Jimmy Connors to coach Sharapova!

Maria has just appointed Jimmy Connors as her new coach.

http://www.mariasharapova.com/news/maria-to-work-with-jimmy-connors.aspx

An eventful couple of months for Jimmy!

Good lord no!

This could get ugly.

I thought you said "Jimmy Connors to couch Sharapova" !

Is this the same Jimmy Connors who appeared helpless and had no answers and solutions when Lord Federer was schooling Connor's then Pupil Andy Roddick in the fine art of Tennis shotmaking/Tennis Artistry back in the 2007 Australian Open Semi Final?

I don't care if he improves her play, just get her to stop shrieking.

gboycottnut wrote:Is this the same Jimmy Connors who appeared helpless and had no answers and solutions when Lord Federer was schooling Connor's then Pupil Andy Roddick in the fine art of Tennis shotmaking/Tennis Artistry back in the 2007 Australian Open Semi Final?

I think it's the same one
If only Roddick had got a decent coach he'd have shown Fed who was the real boss  

ryan86 wrote:I don't care if he improves her play, just get her to stop shrieking.

Not much chance of that happening, as Connors himself was a common loud shrieker when he tried to hit the ball hard whilst serving!

Wouldn't have thought about this as a "match," but the more I think about it, the more I like it.

Connor's ebullient style and "go for it" attitude may just bear some fruit with Sharapova. She has one "A" game, and when it's on, it's pretty potent, and I think Connors will encourage her to do so. He's great at finding a weakness and then hammering it home, so it will be interesting to see how this pairing goes.

That said, wondering about the "prima donna" side of Sharapova, but believe if she puts the "grind" in, he may well just be the person to bring more of that "never say die" game, out of her.

Fun times ahead in watching this partnership!

Like Mauresmo coaching Llodra and Bartoli, IMO, this could help MaSha quite a bit. The first step in acknowledging that your game needs development, is to show the desire to hire a coach, the next logical step being actually hiring one.

It is very gutsy move to hire Jimbo, notwithstanding his Roddick years.

If Connors is going to be slated then Stefanki should be slated for Henman and Gonzalez, but he did make a difference in Roddick. Henin's old coach, Rodrigues, is handling Li Na.

The question is one of chemistry. For MaSha's sake, I hope this is constructive for both, even if it is not as successful as Lendl/Murray.

Intensity squared. Slightly scary thought.

yloponom68 wrote:Wouldn't have thought about this as a "match," but the more I think about it, the more I like it.

Connor's ebullient style and "go for it" attitude may just bear some fruit with Sharapova. She has one "A" game, and when it's on,

Actually this would help if he coaches Sarah Irani or Vika, Sharapova herself is "Go get it" player so not sure how much impact its gonna make but if Connors attitude be brought in players like Irani/Vika/Wozniaki they will all be multi grandslam champs [I know Vika is already one]

JubbaIsle wrote:I thought you said "Jimmy Connors to couch Sharapova" !

You getting naughty here, Jimmy might sure you for discussing privacy issues.  

bogbrush wrote:Intensity squared. Slightly scary thought.

  succintly put!

What a shame Jimbo can't work with Dimitrov too - a little bit more intensity wouldn't go amiss with Maria's squeeze, in fact she gives off a greater sense of urgency watching GD than he does playing!