Mats Wilander said “You always have to try to change your game and improve something…”
Wise words from a wise tennis man.
Here’s the full quotes Wilander said to journalist Paul Fein while talking about his former player Marat Safin in 2002 when he lost the Aussie Open to Johansson…
Mats Wilander: He (Safin) learns a lot from losing. If he wins he has the confidence of someone who wins a Grand Slam title and he’s not going to change his game. Whereas you always have to try to change your game and improve something. He has a bit of an attitude that “I’m good enough to win Grand Slams, so I’ll keep on doing what I’m doing.” He isn’t as motivated to improve as other players are.
Q: What should Safin do to become a better player?
Mats Wilander: He needs to do what I did-develop a different kind of game. The guys are learning how to play him now. They know he’s eventually going to have a breakdown [in concentration] whether it lasts for one minute or five minutes or half an hour. Unless he changes his game guys are going to keep him out there forever. Safin used to have the biggest game of any player I’ve ever seen play when he played well. But he’s not as dangerous as he used to be because he’s playing smarter, so he doesn’t hit the ball as hard. If you want to change anything in your game you have to do it between [ages] 19 and 22. That’s where Safin is now. If he doesn’t do it now, he’ll always be the same player–a great player–but, unfortunately, not another Sampras or Agassi.
Actually, I didn’t decide to stop coaching Marat. We were supposed to go to Australia this year as well. I think he didn’t feel he needed to have me there, or wanted to have me there. He felt a lot of pressure last year and he was very tired at the end. He changed to a Dunlop racket. It was all a little too much. He’s 21 years old and you can put too much information in somebody’s head at that age. Maybe he’s just not ready to have a full-time coach. Now I am no longer his coach; I’m his friend.
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So applying the Wilander theory to Isner, who was bounced out of the Delray Beach ATP Championship in the first round by Marinko Matosevic, who he previously had never lost to in three matches, how can Isner be fixed?
Serve and volley? Work on ripping return winners from backhand and forehand? Come to net much more and much earlier in the point? Utilize the slice backhand more, especially up the line?
What would Mats do to fix the broken big man?
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Ryan Balon · February 18, 2015 at 12:48 pm
Scoop,
While watching the Aussie Open on tennis channel Justin Gimelstob who is now coaching John mentioned exactly what you stated – they are working on John hitting bigger returns and coming to the net more…..
Watching him last night was pretty eye opening, John looked flat out terrible – missing a ton of first serves ( even completly shanking a second serve into the stands) and overall didnt look intersted in being there.
In my opinion Isner is overrated. Besides his serve he brings nothing to the table, he isn’t the best mover, shaky at best on his groundies and if he can get to net so so with his volleys.
He’s made a few good runs in Indian Wells so maybe he can get his act together there and get confidence going into 2015, but I only see him winning 250 tournaments and not much more……
Andrew Miller · February 18, 2015 at 5:04 pm
Isner…poor guy. He’s carried U.S. tennis since Roddick’s retirement. That could change this year.
Agassi said you can’t teach 6’8” and Agassi is right, you can’t – Isner has one of tennis’ best serves. His groundstrokes are good too, and he CAN volley.
My hunch would be that Isner still has it in him – he’s still got prime tennis in him or is capable of summoning it. He’s a little deceiving because he’s a southerner that sometimes moves in a lazy way – even if he’s not a lazy player. Again, it’s deceptive – never trust Isner’s tiredness, he will ace.
What could he do? Isner’s once of the worst returners and it hasn’t done him any favors to get to the tiebreaks and hope for the best – not when he’s not an ace factory. So returning better would be a big deal – if they get him even in a few service games per set that would change the dynamic of his matches.
As for serving, I don’t know what Isner’s off pace serve is like and what his topspin serves are like, but given his height he sure could benefit from some slice and spin on his serves. I’m sure a spinning serve from a 6’8” player is mighty intimidating.
Also doubles. Yes, doubles. Why? Because implementing the changes requires match play and lot’s of it, and you can only get the most match play by pairing singles with doubles. Even one more match per tournament makes a difference – you have a lower pressure but still pressured environment to safely implement the new stuff.
As for Gimelstob, if Dan says Gimelstob is being accountable I’d guess he is. Isner’s results have been worse than other U.S. players on Isner’s favorite surface, so something is bothering this guy.
Harold · February 18, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Get real. There is no fixing Isner. He has had a great career. He got the most out of his height and talent.
What could he change now? I dont think he would change anything if they gave him a do- over. He is not grinding out matches in 2 out of 3 sets, no way he could grind out in Majors. He is doubled over gasping for air in the second set whenever it’s hot.
