Paul Annacone (born March 20, 1963) is an American former touring professional tennis player and current tennis coach. He is the former coach of 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer, 14-time Grand Slam winner Pete Sampras, and 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens. Annacone is currently a coach at ProTennisCoach.com, a commentator at Tennis Channel, and works with Taylor Fritz.

Paul Annacone
Paul Annacone
Country (sports) United States
ResidenceLos Angeles, California
Born (1963-03-20) March 20, 1963 (age 61)
Southampton, New York
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Turned pro1984
Retired1998
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
CollegeUniversity of Tennessee
Prize money$1,645,515
Singles
Career record157–131
Career titles3
Highest rankingNo. 12 (March 3, 1986)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open4R (1987)
French Open3R (1988)
WimbledonQF (1984)
US Open3R (1985, 1990)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals1R (1985)
WCT FinalsQF (1986)
Doubles
Career record267–177
Career titles14
Highest rankingNo. 3 (April 6, 1987)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenW (1985)
French OpenQF (1985)
WimbledonSF (1986)
US OpenF (1990)
Coaching career (1995–)
Coaching achievements
Coachee singles titles total37
Coachee(s) doubles titles total2
List of notable tournaments
(with champion)
Coaching awards and records
Awards

Coach Jim Verdieck Touring Pro Coach of the Year 2007[1]

Records

Career

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Player

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High school

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As an eighth grader, Paul played first singles for Shoreham-Wading River High School and was undefeated in league play. Annacone graduated from East Hampton High School in 1981.[2]

College

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After graduating from East Hampton, the 6'1, 175 lbs. Annacone played three years of college tennis for the University of Tennessee in the Southeastern Conference over 1982–84. He was named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Player of the Year in 1984. Annacone played 51–3 in singles while winning the ITA Indoor Singles Championship that year. He was named all-SEC and all-American all three years of his college career with the Volunteers, amassing a 115–22 career singles record.

Professional

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The right-handed Annacone achieved his career best singles ranking in 1985 of world No. 12 and US No. 6. A serve-and-volleyer who would often chip and charge when returning serve, Annacone played on the ATP tour until 1992, amassing a career singles win-lose record of 157–131 in Grand Slam, Grand Prix, and ATP Tour events. He won three singles titles during his career and was a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 1984. [citation needed]

Annacone won more as a pro playing doubles, capturing 14 tournaments and achieving a high ranking in 1987 of world No. 3. With long-time partner Christo van Rensburg, Annacone won the 1985 Australian Open doubles title. Teamed with David Wheaton, Annacone was a 1990 US Open finalist, as well.

Coaching

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Annacone coaching Tim Henman

Annacone achieved even greater success as Pete Sampras's long-time coach. Initially hired to coach Sampras while his current coach Tim Gullikson recovered from a brain tumour, Gullikson educated and mentored Annacone on how to coach Sampras for fifteen months while he battled with brain cancer.[3]

The two worked together from January 1995 until December 2001, and again from July 2002 until Sampras' retirement.[4] From December 2001 to January 2003 Annacone was Managing Director of the United States Tennis Association High Performance Program. He coached Tim Henman, beginning at the Paris Masters in 2003 (which Henman won) until the end of Henman's career in September 2007.

Annacone became the Lawn Tennis Association's Head Coach in November 2006.[5] He also became Great Britain Davis Cup team coach in April 2008, following the resignation of Peter Lundgren,[6] while staying on with the LTA. Under his control the team lost in the 2008 Davis Cup World Group play-offs against Austria. The following year they got relegated to Group II. In May 2010, Annacone announced his official departure from November 2010 onwards from the LTA and the British Davis Cup team after losing to Lithuania in Group II first round.[7]

Paul Annacone was hired by Roger Federer to be his full-time coach on August 28, 2010 after a successful one-month trial period. Annacone led Federer to two straight year-end championship in 2010 and 2011, a return to the world No. 1 ranking, and his seventh Wimbledon Championships.

