ATP Coach of the Month Highlight: Craig Boynton | ATP Tour

Coach of Month

ATP Coach Highlight: Craig Boynton

American coach prides himself on growing a participant each on and off the courtroom

September 16, 2024

Returning to the London condominium he was sharing with coach Craig Boynton after lastly closing out his epic 11-hour Wimbledon victory over Nicolas Mahut in 2010, John Isner was feeling good about life.

“I truly felt okay bodily, not figuring out I used to be going to really feel terrible the subsequent day,” Isner recounted to ATPTour.com this week. “So I instructed CB, ‘I really feel like one million {dollars}’.”

“Yeah, in quarters,” Boynton quipped again, figuring out full properly that the 70-68 fifth-set victory would take a toll.

“And he was proper. I did really feel like one million {dollars} in quarters the subsequent day, simply terrible,” Isner laughed. “He’s so witty; he is without doubt one of the wittiest guys I do know. He all the time has a fast quip to return again at you with. Ask anybody, the man is hilarious.”

Boynton, one of the vital revered voices within the recreation who can also be identified for his Santa Claus beard and congenial persona, is the topic of ATPTour.com’s ATP Coach Highlight this month.

Boynton’s life has been intertwined with tennis since his collegiate days at Clemson College. After a short skilled enjoying profession, Boynton discovered his true
calling in teaching — a path he’s been on for greater than 30 years —  whereas working with among the greatest names within the sport.

Boynton has constructed a embellished profession, mentoring gamers akin to Jim Courier, Mardy Fish, and Isner.

Most not too long ago, the American coach spent five-and-a-half years working with Hubert Hurkacz earlier than the 2 amicably parted methods a couple of weeks in the past.

“It’s been a labour of affection — if that, not even a labour. It’s simply been a whole lot of pleasure, attending to know these nice individuals and serving to these nice gamers,” Boynton mirrored of his teaching journey.

Boynton’s first actual teaching break got here in 1993, when he began working with Courier.

“With Jim, I used to be the touring coach, and he introduced a complete completely different stage to the Tour,” Boynton stated of working with the previous World No. 1.

Boynton was notably impressed by the American’s health and drive.

“I can keep in mind Jim saying on the time: ‘Anyone can win a five-set match,’” Boynton stated. “I’m the one one that may win the identical five-set match tomorrow. I used to be capable of see that firsthand, and he was a tremendous competitor, a tremendous employee.”

After a couple of years teaching Courier, Boynton moved to Tampa Bay, Florida, in 2007 to move the tennis programme at Saddlebrook Tennis Academy.

At Saddlebrook, Boynton crossed paths with Isner, a 22-year-old American simply starting to make a reputation for himself. By March 2009, Isner sought out assist from Boynton, who eagerly accepted.

“I had the posh of figuring out John for about two years earlier than we began working collectively,” Boynton stated. “I used to be capable of watch him, see his recreation develop. I knew him, and we bought alongside properly. It was actually enjoyable watching him impose his presence and are available into his personal in 2009 and 2010.”

Isner was properly exterior the High 100 when the 2 started.

By the tip of the yr, he had surged greater than 100 spots within the PIF ATP Rankings and made his first Spherical of 16 look on the US Open.

“He can adapt with the participant for positive,” Isner stated of Boynton’s teaching. “He was so instrumental in my success, getting me from exterior the High 100 to the High 20, the place I by no means left for a very long time. I began working with CB and made my soar to the highest tier of the sport.”

Boynton’s jovial angle and holistic teaching strategy, which balances who the participant is each on and off the courtroom, was helpful for Isner.

“For me particularly, he would know when to push me and when to cut back,” stated Isner, who in his post-career actions co-hosts the Nothing Main podcast with Steve Johnson, Sam Querrey and Jack Sock. “He knew me, he listened to me. His work ethic is unimaginable, and he loves being on the courtroom and all the time makes apply enjoyable.”

Underneath Boynton’s three-year tenure, Isner reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final, made an ATP Masters 1000 ultimate, and cracked the High 10 for the primary time in his profession.

After his time with Isner, Boynton took on a task as a USTA Participant Improvement coach, working with gamers like Donald Younger and Sock.

Then, 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 semi-final, gained two ATP Masters 1000 titles, and in August of this yr, hit a career-high World No. 6.

“Hubi and I had 5 and a half nice years. It was a beautiful journey,” Boynton stated. “I perceive these skilled relationships will come to an finish, however I’m pleased with how shut I nonetheless am with the gamers I’ve coached.

“I feel one factor I’ll 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 doesn’t occur typically, and I’m pleased with each the connection we constructed and the success we had collectively.”

Hurkacz shared the identical sentiment as his former coach.

“One-of-a-kind journey! Grateful for all now we have achieved as a staff! Thanks, CB,” Hurkacz wrote on his Instagram story with a candid picture of the 2 sharing smiles on the courtroom.

Boynton continues to like teaching and takes delight in figuring out he’s making a constructive influence on his gamers each on and off the courtroom.

Whereas he doesn’t envision himself stepping away from teaching, he’s trying ahead to spending extra time with household and travelling to the locations he hasn’t already coated as a part of his teaching journey.