SANDRA ZANIEWSKA ON COACHING MARTA KOSTYUK, GOAL SETTING AND IMPROVEMENT | INSIDE-IN TENNIS PODCAST

WTA coach Sandra Zaniewska joins the podcast for a great conversation about life on tour, as she has guided Marta Kostyuk to another successful season. Zaniewska reveals how the pair have handled the ups and downs of a grueling tennis season, and why having continuity is a valuable tool at the pro level. The coach also gives her thoughts on coaches wearing microphones, how she has to be an expert planner, and why you can't be too rigid when there are unpredictable moments in her line of work. And Zaniewska discusses what's next for Kostyuk and why she takes pride in being a strong representation for female coaches in pro tennis. Hosted by Mitch Michals.

Timecodes:
0:00 Intro
0:45 Watching the epic Krejcikova/Townsend tiebreak with everyone else at The US Open
1:37 The amount of work that players and teams have to do at the venue
2:20 Navigating the tennis schedule means long days
3:05 Zaniewska's thoughts on coaching Marta Kostyuk for the 2025 season
3:50 Managing Kostyuk's injuries throughout her 2025 campaign
5:40 Stressing a longterm approach as a coach
7:20 Scheduling practices and training time when health is a concern
9:13 How Zaniewska has learned and adapted on the fly in this profession
10:10 Developing core coaching principles, but being willing to adjust and adapt
10:56 Zaniewska's planning skills and that role when it comes to coaching
11:40 Team Kostyuk relies on collaboration
13:00 The breakthroughs in coaching can take place outside of the courts
13:53 The importance of continuity between Zanieweska and Kostyuk
15:25 How Kostyuk views unforced errors
16:08 Zanieweska's view on video and analytical data
17:43 Positive reinforcement and visualization as coaching tools
18:39 Kostyuk's decision to change her racquet mid-season
19:46 There's a lot of trial and error in practice when testing out new racquets
20:42 Coaching a player that's open to changes
21:45 Zaniewska's experience getting mic'd up in Madrid
23:10 The direct and calm tone that Zanieweska's coaches with
24:20 A player often mimics the energy that they see from their coach
24:55 The reaction after playing a tough match against a great player, but coming up short
25:30 Kostyuk played World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka admirably close
26:18 A big result can change the trajectory of an entire season, and you never know when it will happen
27:15 Balancing the off-court obligations with the tennis at The US Open
28:20 Work smarter, not harder
28:52 How does a coach react to their player having longer matches early in a tournament?
29:40 Why grinding it out should be a last resort for Kostyuk
30:38 Why Marta is a performer and an entertainer
31:15 The depth in women's tennis makes everyone better
32:15 There's still a lot at stake for Kostyuk in the final months of her 2025 season
33:30 Why "Serve Plus 1" is the focus for everyone in women's tennis
34:00 When does Kostyuk's offseason start?
34:40 Zanieweska's other career as a writer with published books and her own Substack
36:16: Writing gives Zanieweska the chance to expand her thoughts in a longer form
37:07 Zaniewska is a great representative for female coaches in pro tennis
38:13 Thanks to Sandra Zaniewska for appearing on The Inside-In Tennis Podcast!




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