Hernan Gumy

[Dina]

well said maryb!!!!!!!

[jenhatter06]

wow, what news today!

thoughts are in tune with everyone else ... things are looking up ... here's to a good start with the hard court summer! cheers

[inez]

Well, here's an opposite view...I am not expecting any immediate improvement from Marat - this guy has done what, exactly, for Guga or Coria?

It seems clear that it was Sasha not Marat who decided that he could not travel the whole summer with Marat, and forced Marat into this change..

"This change was unfortunately brought about by the fact that his good friend and coach Alexander Volkov has found that despite all his good intentions of being able to spend as much time as possible with Marat - his many other commitments have meant that he cannot give Marat the extra time he would like at this stage"

.i do NOT think this will be especially "good" for Marat - just as he begins to improve - he changes coach?

I hope is am very wrong, because more than anyhing I want Marat to be back in the top ten, where his talent belongs - I am concerned that if anything, this lack of stability (which Sasha represented on and off the court) is a step BACK rather than forward......at the end of the day, if Marat suddenly starts playing well, it will be because, as Sahsa said in his DC blog,

"one day, Marat will wake up, and he will start playing tennis"

I am not dancing around in joy because Marat had to let Sasha go, and I think it's very debatable that Hernan Gumy will add anything substantial to his game....but I hope that Marat feels that he owes it to Sasha to pull his socks up and start playing the way we know he can.

[maryb]

Early days, let's give the guy the benefit of the doubt. The Big Yin obviously likes to have someone there in his corner for support if nothing else. Yes, I don't disagree that there's very little that the BY needs in terms of technique, but a coach is also there to work on the head and tactics too. If the BY feels that having someone in his corner is a boost, it can only be a plus for him surely?

"One day, Marat will wake up, and he will start playing tennis." I agree. Lack of ability ain't the problem, it's always been the self-belief. The boy has had his wake up call and he's believing in himself again. A coach can't teach him that, but they can support him when he needs it.

PS I don't think anyone can 'force' the Big Yin into doing something he's not happy with. I don't remember him ever saying that having Sasha there was a permanent arrangement.

The Big Yin will know soon enough if it works. In the meantime, I wish him well ... and roll on for some hard court tennis. Too much golf on at the moment ...

[inez]

Hi maryb... I meant to say - I really enjoyed your Wimbledon posts- sounds like you sure has a great time - thanks for the efforts in posting for those of us on the other side of the world!!

I don't WANT to be gloomy, but I do want to be realistic - this guy is not going to wave a majik wand over Marat - I DO agree that it's early days - who knows, maybe this WILL be good for Marat - my point is really that it was SASHA'S other commitments that prevented him travelling all summer with Marat - and given their long history and close friendship, my contention is that if Marat had his way, it would be Sasha who was there - Marat, you are correct, never said that they had a permanent arrangement - Sasha only committed to majors - and this was at the time that Marat was saying he didn't NEED a full time coach.
SO - I agree that Marat realises time is running out - he needs to make the most of the 2 - 3 years he has left. Sasha knows it too- and as Sasha realised he was NOT going to be able to go full time with Marat...well.....he most likely advised Marat that he ought to get someone to replace him - when they worked togther before, it was Sasha who ended the arrangement, not Marat, and I don't think it was Marat this time either - that's why I feel a little sad for Marat, and say that this change was 'forced' on him.

I AM a bit sceptical about this guy nobody knows anything about who can't be described as a "top notch" coach - he has no proven track record. While Marat probably knows him from his days coaching Coria and Canas (what do they have in common?) But how long will it take for them to get to know each other and for Marat to trust him?? I just can't see what he can ADD to Marat - game OR psychologically - wise!!
Sorry, this just does not feel good to me.....it has short-term written all over it......

Still, you are fair to say lets give him a chance - believe me, i love Marat and NOTHING would make me happier than to see him build further on his steady progress since the Monaco disaster......all I am saying is, Marat will get better when he DECIDES to believe in himself and that will be down to HIM and NO coach, as you say, can teach him that - and i wouldn't be at all surprised to see Sasha back at some point in the future, before Marat retires.

In the meantime, I totally agree - davai Marat - I want to see a LOT more smiles with raised eyebrow and head wobble, thank you very much!!!!!!!!!

[luxsword]

what i like about the news is that marat said he knows he's got to change things, work on his tennis, and that this new coach doesn't seem to be a close friend. that means marat's ready to listen to counsels, follows advices about his tennis, put efforts into stuff he didn't want to put effort in before. you know how kids can't hear some stuff from their parents, but "obey" or just listen when it's someone else talking ?? i feel like for marat, it will probably work better with a coach not so close to him... esêcially if he's ready to hear things not so pleasant... dunno if i made myself clear, but anyway, it's all in marat's hands, now, we can but wait

[inez]

I hear you - and you may be right - Sasha was a friend first and a coach second to Marat, and obviously he will continue to be a friend...my problem is that I don't think Marat's poor form has anything to do with his coaching(or lack of coaching) and everything to do with confidence and belief..and THAT is just not coachable!

