Ryan Harrison told a small group of U.S. reporters at Roland Garros that he has hired Scott McCain as his coach through the U.S. Open. Harrison, who just began working with McCain a few weeks ago, will share the former UC Berkeley men’s tennis coach with India’s Somdev Devvarman. McCain has also coached many lesser-known American players, such as Paul Goldstein.?
Harrison, who successfully worked with USTA coaches last year, has been searching for a coach since he parted ways with Martin Damn of the Nick Bollettieri Academy after the Australian Open. He also tried out Christo Van Renesberg for a week in February.
"Moving forward, Scott’s helped me tremendously and I have played competitive matches since he’s been with me," said the 19-year-old, who as a lucky loser fell to two-time Roland Garros finalist Robin Soderling in first round on Tuesday. "Hitting-wise, my game is going to where I want it to and Scott can get me there. I couldn’t have more respect for his knowledge of the game."
Harrison also criticized fellow American Wayne Odesnik, who returned to the tour in January after having his two-year ban for carrying performance-enhancing drugs to Australia reduced by one year. Harrison trash-talked Odesnik during his loss to him at the Savannah Challenger last month.
"His situation is openly known to what he did and I think every player can agree that he didn’t serve the sentence necessary for his actions," Harrison said. "I hadn’t said anything in the match until he stared saying “Vamoses” and looking at me and doing things that are normal for some guys to compete, but I won the second set and he takes four-minute bathroom break and he does things that are not respectful. At that point I kind of lost my cool and said some things...If you are caught with something that is illegal you shouldn’t be able to reduce the ban because of cooperation. He should have been punished for two years."
Harrison was fined $2,100 at Roland Garros for throwing his racquet over the fence after he lost on the in the last round of qualifying. "That wasn’t a good moment," said Harrison, who will next attempt to qualify for the grass-court tournament at Queens. "An occasional broken racket during a match image-wise isn’t good, but it can help you re-focus, but after a match it’s pointless because it doesn’t do anything but make you look like an idiot."