I  don’t know what Ana Ivanovic’s coach Sven Groeneveld is thinking [drinking], but I do hope there are no other coaches in tennis or in any competitive individual sport who think like him. Groeneveld’s decision not to be in the stadium at Roland Garros for the women’s singles final on Saturday at the French Open because he also works for Adidas, the same clothing company that sponsors Dinara Safina, the opposing finalist, boggles the mind slightly, to say the least.

A Grand Slam is the epitome of every tennis player’s dream. And their coaches, some of whom have been with their wards since they were kids, will naturally look forward to a day the players will have a chance to achieve this dream.

After reading Matt Cronin’s piece and Groeneveld’s excuse before the final (see  http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/articles/2008-06-06/200806061212741728406.html ), I went to bed praying Ana Ivanovic would win, despite the fairytale drama a Safina victory would have bestowed on the sport to crown the last two weeks. 

‘If Ivanovic really wants to be a great player like Henin and others she has mentioned, it will surely be helpful to have a coach whose undivided attention can be counted on’


Some players would have wobbled not seeing their coach in the stand, but Ivanovic showed a strength of character that will endear her to me for a long time to come.  Groenenveld also missed the Serbian girl's drubbing by Justin Henin for the same bogus reason of clothing and shoes accessories almost exactly a year ago and one cannot help but question his motivation and whether such coaches are appropriate for the good of the sport, even with their technical capability.  

I wonder what could have been the outcome of Ali – Frazier without Angelo Dundee in Ali's corner. Or how history books would have written about the first Sugar Ray Leonard –Thomas Hearns fight without the legendary line from Dundee, ‘You are blowing it son, you are blowing it!’ How would Mike Tyson have got on without Cus D’Amato and Kevin Rooney.

One might argue that, unlike boxing, the tennis coach is resigned to a gentrified frustration – he or she can only look on and is unable to give advice to a player. Apart from the obvious fact that this rule actually needs to change – the WTA made some trials last year, but the rule does not cover all tournaments yet and does not apply to the slams or to men’s tennis – the purpose of being there is not just for that particular match, but to look at the flaws and strengths of a player's game for future matches. These cannot be gleaned just from watching on television.

Ivanovic is the new world No. 1 and has a major championship under her belt, sash around her belly button, or whatever young girls wear these days. This feat is a testament to years of hard work by her, her family and her team, of which Groenenveld is a critical part.

I really do not know what kind of job Groenenveld is doing for Adidas or whether Adidas is footing the bill for his work with Ivanovic. Whatever role it is, a conflict of interest that deprives him of watching the joys of Ivanovic on Saturday needs to be reappraised and a choice needs to be made, and not just by him.

If Ivanovic really wants to be a great player like Henin and others she has mentioned, it will surely be helpful to have a coach whose undivided attention can be counted on, and whose conflict of interest would not be a handicap at critical moments.

If Adidas is behind the stipulation that a coach cannot be seen rooting for one of his players if the adversary is also an Adidas sponsored player, this company needs to think again for the benefit of the sport. It has just deprived Groenenveld of a wonderful sensation on Philip Chatrier last Saturday, and it is a great pity, as it is not unavoidable.

Tennis, DFS Classic, Gerry Weber Open