Top 5 high profile coaching changes on the ATP tour in the off-season

There has been a lot of chopping & changing going on with the coaching staff of some of the top ranked players on the ATP tour. We take a look at 5 of the most interesting developments during the off-season.

5) Nishikori hires Chang

Kei Nishikori has hired former French Open champion Michael Chang as his part-time coach for the 2014 season.

Chang is believed to be working with the 23-year old for 17-20 weeks during the season with full-time coach Dante Bottini continuing in his current role.

Nishikori has been touted as one of the future superstars of tennis. The nimble-footed baseliner reached a career high ranking of 11 during 2013. Hiring Chang, who had a similar game & was a street fighter, could just be what it takes to help the current World No.17 break into the top 10 for the first time in 2014.

4) Cilic re-unites with Ivanisevic

Marin Cilic has once again decided to team up with Goran Ivanisevic.

Ivanisevic, who had previously coached Cilic in the 2010 season, will be part of Cilic’s team for the 2014 season starting with the Brisbane International which starts on December 29th.

Cilic started the 2013 season at No.15 in the rankings but had slipped to No.39 by the end of it. The Croat had a season to forget after making fairly early exits in the first three Grand Slams of the year. He was also handed a 9-month ban after testing positive to a banned stimulant, nikethamide, in May.

Cilic will be looking forward to getting his career back on track with fellow countryman Ivanisevic in the 2014 season.

3) Ferrer splits from Javier Piles

World No. 3 David Ferrer has split from long time coach Javier Piles.

The Spaniard has been with Piles for 15 years dating back to his junior days. Under the guidance of Piles, Ferrer reached his first Grand Slam final at the 2013 French Open and ended the year at a career-high ranking of 3.

Ferrer will bring fellow Spaniard Jose Altur on-board as his full time coach for the 2014 season.

2) Federer-Edberg

While this one hasn’t been confirmed as a full-time appointment yet, most people think there is a realistic chance of it happening.

Roger Federer invited his idol Stefan Edberg to Dubai for a week as he began preparing for the upcoming season. Edberg, a six-time Grand Slam champion himself, has said that Federer still has it in him to win majors.

The Swede has also said that he is ready to work with the 17-time Grand Slam champion if asked.

A great serve-and-volley player like Edberg might work wonders for Federer who will have to take a more aggressive approach against the likes of Novak Djokovic & Rafael Nadal to have any hopes of adding to his 17 Grand Slam titles. Also, Edberg’s appointment will revive one of the most fascinating rivalries in men’s tennis. Which one? We’ll tell you.

1) Djokovic appoints Becker as coach

World No.2 Novak Djokovic clearly made the biggest headline during the tennis off-season when he announced that he would be hiring former World No.1 Boris Becker as his full time coach.

The Serbian announced that while long time coach Marian Vajda would continue to remain in the team, Becker will take over as head-coach. The partnership has generated quite a buzz with most people eager to see what the German legend can bring to the table.

Djokovic will be keen to regain the No.1 ranking from Rafael Nadal & also make up for losing 2 Grand Slam finals in 2013. With Becker, who has won 6 Slam titles himself, in Djokovic’s corner, the Serb has every chance of coming back to his dominant best.