Served with Andy Roddick Larry Stefanki talks Coaching Iconic Players, Winning Indian Wells As A Wildcard, & More
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Mar 10, 2026 Larry Stefanki, veteran coach and former pro who guided stars like McEnroe and Andy Roddick, shares vivid coaching stories and his 1985 Indian Wells wild-card win. He discusses managing mercurial talent, the discipline of elite practice, and why players like Alcaraz and McEnroe stand out. Expect candid anecdotes, locker-room moments, and a chaotic match-day tale.
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Fix The One-Sided Weakness With Patient Repetition
- Shore up glaring one-sided weaknesses even if it requires months of boring repetition.
- Larry worked eight months on Fernando Gonzalez's backhand crosscourt until it became reliable for match play.
The Starch Ball Muffin And The Wheatgrass Era
- Larry forced Andy to lose weight and change diet (wheatgrass era) before joining, turning him from an 'Applebee's boy' into a fitter athlete.
- The famous 'starch ball' muffin story in Doha showed Larry's blunt, shaming humor to change habits.
Force Winners To Create Pressure
- Use point construction to induce opponent errors: make them hit the winner and force sphincteritis.
- Larry trains players to control ball flight and turn points into pressure by extending rallies and varying risk-reward.