Few women coach on the pro tennis tour

Updated June 05, 2025

As Sandra Zaniewska neared the end of her professional tennis⁤ career, she
⁢ ⁢was certain about one thing: she wanted nothing⁣ to do with tennis after
retiring.

Throughout her playing career, she had been asked about coaching, but she
always declined. The idea of enduring the constant travel for someone
⁣ ⁤ else’s career seemed unappealing.

⁢ Though, after retiring in 2017 at age 25, her friend Petra Martic asked
⁤ for temporary help ⁢returning to⁢ the tour after an injury. Zaniewska,
⁢ without other plans or much money, agreed to help for a few weeks. Those
‍⁢ weeks turned into⁤ months, than years, as Martic’s ranking rose from just
‍ inside the top 100 to No.14 in the world.

⁣ Zaniewska, once reluctant, found herself hooked and⁣ realized she had
⁤ discovered her‍ true calling.
⁣

⁣”I loved it, and I remember thinking, ‍’Wow, I was meant to do⁢ this job,'”
Zaniewska told ESPN.”From that moment on, I just stayed and I didn’t
even want to explore anything else, to be honest. But it really hit me
after [Petra and I] stopped working ⁣together about two years later ‍becuase
⁢ then I ⁣was able to look back at the time and I was like, ‘This really was
⁢ the best adventure that I had in my entire ‍life.'”
⁣

Since then, Zaniewska has coached Alize Cornet and currently coaches Marta
‍ ⁤ kostyuk, ranked No. 25, since 2023. Zaniewska recognizes her journey as
⁢ ‍ unique and remains one of the few women coaching at the elite level. ⁣At
the 2025 french Open,only 12 of 128 players in the women’s ‍main draw had
a female ⁤head coach. Mirra⁤ Andreeva,‍ coached by conchita Martinez,⁣ was
‍ ⁤ the last remaining. No men’s players have a female head coach.
‍

‍ ⁢ This disparity is striking in a sport that ⁢prides itself on equality. The
⁣ lack of women’s coaches, especially for women players, ⁣is a discrepancy
that coaches like Zaniewska, along with the WTA, USTA, and Tennis
‍ ⁢ Australia, are actively trying to address.
⁢

⁣ “I feel like ⁣I was really, really lucky in the path that I had,” Zaniewska
⁤ ‍ said. “I ⁢really just ⁤want more females to get those opportunities as
⁢ ther might be more stories like the one that I had.I know‍ there⁣ are
‍ other coaches out⁤ there who are⁣ eager to ⁢learn and very good⁣ at what they
do, they’re just not getting⁣ the chances to do it.I’m⁤ hear⁢ [in this
position] now and I want to hold‍ the door open and let as many women
through as possible.”
‍ ‍

There isn’t a single reason ⁣for the scarcity‍ of women coaches on tour, but
⁣ ‍several ‍factors are ⁣likely at play,⁣ rooted in the sport’s culture and
⁤ society. Nicole Pratt, a former player and women’s coach lead at Tennis
‍ ⁢ Australia, has studied the ⁤issue while ‍developing the federation’s Coach
⁣ Connect program.

“It’s pretty deep,” said Pratt, who⁤ coaches Storm Hunter and Kimberly
Birrell.⁢ “The complexity⁤ of ‘Why?’ is multidimensional ⁢with⁤ four different
layers to it.”
⁢

Pratt believes it starts with the coach’s self-belief. From there, it
extends to interpersonal and organizational layers, where gender bias often
⁢ ⁣ arises.
⁤

‍ “we know that most people in sport are male, and that can often
⁢ inadvertently⁢ create barriers ⁤for women coaches,” Pratt said. “I hear ‍this
all the time ⁣from⁤ women coaches. They are frequently ⁤enough told,‍ ‘You’ll work well
with younger⁢ girls,’ and they ⁢are pigeonholed into ⁣that.”

⁣ ⁣ ⁢ ‍Pratt explained that many young girls are not raised to be as brave or
⁢ take risks as‍ young boys, which ‍can lead to women⁢ not seeking
opportunities or believing in their capabilities.

