TR.net poll: WTA Coaches of Year Candidates


Who got the most out of their players in 2012?

Take the TR.net poll on the right.

Sam Sumyk for Victoria Azarenka
The Positives: After working diligently with the talented yet sometimes erratic Belarussian for a little over two years, Sumyk finally got her to a place where her fitness was excellent, she wasn’t as predictable with her game planning and she only went for winners when balls were firmly in her wheelhouse. For the first quarter of the year, the balls always seemed to be right where she wanted them. Azarenka snared her first Grand Slam title in Melbourne with a very impressive run, grabbed the No. 1 ranking and played lights out until April. She pushed Serena Williams harder than anyone did during the summer in a big match in the US Open final. As she said, he helped her mature and to learn to take her destiny into her own hands.

The Question Marks: She failed to beat Serena Williams even once in five big meetings and did not win title on clay or grass. While she ended the year ranked No. 1, losing to Williams and Maria Sharapova at the WTA Championnships put her in a questionable position heading into 2013.

Thomas Hogstedt for Maria Sharapova

The future of their relationship was very much in doubt after she started 2011 slowly, but she kept the faith in the veteran Swedish coach and he in her. With a steady hand, he convinced her to work the points more and

The Question Marks: World No. 2 Sharapova seems to have almost conceded that she