David Sammel, Director of Tennis for MCTA and long time tour coach is proud to be part of another piece of British tennis history. Although he is no longer the coach of Naomi Broady, he selected her at 13 to be part of the LTA National Academy in Leeds and coached her for 3 years until he left the LTA to form the MCTA Touring Academy, where he offered Naomi a sponsored place. Her father Simon felt it was too early for her to endure extensive travel and declined but the two men have kept contact and when Naomi needed support for this recent trip to Mexico and Cuba, the MCTA was more than happy to do the job. The chemistry worked and the results were more than anyone could expect with Naomi winning 3 titles and posting a 15 match winning streak, a British women’s record. David hopes she does not stop there and goes on to set a higher target for other British players to chase. David (often with Jez Green as the trainer) is Britain’s most prolific active coach over the past 20 years guiding many players’ to career high rankings and into the top 200 and beyond. Here are some of the milestones.

Andrew Richardson’s proudest moment was being called up to represent Great Britain in its Davis Cup tie against Zimbabwe, the day before his 23rd birthday. On his debut in the Euro/African Group II tie at Crystal Palace in April 1997, he beat Byron Black 3-6, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second singles rubber and remains (as of September 2009) the last British debutant to win a live singles rubber. Nicknamed "Flex", he worked with John Hicks between the aged of 14-18, who instilled good discipline into his players. Aged 22 and languishing in the 400s, Richardson teamed up with David Sammel, who developed his game and helped him reach a career-high No. 133 in singles (3 November 1997) and a doubles career-high No. 96 (21 October 1996). He received three Wimbledon singles wild cards in 1992, 1997-98. He reached the 1997 third round losing to Greg Rusedski. (Courtesy of www.atpworld.com)

Martin Lee achieved a career-high singles ranking of No. 94 (11 March 2002), joining Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski in the Top 100, the first time three British players ranked in the Top 100 for 23 years… Courtesy of www.atpworld.com

Arvind Parmar was another player who advanced from 464 to a career high of 137 during his career coached by David.

Lancastrian Barry Cowan is best known for extending Pete Sampras to five sets at the 2001 Wimbledon Championships. As World No. 248 he eventually lost to the top seed 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(5), 4-6, 6-3 in the second round on Court One. He contracted glandular fever in November 1995 and did not play any tennis for two years. He qualified for the 2000 US Open, making a first round exit (l. to Knippschild). He was coached by David Sammel and Jez Green during the height of his career. Cowan’s best ATP performance came in doubles, with a runner-up performance (w/ Navarra) at 2001 Chennai (l. to B. Black-W. Black) Courtesy of www.atpworld.com

Miles Maclagan was coached by David and trained by Jez when he held match points against Becker. Made five appearances at Wimbledon (1993-95, 1999-2000), highlighted by taking Boris Becker to five sets in 1999. Missed two match points in the fourth set and reached a career high of 172. Currently coaches Andy Murray.

Gary Henderson career high of 237 in 1994, Nick Gould (259) and Colin Beecher (264) in 1996 and with his first two players on the women’s tour, Gabi Coorengel, starting in the low 500’s made 229 in singles and 117 in doubles and unranked Amy van Buuren hit a high of 372 and 114 in doubles.

David commented that “many ingredients, people, coaches and dynamics are involved in players succeeding and credit is always a shared mix of influences. Roxanne and I were with the most successful player in Mexico and Cuba yet we were also with Natasha Khan who came to the decision that tennis was no longer for her and even though her training and work ethic over the past 3 months was excellent, she failed to make the mental breakthrough needed to move forward. A coach is a facilitator, guide and motivator who shares his expertise to improve players, but the player has to be willing and able to convert. A good coach consistently raises player’s standards and achieves results but cannot do it without a good team and players who are able to deliver. The luck in coaching is who walks through your door, but if you are good the chances of better players walking into your life improve a lot. MCTA are excellent at showing players what is needed to be done to succeed and helping them realise if tennis is really for them. I would argue that Tash and a month earlier, Hetty Alton, both had a successful time with MCTA in that we were able to help settle their minds.”

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