In 2006 Annacone released the Paul Annacone Tactical Tennis DVD Series; a 4-DVD collection that demonstrates the strategies used by the pros in actual match situations. Attack the All-Court Player, Beat the Baseliner, Know Your Own Game, and Neutralize the Net-Rusher present numerous scenarios along with drills and practice games for improving match-specific strategy on both sides of the net.[8]

In 2013, Annacone became a resident coach at ProTennisCoach.com – an online professional coaching site.[9]

In November 2013, it was announced that Annacone had begun working with American rising star Sloane Stephens on a trial basis.[10] She was ranked the world's number-12-player at the time.[11] However, the two ended the relationship in July 2014.[12]

Annacone is also involved with PlaySight Interactive, a sports technology company, where he works together with Darren Cahill on the Coaching and Player Development team.[13]

In 2017, Annacone joined Stan Wawrinka's team for the grass court swing.[14] For the 2018 season Annacone coached Taylor Fritz.[15]

Personal life

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Both of Annacone's parents were educators. His father was a superintendent at schools for thirty five years, as a professor and a teacher. His mother was a guidance councillor. Three more mentors were his brother, who is a coach and teacher, Nick Bollettieri and Mike DePalmer Sr. All five of these people played a unique role in shaping Annacone's success as a coach.[16]

Paul's son Nicholas attended his father's alma mater. His daughter, Olivia, attended the University of California, Los Angeles.

Annacone resides in Woodland Hills, California with his wife, Elisabeth Annacone, and son Emmett. He was inducted into the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame on Long Island in the Tennis Category with the Class of 1996.

Career finals

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Singles: 6 (3–3)

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Legend
Grand Slam (0)
Tennis Masters Cup (0)
ATP Masters Series (0)
Grand Prix (3)
Titles by surface
Hard (1)
Clay (0)
Grass (0)
Carpet (2)
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Opponent Score
Loss 1. Apr 1985 WCT Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Carpet (i)   John McEnroe 6–7(2–7), 6–7(5–7), 2–6
Win 2. Sep 1985 Los Angeles, California, U.S. Hard   Stefan Edberg 7–6(7–5), 6–7(8–10), 7–6(7–4)
Win 3. Oct 1985 Brisbane, Australia Carpet (i)   Kelly Evernden 6–3, 6–3
Loss 4. Oct 1985 Melbourne, Australia Carpet (i)   Marty Davis 4–6, 4–6
Loss 5. Jul 1988 Stratton Mountain, U.S. Hard   Andre Agassi 2–6, 4–6
Win 6. Oct 1989 Vienna, Austria Carpet (i)   Kelly Evernden 6–7(5–7), 6–4, 6–1, 2–6, 6–3

Doubles: 30 (14–16)

