Behind the Baseline - Top 5 Contemporary coaches

2. Ivan Lendl:

(Lendl deserves a fair share of credit for Murray’s achievement)

The former world no.1 took reigns of scot Andy Murray in 2012. When Andy Murray kept falling at the final hurdle, the tennis legend Ivan Lendl knew exactly how he felt – and, as his new coach, what it would take to make him a winner. Ivan Lendl’s patience and hard work helped Murray break his grand slam jinx guiding him to his first Grand slam title the US Open in 2012.But Lendl’s greatest achievement came on July 7,2013 when his disciple Andy Murray broke the British hoodoo over Wimbledon. Under Lendl’s guidance Murray won the prestigious Wimbledon becoming the first British man in 77 years to do so .Lendl’s biggest challenge now will be to administer Murray’s rehabilitation after a back surgery. The year 2014 might also a see a new form of Lendl-Becker rivalry.

1. Toni Nadal:

(king of clay Rafa embracing and acknowledging his coach and Uncle Toni after his victory).

Perhaps the most adorable and enigmatic tennis coach on ATP circuit is Rafael Nadal’s coach and uncle Toni. The Spaniard is popularly called “Uncle Toni” by tennis lovers all over the world. Unlike all others in this list Toni Nadal wasn’t a great tennis player still a great coach. Rafa recalls in his autobiography that Uncle Toni terrified him, However if it wasn’t for him he would have never become a great champion and legend. Uncle Toni is a hard task master. Toni trained his nephew Rafa on poor courts with bad tennis balls, just to teach Rafael that winning or losing is not about the quality of courts, strings, lights or balls but that it is about attitude, discipline and perspective. Rafa himself admits these training ordeals and Uncle Toni’s guidance helped him endure injuries and instilled the never say die spirit. This Uncle-nephew bonding is perhaps the best ongoing tennis rapport in the world.