Turn into a chip and charge guy, Luxilon ruined and chance of that, he cant volley all match from his ankles with all the dipping spin nowadays.
Isner and American tennis fans should accept, he is what he is. Karlovic with better strokes.
Harold · February 18, 2015 at 7:15 pm
One more thing, Isner should never bother playing a Clay event again. Skip the clay season, play on Grass, play on Hard. Do not bother with Clay
dan markowitz · February 18, 2015 at 7:50 pm
He had two of his best wins on clay, Harold, beating Fed and Tsonga. Look, Izzie isn’t a goner, but he needs some serious motivation and a coach who’s going to teach him how to return and get to net more. He doesn’t have to serve and volley, but he can be a better net player.
I have a lot of respect for Dr. Ivo. What is he like 36 and he’s still a tough out. Doubt Izzie will be out there at 36.
Scoop Malinowski · February 18, 2015 at 8:31 pm
Isner used to play doubles quite a bit, with Q Ball, but he has skipped doubles for a good while now. There could be a connection – no doubles, less success in singles. Maybe he’s preserving his energy tank all for singles. Any player can still improve. No matter what level. Isner can improve. Estrella improved. Bogomolov improved. Thomas Johansson improved. Petr Korda improved. So too can Isner improve.
Scoop Malinowski · February 18, 2015 at 8:36 pm
Ryan, but we are not seeing Isner return with more severity or attack net. He’s still the same basic Isner, to my eyes. It’s not easy to change a player. I think Isner is more than just a serve, he has a solid baseline game when the match it even, will never forget him grinding out close matches vs. Fed and Djokovic he stunned them from the baseline with defense and counterpunching and consistency. He did not just beat Fed and Djok with his serve.
Andrew Miller · February 18, 2015 at 9:48 pm
Roddick, once he added the new stuff to his game such as a dependable slice, had the same game for about four years, 2007-2011. It didnt vary much, but Roddick’s confidence did, motivation and I assume the prep. Sometimes all a player needs to do is be fresh for their matches.
I’d guess Isner isn’t feeling quite himself. Thankfully the early hardcourt season isn’t over . This is a DOG of a loss however. Matosevic is a decent player but isner should have pulled it out in straights.
Andrew Miller · February 18, 2015 at 9:50 pm
Isner as Karlovic plus is a compliment. Should be able to pull at least one more slam quarters.
Scoop Malinowski · February 18, 2015 at 11:48 pm
Both Isner and Karlovic are players that nobody enjoys to play. NOBODY. It would be an interesting poll to take on players, which one would you prefer to play? Might do that.
Hartt · February 19, 2015 at 1:43 pm
It’s unfortunate that Isner did not broaden his game earlier in his career. It must be extremely difficult to make changes at this point. A good comparison is Raonic, another player who has a big serve. Over a year ago he and his team started to work on improving his net game and it took many months of work to see real improvement, but this season he has been coming to the net successfully. He has also worked on improving his ROS and BH, although these are both areas he needs to improve even further. But he was willing to try a major change early in his career and it is now starting to show results, with his ranking currently at No. 6.
Scoop Malinowski · February 19, 2015 at 9:08 pm
Good points Hartt. It’s not too late for Isner but he has to make some refinements. If he can, we will see. Raonic still can’t handle Fed or Djokovic, not sure if he will ever be able to.
Andrew Miller · February 19, 2015 at 10:27 pm
Isner has some reason to want to get in gear – steve johbson, sock and dy are all playing better and one or two of them might pass isner in the rankings, which would force Courier to consider them for davis cup. Seems unlikely but tennis is a ruthless sport, ambition rules the day.
Andrew Miller · February 19, 2015 at 10:30 pm
Dont think anyone ever wants to play the giants. Maybe Gasquet or a good returner like nadal who has to focus but not necessarily run as much during a match. That is why Agassi said he’d be glad to coach Isner because he steps on court with the opponent already fearing the big serve.
Scoop Malinowski · February 19, 2015 at 11:12 pm
Who does Captain Courier pick for Davis Cup? I say Johnson, Isner, Bryans.
Scoop Malinowski · February 19, 2015 at 11:16 pm
It’s good question, Andrew, I wonder if any player actually enjoys to play Isner or Ivo. Hewitt has a winning record vs. Isner but losing record vs. Isner. I can’t think of any other who would like to play them outside of Fed DJok Murray and Rafa.
dan markowitz · February 20, 2015 at 8:27 am
Izzie’s shot, he can’t make changes in his game at 30. He would’ve been better off going back to Craig Boynton, who I think he had his most success with, and just honed in on the game that worked for him best.
