Many players develop an interest in tennis because of a family member, usually a parent or an elder sibling; therefore, it is not surprising that for many players, their first coach is often a relative. Over the years, we have seen the pros and cons of having a relative as the primary coach.

The relationship that exists between a player and their coach is often under appreciated by the average fan.  Yet, every player understands the importance of having the right coach on their team.  The right coach for each player is directly proportional to the success of that player.  The right coach has the ability to understand the needs (emotional and physical) of their protégé and is able to nurture their talent(s) by communicating in an effective manner to gain maximum productivity.   One very successful parent/coach in history never played a day of professional tennis in his life but he was able to produce two number one ranked players in his illustrious career as a coach (Richard Williams).  There are so many professional tennis players on tour who have not lived up to their potential despite their obvious talent.  Why? It takes more than talent.  It takes a personal and committed desire to succeed, which gets fostered by the right coach.  Sometimes the right coach is a relative, and sometimes not.  The right coach also has to recognize when they have gotten the maximum productivity from their charge and accept that it may require the termination of their relationship for the player to take the next step.

Some players change their coaches like pairs of shoes; while others have remained loyal to their coaches despite the decline in their results. If the right relationship is fostered, players and their respective coaches should be able to part ways on amicable terms once they are no longer a productive team. 

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