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Legend
Grand Slam (1)
Tennis Masters Cup (0)
ATP Masters Series (1)
Grand Prix (12)
Titles by surface
Hard (5)
Clay (1)
Grass (2)
Carpet (6)
Result W/L Date Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1. Oct 1983 Cologne, West Germany Carpet (i)   Eric Korita   Florin Segărceanu
  Nick Saviano
3–6, 4–6
Loss 2. Jul 1984 Livingston, U.S. Hard   Glenn Michibata   Scott Davis
  Ben Testerman
4–6, 4–6
Win 3. Dec 1984 Sydney Outdoor, Australia Grass   Christo van Rensburg   Tom Gullikson
  Scott McCain
7–6, 7–5
Win 4. Feb 1985 Delray Beach, U.S. Hard   Christo van Rensburg   Sherwood Stewart
  Kim Warwick
7–5, 7–5, 6–4
Win 5. Apr 1985 Atlanta, U.S. Carpet (i)   Christo van Rensburg   Steve Denton
  Tomáš Šmíd
6–4, 6–3
Loss 6. Apr 1985 Las Vegas, U.S. Hard   Christo van Rensburg   Pat Cash
  John Fitzgerald
6–7, 7–6, 6–7
Loss 7. Jul 1985 Newport, U.S. Grass   Christo van Rensburg   Peter Doohan
  Sammy Giammalva Jr.
1–6, 3–6
Loss 8. Sep 1985 Los Angeles, U.S. Hard   Christo van Rensburg   Scott Davis
  Robert Van't Hof
3–6, 6–7
Win 9. Sep 1985 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet   Christo van Rensburg   Brad Gilbert
  Sandy Mayer
3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win 10. Nov 1985 Australian Open, Melbourne Grass   Christo van Rensburg   Mark Edmondson
  Kim Warwick
3–6, 7–6, 6–4, 6–4
Loss 11. Jan 1986 WCT World Doubles, London Carpet (i)   Christo van Rensburg   Heinz Günthardt
  Balázs Taróczy
4–6, 6–1, 6–7, 7–6, 4–6
Loss 12. Aug 1986 Stratton Mountain, U.S. Hard   Christo van Rensburg   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe
3–6, 6–3, 3–6
Win 13. Feb 1987 Key Biscayne, U.S. Hard   Christo van Rensburg   Ken Flach
  Robert Seguso
6–2, 6–4, 6–4
Loss 14. Mar 1987 Orlando, U.S. Hard   Christo van Rensburg   Sherwood Stewart
  Kim Warwick
6–2, 6–7, 4–6
Win 15. Mar 1987 Chicago, U.S. Carpet (i)   Christo van Rensburg   Mike De Palmer
  Gary Donnelly
6–3, 7–6(7–4)
Win 16. Apr 1987 Tokyo Outdoor, Japan Hard   Kevin Curren   Andrés Gómez
  Anders Järryd
6–4, 7–6
Loss 17. Jul 1988 Schenectady, U.S. Hard   Patrick McEnroe   Alexander Mronz
  Greg Van Emburgh
3–6, 7–6, 5–7
Win 18. Oct 1988 Paris Indoor, France Carpet (i)   John Fitzgerald   Jim Grabb
  Christo van Rensburg
6–2, 6–2
Loss 19. Oct 1988 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i)   John Fitzgerald   Kevin Curren
  Jim Grabb
5–7, 4–6
Win 20. Feb 1989 Memphis, U.S. Hard (i)   Christo van Rensburg   Scott Davis
  Tim Wilkison
7–6, 6–7, 6–1
Win 21. Feb 1989 Philadelphia, U.S. Carpet (i)   Christo van Rensburg   Rick Leach
  Jim Pugh
6–3, 7–5
Loss 22. Mar 1989 Scottsdale, U.S. Hard   Christo van Rensburg   Rick Leach
  Jim Pugh
7–6, 3–6, 2–6, 6–2, 4–6
Loss 23. Sep 1989 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet   Christo van Rensburg   Pieter Aldrich
  Danie Visser
4–6, 3–6
Loss 24. Oct 1989 Vienna, Austria Carpet (i)   Kelly Evernden   Jan Gunnarsson
  Anders Järryd
2–6, 3–6
Win 25. Jul 1990 Toronto, Canada Hard   David Wheaton   Broderick Dyke
  Peter Lundgren
6–1, 7–6
Loss 26. Aug 1990 US Open, New York Hard   David Wheaton   Pieter Aldrich
  Danie Visser
2–6, 6–7(3–7), 2–6
Loss 27. Jul 1992 Newport, U.S. Grass   David Wheaton   Royce Deppe
  David Rikl
4–6, 4–6
Win 28. Apr 1993 Atlanta, U.S. Clay   Richey Reneberg   Todd Martin
  Jared Palmer
6–4, 7–6
Loss 29. May 1993 Coral Springs, U.S. Clay   Doug Flach   Patrick McEnroe
  Jonathan Stark
4–6, 3–6
Win 30. Oct 1993 Beijing, China Carpet (i)   Doug Flach   Jacco Eltingh
  Paul Haarhuis
7–6, 6–3