Gimel is probably trying to make Izzie think too much out there, and the dude went to UGeorgia, he’s no Einstein. KISS Gimel, crack your serve and go for rallies that are no more than 3 shots. That’s it. Play it like Sampras used to. Just break once a set and Izzie will win a lot of matches.
Where’s Davis Cup next? If its indoors, you’ve got to go with Izzie and QBall as the singles players as they’re a tough indoors tandem.
Scoop Malinowski · February 20, 2015 at 10:21 am
Its in UK, Querrey vs. Ward rematch would be interesting for sure. But Sam has bad back, he might be lame. I think Johnson handles Ward. Murray should win both singles. Interesting rematch of SD last year. Critical tie for Courier’s captaincy.
Harold · February 20, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Agassi’s game was hugging the baseline and torturing opponents by making them run side to side. The way he took the ball early, was his greatest strength.
In what world does that translate to getting Isner to change his game? Isner has been trying to play that way for years, his only problem, he couldn’t play that way against the top players.You need better movement to take it early. His defense and movement, will not get better past 30, because of his body. Kevin Anderson is only 2 inches shorter, but a much better athlete.Ivo, is a better mover. If Ivo had Isner’s crappy two-hander, he’d have been a fixture in the top 10
Andrew Miller · February 20, 2015 at 2:22 pm
Harold is right on Karlovic…if he had the Isner bh he qould indeed be top 10 for part of his career.
On Isner, he truly has an awful return of serve, his percentages are the lowest of all u.s. players of note (stop laughing) . If hia return improves, something an agassi could help advise on, he gets into more opponents service games. Easier said than done, but he cant get any worse than losing to matosevic. Ive watched him for years, never really has it together and always seems like a loose canon that matosevic kid.
Scoop Malinowski · February 21, 2015 at 7:39 pm
Kudla said Ivo’s serve is far tougher to deal with than Isner, Isner’s has predictable patterns, Ivo’s serve – you have no idea where it’s going. Interesting insights by Kudla.
Harold · February 21, 2015 at 8:01 pm
Was Kudla your first interview for facing Ivo?
Andrew Miller · February 21, 2015 at 9:39 pm
Ivo has ruined many a player’s draws. Nadal enjoys playing Karlovic as much as he enjoys back to back root canals.
Scoop Malinowski · February 22, 2015 at 9:11 am
Hey that’s a good idea Harold. Facing Dr. Ivo as a magazine feature. But I doubt any editor will accept it. Facing DY could also have potential.
Bryan · February 22, 2015 at 4:47 pm
Isner needs to work on return winners and come in closer on the second serve. He’s been accustomed to pushing back serves for so long it’s a tough habit to break. But since he loses most return games anyhow coming in closer and banging return winners (or errors) is worth the gamble.
Bryan · February 22, 2015 at 4:53 pm
Also where is John’s mean streak. Isner’s weapons should have opponents fear him, yet so far this year he’s seemed nonchalant and guys know all they gotta do is break him one time per set or one mini-break in a tie breaker. Do that and it’s Game Over. Thus there is no fear factor.
Scoop Malinowski · February 22, 2015 at 7:47 pm
Gulbis still has not won a match yet this year.
Harold · February 23, 2015 at 8:56 am
The Gulbis 0 for 2015 continues. Loses in straights to Istomin. Will check to see if Isto has won a dubs tourney lately
Scoop Malinowski · February 23, 2015 at 9:38 am
For some reason Harold abhors the theory that winning in doubles or mixed doubles can stimulate singles success.
Harold · February 23, 2015 at 10:19 am
There are so many variables in Singles, that winning a Doubs or Mixed has no bearing. Maybe it fills your wallet a little more and you arent worried about Finances for a bit.
DY gets two bad draws in IW and Miami, and there goes any momentum. Lots of variables in individual sports
Scoop Malinowski · February 23, 2015 at 12:55 pm
The greatest example of doubles success contributing to a players singles was the 2008 OLY doubles won by Fed and Wawrinka. Fed had been struggling up to that point and that doubles win really gave his career an important spark. There are countless other examples.
Harold · February 23, 2015 at 1:09 pm
Wasnt such a great revival if you look back now. He got Murray in the US Open final. Good win, Murray gave him trouble. He win Basel, then took sime losses until Madrid. Not a great revival for someone in the GOAT discussion
Scoop Malinowski · February 23, 2015 at 5:29 pm
Fed was in a slump and that OLY doubles gold win snapped him out of it.