Below is an interview with Jeff Coetzee.
Jeff is the coach of the #1 men’s doubles team in the world, Robert Farah and Juan Sebastian Cabal. Jeff is a former ATP player who won multiple doubles titles. He has coached on the pro tour since 2013 and helped Farah and Cabal win the 2019 Wimbledon and US Open.
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The interview with Jeff below dives deep into what it takes to develop a great doubles team. Tennis players and coaches at all levels should listen and absorb all the information Jeff offers from his experience.
In this conversation, we talk about:
- 1:16 – How he took Farah & Cabal from outside the top 60 to #1 in the world.
- 7:36 – Why Farah & Cabal stuck with Jeff for 7+ years when so many players keep jumping from coach to coach.
- 12:44 – The story around winning the 2019 Wimbledon men’s doubles final.
- 18:37 – How focusing on different areas of doubles and being balanced helped them reach #1 in the modern game.
- 21:30 – Doubles strategy: How to think about staying back vs moving forward in the modern doubles game.
- 24:37 – How to adjust strategies during the match.
- 25:38 – The importance of taking strategies to the practice court.
- 26:55 – Jeff’s story: How he got started in tennis, made it on the pro tour, and ended up coaching doubles.
- 33:28 – Doubles strategy: How to improve your volleys if you’re not sure what to do at the net.
- 36:53 – How to read the return & send messages to the other team from the net as the server’s partner.
- 39:21 – Routines on match day including how they practice during tournaments.
- 43:54 – How they scout and prepare for the next opponent.
- 46:36 – Why you shouldn’t abandon a strategy just because it doesn’t work.
- 49:33 – The one thing Farah & Cabal do better than other doubles teams.
- 52:01 – “Doubles is a game of mistakes. How do you force that person to make the mistake?”
- 52:40 – Different games & drills he has Farah & Cabal practice.
- 55:46 – Jeff’s favorites.
- Favorite place to be on the doubles court.
- Favorite ball to hit a winner from.
- Tennis & non-tennis book.
- Favorite tournament.
- A tennis story he’s never told anyone.
The Interview with Jeff Coetzee
Here is the 62 minute conversation with Jeff.
Interview Notes
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Below are links to things mentioned during our conversation.
- Jeff coaches the current #1 doubles team in the world: Robert Farah & Juan Sebastian Cabal
- Jeff is from Okiep, South Africa
- He trained at John Newcombe Tennis Academy when he was younger
- He is the director of tennis in South Africa
- Favorite “Tennis” Books: Rafa Book* & Strokes of Genius*
- Favorite non-tennis book: Anything from Richard Branson* & Siya Kolisi’s book* (South Africa Rugby Captain)
- Favorite Tournament: Australian Open
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