Everybody has the same data. It’s only data. I think there’s a lot of things that are important, but I’m not someone who is believing only in data.

You have to look behind the data

I’ll give you an example:

If you see somebody who makes 80 % 1st serves. Does it mean that the serves are necessarily good? It’s better to have 60 % aces instead of 80 % percent that your opponent is returning.

So you can’t solely focus on the data, but data is a part of the knowledge that helps you.

It’s also important to have the right feeling for the right person because data is often from different persons and you have to see your player and the upcoming opponent. Then how your player will stack up against the opponent on this given day, with the current conditions in mind. In that way there are so many different variables that the full calculation can not be made by a computer and you will be a 100 % sure. That’s where I see the job of a coach is. To use data as a tool, combine it with experience and knowledge and then pass the combined message to your player. Ultimately that is where you are either successful or not successful as a coach.

(Inspired by the podcast episode #74: “Managing a Top 100 Player” w. Dirk Hordorff on The Adam Blicher Show — Dissecting High Performance in Tennis)

Want to listen to the full episode: http://shorturl.at/jktA8