12 For '12: Coaches of the Year

It’s a seasonal ritual as predictable as inflatable Santas or late night showings of Miracle on 34th Stree*t—the annual “best of/worst of” lists compiled by. . . well, pretty much by everyone, in and out of sports. In keeping with our own tradition here at TENNIS.com, I’ll be making my own nominations in any number of relevant categories—12 in all, for 2012—for both the men and women.

We’ll start with some general awards and move on to the most resonant—and sometimes controversial—player awards. As most of you know, we’ve already announced our Player of the Year in both divisions of the game (Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams). We felt it was appropriate to make those selections as soon as the tennis year ended for each group of players. But while that is a done deal, I think you’ll find a few categories here that will keep you interested.    

There’s bound to be some disagreement about such exercises, especially when it comes to categories like “Most Improved Players” or “Best Tournaments.” But that’s okay, it ought to be part of the fun. As befits the season.<strong>—Pete*</strong>

Men’s Coach of the Year: Ivan Lendl

One of the trickiest of all coaching jobs is the task of pushing an already excellent player over a critical career hump. You don’t take the world No. 4 or No. 6 or even No. 10 and start breaking down and rebuilding his game. You don’t tell him to start bench-pressing twice his own weight in order to catch up to his rivals in the field.  

He’s not a player on his way, he’s someone who’s already arrived and done almost everything right, in terms of due diligence. Never has that been more true than in the case of Andy Murray, whose mission in 2012 was to make that critical breakthrough from Grand Slam bridesmaid to Grand Slam champion.  

The clock on that was ticking. Loudly. Murray was a three-time runner-up at the majors when Ivan Lendl agree to coach the emotional Scot at the end of 2011. And while there’s no shame in losing a Wimbledon final to Roger Federer (nor, for that matter, an Australian Open final to Novak Djokovic), that fourth runner-up placement in London reminded everyone of a sobering fact: No man who was a runner-up in more than four Grand Slams at the start of his career ever did win one.  

In an ironic twist, Hall-of-Famer Lendl was the last man to kick off his Grand Slam career with four straight final-round misfires, finally punching through at the 1984 French Open.  

Lendl and Murray didn’t give fans or pundits much time to contemplate that loss at Wimbledon, for the Scot followed it up with a career-transforming win just weeks later at the same venue in the Olympic Games. If the gold medal wasn’t quite the same as that 800-pound Grand Slam gorilla in the room, it still had resonance, and it provided confidence Murray would need in order to make his critical breakthrough a few weeks later in the U.S. Open final, against Djokovic.  

It’s fair to ask, “What did The Man Who Never Smiled (Lendl) have to do with all of this?” Mostly, it came down to this: The realism and toughness that became Lendl’s trademarks rubbed off on Murray through the course of this season. He didn’t just have a great champion in his corner, he had one who at one time had also been thought of as a choker and also-ran.  

Lendl taught Murray how to steel himself, and he did it less by complex mental or physical exercises or techniques than by keeping him on an even keel, with his mind focused on the small rather than big picture. Lendl demonstrated his faith in Murray by treating wins and losses with the same detached , professional attitude. And he shared the abundance of knowledge locked in his supremely rational mind.  

It would be a mistake to underestimate Lendl’s impact when it came to strategy, tactics, and execution, even if the team is understandably loathe to discuss such things. Murray’s forehand was more of a weapon in 2012 than ever before, and where he once seemed to play in something like a defensive fog, his game often looked more purposeful as the year developed. It has always been like a giant jigsaw puzzle, with pieces strewn all over the floor. Day-in, day-out, Lendl showed Murray how to fit the pieces of that puzzle together—in his own way, using his own tools and resources.  

After winning that critical fifth Grand Slam final, Lendl went on to bag seven more majors. I have a feeling that Murray would be more than content to follow Lendl’s lead in that quest, too.

Women’s Coach of the Year: Sam Sumyk

Sumyk’s original goal in life was to become a fighter pilot, but with his rough-cut, quintessentially Gallic features, he might just as easily have targeted acting. But he found his true calling as a women’s tennis coach, and hit the summit of his profession with his latest protégé—world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka.  

When Sumyk took on the job in 2010, his mission seemed clear: Take this extremely talented, ambitious, and aggressive Belarusian and find a way to curb her tendency to blow up—to run off the rails, to melt down. Azarenka was an outstanding hothead, given to pitching self-destructive and defiant fits that undermined her solid baseline game.  

True to a cardinal rule in the WTA coach’s handbook, Sumyk chose to identify the positive elements that were driving the often negative behaviors and reactions. “My first impression was I liked her attitude,” he told journalist Paul Fein early this year. “She had willpower, a burning desire to learn, and she was ready to do what it takes to become the best player she can be. I (also) knew she could become a much better tennis athlete.”  

All Sumyk needed to do was nurture the burning desire while smothering—or at least better managing—the flames kindled by her temperament and once low tolerance for frustration.  

In order to do that, a coach needs to be part psychologist. And Sumyk found that role natural and comfortable. He’s said that the things began to fall into place when Azarenka began to accept her emotions—to understand what she was going through during those frustrating or maddening times on the court. In short, she needed to identify and understand her emotions, and the consequences they had on her game. For Azarenka, that meant getting a grip on her negativity.  

But there was more to it than that. Developing a better, more reliable game helps to clear other barriers. To that end, Sumyk helped transform Azarenka from a ball-basher constantly living at the edge of danger into a fitter, better, all-around athlete. Her forehand is more stable now, and she’s showed an admirable willingness to move forward to back up her devastating groundstrokes with the volley and overhead.  

Azarenka won her first Grand Slam title this year, recording a blowout win over Maria Sharapova in the Australian Open final. It was all part of a 26-match winning streak that put the 23-year-old native of Minsk in the WTA driver’s seat for the year.  

Azarenka is well aware of what Sumyk’s prowess as a psychologist and nurturer has done for her. As she told reporters after her great victory in Australia:  

“He (Sam) helped me to find my way, not pushing his way. So I think I owe him a lot for that, for educating me. I think it’s important, especially for the young players, to have that education. That you have to learn how to do it yourself, because in the end of the day you’re the one who’s holding the racquet. Nobody else is going to do that for you.”  

Although he had to give up his dream to become an aviator, Sumyk has helped teach Azarenka how to fly high above the WTA pack.

12 for '12: Year-End Awards

**- Wednesday, November 28: Coaches of the Year

- Thursday, November 29: Doubles Performances of the Year  

- Friday, November 30: Tournaments of the Year  

- Saturday, December 1: Upsets of the Year  

- Sunday, December 2: Quotes of the Year  

- Monday, December 3: Feuds of the Year  

- Tuesday, December 4: Newcomers of the Year  

- Wednesday, December 5: Most Improved Players  

- Thursday, December 6: Biggest Disappointments  

- Friday, December 7: Comebacks of the Year  

- Saturday, December 8: Runner-Ups of the Year  

- Sunday, December 9: Stories of the Year**

**Player of the Year, Men: Novak Djokovic

Player of the Year, Women: Serena Williams**