Why Rasheed is right for Grigor Dimitrov....22/10/2013
At the beginning of 2013, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga explained what it was that Roger Rasheed brought to their coach-player relationship, which had begun at the end of the previous year. The answer was simple: belief.
The pair parted company in August, with Tsonga, who had been injured just before the announcement, saying that the language barrier and difficulties “linked to our geographic locations” were “restraining our collaboration”.
Rasheed had previously worked with another Frenchman, Gael Monfils, and while it is true that he speaks very little French, the Australian enjoyed good spells with both men, both huge talents.
Now, he has teamed up with Grigor Dimitrov and it seems he is already instilling belief in his new charge after the Bulgarian won his first ATP Tour title, beating David Ferrer in the final in Stockholm. Dimitrov, whose other half, Maria Sharapova, was there to see his victory, has bundles of talent – as much as Monfils and Tsonga – but getting him to this point has seen him work his way through a number of coaches.
Peter Lundgren described him as being “better than (his former pupil) Roger Federer at the same age (18); Peter McNamara said he had 10 shots to choose from on every ball he hit; Patrick Mouratoglou said he would be a top, top player and his most recent coaches, at the Good to Great Tennis Academy run by Magnus Norman, were credited with their work ethic.
Dimitrov has all the shots but his fitness has always been a question mark. In May this year, he told me he had been having a number of tests to get to the bottom of why he has had so many cramping issues. His legs, he admits, are skinny but not through the want of trying (or weight training).
Aesthetically, there are few players better to watch. His style soon earned him the nickname Baby Fed, a name he now has had enough of, but there is no question his service action and one-handed backhand bear some of the hallmarks of Roger Federer.
Rasheed’s job is not only to instil the belief that he can make that step up to the next level but to get Dimitrov performing in the grand slams, the area where has been woefully lacking, with the third round is best effort to date. The Aussie, who worked with Lleyton Hewitt, is renowned for his fitness work and his emphasis on discipline and strength of character. That might be just what Dimitrov needs right now.