Who would WTA players choose to coach them from their closest rivals?

DUBAI: Last December, Novak Djokovic shocked the sports world by announcing he had hired his long-time rival and recently retired Andy Murray to be his coach.

The pair played each other 36 times on the professional tour, faced off in seven Grand Slam finals, and represented half of the fabled “Big Four” that dominated tennis headlines for over a decade.

Djokovic said one of the main reasons he chose Murray was because he needed someone in his corner who had gone through the same experiences.

The partnership made its debut in Australia last month and following, his Qatar Open exit in Doha on Tuesday, Djokovic told the ATP Tour’s in-house media channel that Murray will continue to coach him indefinitely.

“It is indefinite in terms of how long we are going to work together, but we agreed most likely in the States and some clay court tournaments. We will see how it goes after that,” said the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

In light of this partnership, Arab News asked players on the Women’s Tennis Association tour at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open and ongoing Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships which of their rivals they would choose as a coach.

Some players chose those possessing a high tennis IQ, others opted for players they struggle to beat, and some said they valued a person’s positivity and energy over tactical nous.

World No.2 Iga Swiatek mentioned retired German player Andrea Petkovic, now a popular commentator, close rival and current No.1 Aryna Sabalenka as another pick.

“Petkovic is not playing anymore but I heard she has a really great eye and I always liked her, so I think we would get along. I don’t know, maybe Aryna. She’s older than me and maybe she’s going to finish earlier (than me) and that would be