Doubles performance timeline

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Key
W  F  SF QF #R RR Q# DNQ A NH
(W) winner; (F) finalist; (SF) semifinalist; (QF) quarterfinalist; (#R) rounds 4, 3, 2, 1; (RR) round-robin stage; (Q#) qualification round; (DNQ) did not qualify; (A) absent; (NH) not held; (SR) strike rate (events won / competed); (W–L) win–loss record.
Tournament 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Career SR Career win–loss
Grand Slam tournaments
Australian Open A W NH SF 3R A 3R A 1R A 1R 2R A A A A 1 / 7 13–6
French Open A QF A 2R 3R A A 1R A A 3R A A A A A 0 / 5 8–5
Wimbledon 2R QF SF QF 2R 1R 1R QF 1R 1R 2R A A A A A 0 / 11 16–11
U.S. Open 2R 3R 3R QF QF SF F 2R 1R 2R 3R A A A A A 0 / 11 24–11
Grand Slam SR 0 / 2 1 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 4 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 0 0 / 0 0 / 0 1 / 34 N/A
Annual win–loss 2–2 13–3 6–2 10–4 8–4 4–2 7–3 4–3 0–3 1–2 5–4 1–1 0–0 0–0 0–0 0–0 N/A 61–33
ATP Masters Series
Indian Wells These Tournaments Were Not

Masters Series Events

Before 1990
1R A 2R A A 1R A A A A 0 / 3 1–3
Miami A A 1R SF 2R A A A A A 0 / 3 5–2
Monte Carlo A A A 1R A A A A 1R A 0 / 2 0–2
Rome A A A A A A A A A A 0 / 0 0–0
Hamburg A A A A A A A A A A 0 / 0 0–0
Canada W 1R A A 2R A A A A A 1 / 3 6–2
Cincinnati A 1R A 2R A A A A A A 0 / 2 1–2
Stuttgart (Stockholm) 2R A A A A A A A A A 0 / 1 1–1
Paris 1R A A A A A A A A A 0 / 1 0–1
Masters Series SR N/A 1 / 4 0 / 2 0 / 2 0 / 3 0 / 2 0 / 1 0 / 0 0 / 0 0 / 1 0 / 0 1 / 15 N/A
Annual win–loss N/A 7–3 0–2 0–2 5–2 2–2 0–1 0–0 0–0 0–1 0–0 N/A 14–13
Year-end ranking 76 5 26 9 21 18 29 217 247 72 97 514 - - 1384 1357 N/A

References

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  1. ^ "Award Recipients". ptrtennis.org. Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, United States: Professional Tennis Registry. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  2. ^ Diat, Jon M. (August 24, 2017). "The Serve and Volleying Life of Paul Annacone". The East Hampton Star. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "Unlock Your Excellence — Insights From Coach to Federer and Sampras". Finding Mastery. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  4. ^ "More Info on Pete Sampras". ESPN. Bristol, Connecticut, United States. June 21, 2004. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  5. ^ Hodges, Vicki (November 6, 2007). "Coach Paul Annacone signs new LTA deal". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  6. ^ Whyte, Derrick (April 3, 2008). "Annacone replaces Lundgren as Davis Cup coach". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022.
  7. ^ Paul Annacone to stand down from LTA role timesonline.co.uk
  8. ^ Annacone, Paul (2006). Tactical Tennis DVD Set. Human Kinetics. pp. 200 minutes. ISBN 978-0-7360-6480-4.
  9. ^ Paul Annacone ProTennisCoach.com [dead link]
  10. ^ "Stephens hires Federer's ex-coach on tril basis". Bleacher Report. November 19, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  11. ^ "Players | WTA Tennis English". Archived from the original on December 19, 2012.
  12. ^ Douglas Robson (July 23, 2014). "Sloane Stephens splits with coach Paul Annacone". USA Today.
  13. ^ "Annacone and Cahill join PlaySight - Tennis Industry news". www.tennisindustrymag.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  14. ^ "Roger Federer's former coach Paul Annacone being considered to join Stan Wawrinka team". December 2017.
  15. ^ "Taylor Fritz happy to have chance to collaborate with Paul Annacone".
  16. ^ "Unlock Your Excellence — Insights From Coach to Federer and Sampras". Finding Mastery. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
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