to put in the effort.

Malisse has sacked them before so many times, but there are things he has to work out for himself, as for his character it wouldn't surprise me if he was a good guy, a bit temperamental, a more extreme version of Gaudio in some ways. It's up to Xavi want he wants from his career, if he feel he hasn't done the best for himself at the end of it, then that will be disappointing.

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