Coach of the month
ATP Coach within the Highlight: Craig Boynton
American coach prides himself on growing participant each on and off the sphere
September 16, 2024
ATP
Craig Boynton has been knowledgeable coach since 1993.
By ATP employees
Returning to the London house he shared with coach Craig Boynton after lastly securing his epic 11-hour Wimbledon victory over Nicolas Mahut in 2010, John Isner was feeling good about life.
“I felt nice bodily, not understanding that I used to be going to really feel horrible the subsequent day,” Isner instructed ATPTour.com this week. “So I mentioned to CB, ‘I really feel like one million bucks.'”
“Sure, within the quarterfinals,” Boynton joked again, understanding the 70-68 fifth-set victory would take its toll.
“And he was proper. I felt like one million bucks in quarters the subsequent day, simply terrible,” Isner laughed. “He’s so humorous; he’s one of many funniest guys I do know. He at all times has a fast quip to come back again with. Ask anybody, that man is hilarious.”
Boynton, one of the vital revered voices within the sport who can be identified for his Santa beard and lovable character, is the topic of ATPTour.com’s ATP Coach Highlight this month.
Boynton’s life has been intertwined with tennis since his school days at Clemson College. After a short skilled enjoying profession, Boynton discovered his true calling in teaching — a path he’s adopted for greater than 30 years — working with a number of the greatest names within the sport.
Boynton had a profitable profession and mentored gamers akin to Jim Courier, Mardy Fish and Isner.
The American coach labored with Hubert Hurkacz for 5 and a half years, however a number of weeks in the past the 2 parted methods on good phrases.
“It’s been a labor of affection — if it’s a labor of affection, it’s not a labor of affection. It’s simply been a whole lot of enjoyable attending to know these nice folks and serving to these nice gamers,” Boynton mirrored on his teaching journey.
Boynton’s first actual breakthrough as a coach got here in 1993, when he joined Courier.
“I used to be Jim’s touring coach and he introduced an entire completely different stage to the Tour,” Boynton mentioned of working with the previous world No. 1.
Boynton was notably impressed by the American’s health and drive.
“I bear in mind Jim saying again then, ‘Anybody can win a five-set match,'” Boynton mentioned. “I am the one one who can win that very same five-set match tomorrow. I noticed that firsthand, and he was an amazing competitor, an amazing employee.”
After teaching Courier for a number of years, Boynton moved to Tampa Bay, Florida, in 2007 to guide the tennis program at Saddlebrook Tennis Academy.
At Saddlebrook, Boynton crossed paths with Isner, a 22-year-old American who was simply starting to make a reputation for himself. In March 2009, Isner sought assist from Boynton, who eagerly accepted.
“I used to be lucky sufficient to know John for about two years earlier than we began working collectively,” Boynton mentioned. “I used to be in a position to watch him, see his sport develop. I knew him and we acquired alongside very well. It was actually enjoyable to observe him impose his presence and blossom in 2009 and 2010.”
Isner was nonetheless far outdoors the High 100 when the 2 began.
By the tip of the 12 months, he had risen greater than 100 locations within the PIF ATP rankings and reached the spherical of 16 of the US Open for the primary time.
“He can positively adapt to the participant,” Isner mentioned of Boynton’s teaching. “He was so instrumental in my success, he took me from outdoors the High 100 to the High 20, the place I have not been away for a very long time. I began working with CB and made my soar to the highest of the sport.”
Boynton’s upbeat angle and holistic teaching method, bearing in mind who the participant is each on and off the sphere, have been helpful to Isner.
“For me particularly, he knew when to push me and when to cut back,” mentioned Isner, who hosts the Nothing Main podcast with Steve Johnson, Sam Querrey and Jack Sock in his post-career endeavors. “He knew me, he listened to me. His work ethic is unbelievable and he loves being on the court docket and at all times makes follow enjoyable.”
Underneath Boynton’s three-year reign, Isner reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, reached the ultimate of the ATP Masters 1000 and entered the High 10 for the primary time in his profession.
After his time with Isner, Boynton took on the position of USTA Participant Improvement coach, working with gamers akin to Donald Younger and Sock.
In 2019, Boynton started teaching Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.
When the 2 started working collectively, Hurkacz was simply contained in the High 100. Underneath Boynton’s steerage, he reached his first Grand Slam semifinal, received two ATP Masters 1000 titles and in August of this 12 months reached a profession excessive of No. 6 on the earth rankings.
“Hubi and I’ve had 5 and a half nice years. It has been a tremendous trip,” Boynton mentioned. “I perceive that these skilled relationships come to an finish, however I am happy with how shut I nonetheless am with the gamers I’ve coached.
“I feel one factor I will take away from my time with Hubi is how significant it was to work with a European participant for 5 and a half years as an American coach. That does not occur typically, and I am happy with each the connection we constructed and the success we had collectively.”
Hurkacz shared the identical sentiment as his former coach.
“Distinctive trip! Grateful for all the pieces we achieved as a group! Thanks, CB,” Hurkacz wrote on his Instagram Story with a candid photograph of the 2 laughing collectively on the sphere.
Boynton continues to take pleasure in teaching and prides himself on having a constructive influence on his gamers each on and off the sphere.
Whereas he would not count on to ever retire from teaching, he’s trying ahead to spending extra time along with his household and touring to locations he hasn’t but visited as a part of his teaching profession.