Sebastian Eguez Paz is the present coach of Elizabeth Mandlik and has been teaching the daughter of 4-time grand slam champion Hana Mandlikova for a number of years. Since forming a partnership with Eguez Paz, she has seen a dramatic rise within the rankings. He spoke with Tennis View to debate his life as a coach, Mandlik, and the game of tennis.
What’s your background in tennis?
I performed faculty tennis for a D1 faculty – Northern Arizona College. We received the convention twice, which was a really good faculty expertise. After I graduated from faculty in 2018, I attempted to play skilled tennis and I bought to 1100s ATP. Afterward, throughout Covid, I used to be working as sparring and coach of some professionals round Delray Seaside and Boca Raton. That’s how I bought to fulfill Elli.
What are some highlights of your taking part in profession?
I bought a couple of wins in the primary draw of some 15ks, and I bought into the finals of Doubles of 1 in Argentina.
When did you resolve to transition from participant to teach and the way did you make that resolution?
I used to be taking part in professionally and on the similar time touring as a touring coach for Elli (Mandlik) all through some ITF tournaments. I wasn’t doing higher, and Elli was beginning to win tournaments back-to-back. Then Elli needed to go for greater tournaments, and I needed to resolve if I needed to maintain attempting to achieve a better ATP rating or go for her dream and assist her out as a lot as I can and have her dream as my dream too.
What would you say your type of teaching is?
I’d say that I adapt to the participant. First, I assist to determine the participant who she/he’s on the courtroom. Then, I work round that and on the similar time, I get to know the participant’s character so I also can regulate for the participant so we are able to join and have a good time on the courtroom.
You’re at the moment touring with Elizabeth Mandlik. How do you strategy touring with a participant versus working from a house base?
Effectively, for me, it’s not work. For me it’s a dream that I can go to all the massive occasions around the globe. Most significantly, that I can work with a participant who respects me, has a fantastic character, at all times works tremendous exhausting, trusts me, and appreciates day by day I work her. That is the rationale why I don’t suppose I work. I really like tennis and to have the ability to work with somebody like Elli is a dream.
Mandlik has risen from world no. 504 to her present world rating of 113 since 2021. What would you attribute that to?
Truly, I began along with her when she was 695WTA, I imagine I did loads to attain that however solely as a result of we labored as a staff, and we grew as a staff. The connection and the chemistry on the courtroom was the important thing to that success. For me, that’s solely the start of one thing big within the subsequent years.
What’s your purpose for the rest of 2023 with her?
I need to end the yr prime 80 along with her so we are able to ensure that we’re set for all tournaments arising to start with of 2024. I’ve different private targets that I can not share as a result of she is going to learn it and I don’t need to scare her (laughs).
What recommendation would you give new coaches primarily based in your expertise?
Do it should you actually adore it. In any other case, it’s not going to work. This isn’t for everybody. Gamers really feel when you’ve ardour, and you like what you do. Gamers really feel all the pieces about you, so if you’re not going to provide your 100% it’s not going to work out and also you received’t achieve success. The important thing to success is to have ardour and provides your 100% day by day. Working since you care concerning the participant and never working as a result of you want to make extra hours so you will get paid extra.
As a coach, how do you see the game of tennis evolving within the coming years and the way do you strategy any modifications?
I see it evolving very quick as a result of health coaches, dietary supplements, and new expertise for rackets and stats. I really feel like there are not any secrets and techniques anymore and everybody is aware of what they should do to turn out to be a champion. I see tennis increasingly more aggressive than ever, so the one factor I can do with my participant is to coach more durable than everybody else and be prepared mentally to face anybody within the world.
What do you suppose makes a profitable tennis coach?
Caring is a really robust evaluation. Should you care you give your 100%, should you care you might be keen to apologize should you do one thing unsuitable, and should you care you might be keen to hearken to the participant increasingly more, so that you don’t construct up an ego.