Sania changes coach, again

S Narendranath to travel with Indian star as hitting partner too

Finally, it seems Indian tennis sensation Sania Mirza has decided to revert to former coach S. Narendranath, with whom she feels comfortable and who has helped her as a junior following her Wimbledon success.

The decision of taking Narendranath on board incidentally comes exactly a year after she decided to take along a 8216;travelling coach.8217; While, John Farrington was roped in sometime during July last year, it was Aussie legend Tony Roach who helped her prepare for 2006 prior to the Australian Open.

The world No 40 will thus have Narendranath in tow as coach-cum-hitting partner apart from being a guide as she begins to tackle the gruelling hard court season, which has already begun in Cincinnati.

Narendranath, who runs his own academy 8212; GVK Pro Tennis Academy 8212; at Hyderabad, thus replaces former Davis Cupper Asif Ismail, who was roped in for a five-week stint which ended after Wimbledon. Ismail 8212; who is part of the Hong Kong-based Peter Burwash Academy 8211; it is learnt was committed to his academy, which could not match Sania8217;s programme for the rest of 2006.

However, Narendranath was not sure of how long he would tour with Sania, but it seems that the agreement would be up to the US Open.

Having known Sania as a junior, Narendranath, speaking from Hyderabad to The Indian Express, confirmed the Mirzas8217; interest in him joining Sania.

8220;It just happened, I was asked and I said why not,8221; informed Narendranath. While it is a known fact that Sania when in Hyderabad has always sought to practice with Narendranath, the coach informed that, after the French Open Sania 8220;quite a few times,8221; practiced with him at his academy.

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Having been around Sania since a junior, Narendranath 8212; who is well attuned to Sania8217;s game and her mindset 8212; is observed by tennis experts as a good sign. For it would be Narendranath8217;s experience as a coach, which includes being part of the Indian juniors, coupled with his mental match-up with Sania that could help boost Sania8217;s sagging confidence.