Ukrainian tennis star Marta Kostyuk gave her reasons why she stopped working with male coaches and highlighted the instant impact brought by new coach Sandra Zaniewska.
Kostyuk appointed Zaniewska, a 31-year-old Pole who had a short-lived career as a tennis pro, immediately after Wimbledon. Zaniewska has previously worked with French player Alize Cornet and Petra Martic - the latter enjoying her most fruitful tennis years under her tutelage between 2017 and 2019.
Kostyuk, who made her WTA debut at age 15, opened up on her coaching situation in an exclusive interview on WTAtennis.com. The 21-year-old opined that working with male coaches has been a massive challenge due to a communication drawback.
Kostyuk alludes that most male coaches don't talk hence why she has relied on counselling from her mother, who has been by her coach for most of her playing career. So far, her alliance with Zaniewska has shown genuine promise.
She has earned two of her three career top 10 wins under the Pole's guidance, including a straight-sets stunner over Ons Jabeur in Beijing. Kostyuk urges fellow WTA players to make similar moves by hiring female coaches when they get a chance.
"I'm a person who talks, and it was very difficult for me because when you work with a male coach, most of them don't talk. They cannot express what you feel and adjust. I've been coached by my mom for most of my life, by a woman. I'm very happy and I really hope that examples of mine and Sandra will bring more coaches on tour and the girls will trust more women."
Kostyuk reached the round of 16 at a WTA 1000 event for the first time at the China Open. Although her campaign ended with a three-set defeat to Liudmila Samsonova, it was the first time in that tournament she had managed back-to-back wins on Tour since Washington.
But even on the back of a very positive week, Kostyuk says Zaniewska's influence is not solely measured in terms of results, but rather, how she's managed to change her perspective in seeing things differently.
"Honestly, if I look at this trip result-wise, it's a disaster. But there's another side that no one sees and I'm really proud of myself. Every day is a struggle, but I was really happy to have Sandra by my side on this journey."
"She says, 'Remember how in the beginning of the trip something would happen and you would not be able to play at all? Now look, you're laughing about it.' This is about the perspective. It's really nice to acknowledge these things and be aware of them because it makes you appreciate yourself more and be proud of yourself more."
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