ANYHOW, as you so rightly say, It's ALL in MArat's hands, as it always HAS been....I just hope, like everyone else, that he finds his game and enjoys himself - and WHEN he does, as I always believe he WILL - it will have little to do with whoever is his coach at the time, and EVERYTHING to do with Marat!!! (I just hope he doesn't miss having his buddy along with him too much, that's all!)

[Alya10]

Hi Inez,
I feel you are a bit anxious about this change (maybe "anxious" is not the best word, but I couldn't think of a better one). Anyway I don't think that Marat was "forced" or "pushed" into leaving Sasha because of his other commitments. It's true Sasha has other commitments but he always had them and both he and Marat knew that. I'm more inclined to think it was Marat who thought this arrangement wasn't working and that at this point he needed a more full time coach. The way he spoke on the statement was probably just a nice way to put things, throwing the onus onto Sasha's other commitmens, instead of saying point blank that the partnership wasn't working or that Sasha wasn't being helpful anymore.
As for Gumy, let's be positive and hope he can help Marat.
kisses

p.s. I noticed I made this sound like Marat kicked Sasha out, which wasn't what I meant to say. Like Marat said, they are friends and as friends they probably talked it over and decided that a change was for the best.
Just wanted to make my meaning clear

[wakingaube]

"With a new coach I feel I can bring something more to my game," said Safin.

...

Safin, a former world number one, is without a title since winning the 2005 Australian Open.

He was sidelined for six months with a knee injury but he has struggled to regain top form since returning to action in February 2006.

"I feel this summer is crucial for my career and I am determined to do something," said the Russian, whose first tournament of the US hardcourt season is the Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles from 16 July.

"I felt encouraged after my matches in Wimbledon and although I did not beat Roger, I did feel that I started to play better in the third set.

"Although I felt encouraged I also realised I need to do something with my game to make sure I get back where I want to be - in the top 10.

"I look forward to working with Hernan with his experience. I do not have a lot of points to defend this summer so I want to work hard and do well. My ranking is now 22 and my goal is to get higher.

"I know I can improve and I will do my very best to be there again."

From: news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/6899097.stm


He sounds really confident!

[Annie]

I don't know what to expect and to be honest I do not want to expect anything for now. I have been by Marat's side long enough to get over excited and hyped up about anything. But there is one thing that I am certain of and this thing kinda makes me pleased.

The fact that Marat seeked a professional coach means that he is not ready to give up. He wants to improve, he wants to get back up there and as a fan I am very happy about that.

It was not Sasha's decision I know that for a fact. It was a decision made by Marat and his team and to be honest in general it is a wise one in my opinion. Whether Hernan is the right man for that job or not - only time will tell but the decision as such is very perfect in its timing.

I do not agree that Marat dumped Sasha just as the things were improving. I think he played much better tennis at the end of last year than now... but that again is only my opinion.

I don't think there's any point trying to contemplate whether this is good or bad. It's a decision Marat made and we have to respect it. The consequences won't take long to appear.

In spite of everything, I want to wish Hernan the best of luck. This is one hell of a ride he bought himself a ticket for.

[alesalessandra]

I didn't get that excited with the choice, but I'm looking forward to give a try. Now it is just wait and see, always hoping for the best. I still want to see Marat playing for a while so yeah, Annie is right , it is good to see that he is not ready to give up!
DAVAI MARAT!!!!!

[Dina]

exactly my thoughts Annie! thanx for writting all of them for me!

[davis]

So much fuss and speculation before anything substantial has happened (and this forum is the "tamest" one by far...)

Just let the guy get to work before judging his abilities and give Marat some credit by believing that he and his team (including Sasha!) actually put some thought into whom to hire.

Thanks, Annie, for trying to calm the waves

[lau]

inez said:

Well, here's an opposite view...I am not expecting any immediate improvement from Marat - this guy has done what, exactly, for Guga or Coria?

He was Cañas´ coach during his best period (when he became top ten previous to the doping suspention).
Having said that, I personally don´t see the coach election from the point of view of what a coach can do for a player. In my opinion, it´s a match-up issue ;D ;D , just about how it turns out for that particular player with that particular coach.
I´m not exactly a Gumy "fan", nor a "hater", lets just see how it turns out. Better coaches in the papers turned out to be a disastrous experience for Marat.

admin said:

The fact that Marat seeked a professional coach means that he is not ready to give up. He wants to improve, he wants to get back up there and as a fan I am very happy about that.

totally agree

[Alya10]

lau said:

Having said that, I personally don´t see the coach election from the point of view of what a coach can do for a player. In my opinion, it´s a match-up issue ;D ;D , just about how it turns out for that particular player with that particular coach.

Totally agree with this.
lau