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Why Patrick Rafter Called Tony Roche The Greatest Coach
· Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
At 2001 Miami Open Patrick Rafter hailed Tony Roche as the world’s best tennis coach…
Q. You have and Tony Roche have been together for a long time. Can you give us your impression of what he does and still keeps you motivated and how the partnership works?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, I think his dedication and commitment to me has been superb. As someone — I guess all coaches are like that with their pupils, I just have a lot of respect for Tony. I think that is very important if you are going to work with someone, you have got to respect the guy. And I respect Tony like a brother or like a father. So it is something that when you are on the court you are not just playing for yourself but you are playing for Tony, if you put on a poor performance, Tony is going to be upset as well. You just can’t do that. And it is a good feeling being out there playing. And he is I think the greatest coach in the world. I don’t think anyone — obviously I can’t say you know how good he is or he is, but to have done what he has done with me, I think he is the greatest coach in the world.
Q. Can you just perhaps a mention a couple of specifics regarding what he has done for you?
PATRICK RAFTER: Well, a lot of it is good for my mind as well. He is very calming, he is positive and he is good tactically as well. He will tell you just one or two little things but he doesn’t try and fill your mind with a lot of things. He is simple and it keeps your mind clear. I think that is very important. That is probably one of his biggest attributes as well. But he knows what to say and when to say it. He says all the right words. I think we have a good communication over the years we have been working together.
Patrick Rafter won two US Open titles and 11 ATP singles titles overall. He was ATP World No. 1 in July 1999. Tony Roche won one Grand Slam singles title, the 1966 French Open at Roland Garros, and 15 Grand Slam doubles titles.
Roche has coached an array of elite ATP players including Roger Federer (2005-2007), Ivan Lendl, Lleyton Hewitt and Rafter (1997-2002, the end of Rafter’s career).
