Coach of Month
ATP Coach Highlight: Craig Boynton
American coach prides himself on growing a participant each on and off the court docket
September 16, 2024
ATP
Craig Boynton has been teaching professionally since 1993.
By ATP Workers
Returning to the London condo 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 realizing 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, realizing full nicely 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 come back again at you with. Ask anybody, the man is hilarious.”
Boynton, one of the crucial revered voices within the sport who can also be recognized 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 a number of the largest names within the sport.
Boynton has constructed a adorned profession, mentoring gamers similar 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 number of weeks in the past.
“It’s been a labour of affection — if that, not even a labour. It’s simply been numerous 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 totally 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 can keep in mind Jim saying on the time: ‘Anyone can win a five-set match,’” Boynton mentioned. “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 an incredible competitor, an incredible employee.”
After a number of years teaching Courier, Boynton moved to Tampa Bay, Florida, in 2007 to go 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 luxurious of realizing John for about two years earlier than we began working collectively,” Boynton mentioned. “I used to be capable of watch him, see his sport develop. I knew him, and we acquired alongside nicely. It was actually enjoyable watching him impose his presence and are available into his personal in 2009 and 2010.”
Isner was nicely exterior the Prime 100 when the 2 started.
By the top of the 12 months, 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 certain,” Isner mentioned of Boynton’s teaching. “He was so instrumental in my success, getting me from exterior the Prime 100 to the Prime 20, the place I by no means left for a very long time. I began working with CB and made my leap to the highest tier of the sport.”
Boynton’s jovial perspective and holistic teaching method, which balances who the participant is each on and off the court docket, was useful for Isner.
“For me specifically, he would know when to push me and when to reduce,” mentioned 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 unbelievable, and he loves being on the court docket and all the time makes apply enjoyable.”
Beneath Boynton’s three-year tenure, Isner reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final, made an ATP Masters 1000 closing, and cracked the Prime 10 for the primary time in his profession.
After his time with Isner, Boynton took on a job 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 Prime 100. Beneath Boynton’s steerage, he reached his first Grand Slam semi-final, received two ATP Masters 1000 titles, and in August of this 12 months, hit a career-high World No. 6.
“Hubi and I had 5 and a half nice years. It was an exquisite experience,” Boynton mentioned. “I perceive these skilled relationships will come to an finish, however I’m happy 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 usually, and I’m happy 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 experience! Grateful for all we have now achieved as a group! Thanks, CB,” Hurkacz wrote on his Instagram story with a candid picture of the 2 sharing smiles on the court docket.
Boynton continues to like teaching and takes pleasure in realizing he’s making a optimistic influence on his gamers each on and off the court docket.
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.