Additionally, the demands of traveling the world for 11 months a year ⁢can
⁤ be daunting for women who want to have a family. While the WTA‍ announced
a new maternity leave program, it⁤ does not extend⁢ to coaches, who are
⁣ usually employees of individual players and⁤ lack benefits.

The disparity also‍ stems from the need for a hitting partner,⁤ considered
⁢ ⁢ essential by many players.

⁢ While top players can afford both a head coach and a hitting partner,many
‍ players seek coaches who can also fill the hitting⁣ partner role. Pratt
⁣ noted that many ⁣players hired “young, inexperienced male coaches” solely
⁣ because they could hit.
‍

“In the⁤ last few years, ⁣the pay has gone up and now many ⁣players ⁣can
afford to have several‍ people on their⁤ team so it is changing,” pratt
said. “But there still is this ⁣idea for‍ some players of, ‘How can ⁤I get
⁤⁤ the most value for⁣ my money?’ as opposed to, ‘Who can I get that’s a
⁣ really good coach?'”

⁣ WTA ‍Director of Member ‍Services Mike Anders said⁢ he wasn’t aware of any
⁢ ⁣ ⁣ women currently working as hitting partners⁢ on tour. Similar to male
practice ⁤players‍ in women’s basketball, most women prefer to practice with
men.

Being a ‍hitting partner can be a steppingstone for⁢ aspiring ⁣coaches,
⁤ providing a ⁢path‍ into the sport and ⁤leading to more opportunities.Sascha
‍ Bajin, Michael Joyce, and Andrew bettles, all current head coaches, began
⁣ ⁢ as hitting partners.

⁢ ⁣ ⁤‍ “There are a lot of male coaches on the tour that start off as hitting
partners,⁢ and then they kind of turn ⁤into coaches after a while, but they
always can hit when⁢ needed,” Zaniewska said. “And I think players might
view female coaches‍ that can’t ⁤hit with them, like, ‘Okay, is she really
⁣ able to help me? What if I need someone ⁤to hit with me at a tournament?'”

Being around‍ the⁢ tour helps hitting partners⁣ create connections and secure
future coaching ⁣opportunities. Anders called it a “big roadblock” for
‍women coaches.

While celebrating the WTA’s 50th‍ anniversary in 2023, Billie Jean King
⁢ ⁢addressed the lack of women coaches. That year, only six players in the
‍ Wimbledon⁢ main draw worked with a female⁣ coach.
⁢

⁤ “Terrible.Extremely disappointing,” King told The Associated Press. “It’s
⁣ about society, absolutely. You have to see‍ it to be ⁣it. So if you don’t
⁣ see a woman up there as a coach, it doesn’t even cross ⁣your ⁢brain. how do
⁢ we get ⁣the top players to hire them? we’ve got to solve the problem.”

⁣The WTA launched the Coach Inclusion program in 2021 to increase the
⁣⁣ number of‍ women coaches. At the time, only four women coaches worked with
⁣ players in the top 200.

“The intent around the program was really to remove that barrier of access
⁣that we were seeing,” Anders said. “Tennis is a pretty small world and the
program essentially combines targeted coach education, with the real-life
⁢ experience of them ⁣actually being placed in the environment, as well as
fostering mentorships and making connections.”
‍

⁢ During its first year, the program placed 10 coaches with players ⁢at
⁢ ⁢ various levels. The coaches received stipends to cover travel⁣ costs and
access to mentors.

⁢ ⁢ One⁤ of the coaches, Melisa Cabrera Handt, worked ⁤with Renata Zarazua and
‍helped her reach the⁣ second round of the 2021 US Open.

‍ “I think it’s a great initiative,”‍ Zarazua said. “I think it’s very
important to have more women involved‍ in tennis, especially in coaching.
⁤ It’s a great opportunity for women to⁤ get involved ⁢and to show that they
‍ ‍ can do it.”

the program has ‍expanded to include ⁣more coaches and players, with‍ the goal
‍ of creating a more diverse and inclusive ⁣coaching environment.
⁢

What’s next

‍ ⁢ The WTA plans to ⁢continue expanding the Coach Inclusion program, providing
⁣ more opportunities⁢ for women coaches and working⁤ to break down the barriers
that have historically⁣ limited their access to the sport.
⁢