Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

Photo courtesy ATP

The annual coaching roundabout took another traditional December spin with news that Borna Coric, currently the youngest player in the ATP World Tour’s top 50 is set to work with the experienced Miles Maclagan in 2016.

Croatia’s Coric, who only turned 19 less than a month ago but is currently ranked 44 in the world after peaking in 33rd position in late July, has already parted with three coaches in the space of little more than a year.

Zambian-born Maclagan, the 41 year-old former British Davis Cup player, has a varied curriculum vitae since coaching Wayne Black and Kevin Ulyett to the Australian Open Doubles title in 2005.

At the end of 2007, he agreed to coach current world no.2 Andy Murray in a liaison that lasted until after Wimbledon in 2010. Then he had year-long spells with Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber and Marcos Baghdatis before agreeing to work on the WTA circuit with Britain’s Laura Robson.

The relationship with Robson only lasted four months but Maclagan was not out of work for long and he then stepped into a ten month long stint with former US Open champion Samantha Stosur who was seeking a replacement for long-term coach David Taylor.

Curiously, Coric also spent a time working with fellow Croatian Zeljko Krajan who like Maclagan found it very difficult working with former Wimbledon junior champion Robson. Last November Coric  parted with Englishman Ryan Jones who had guided him through the junior ranks, that peaked with the 2013 US Open junior singles title after reaching semi-finals at both the Australian and French Opens.

Coric’s management company of Starwing Sports, led by London-based Lawrence Frankopan, then appointed Krajan, who also worked with another of Maclagan’s former charges Baghdatis. However that partnership was terminated in April when Krajan declared he wanted to spend more time at home with his family.

Former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson was then appointed but although Coric maintained his presence in the world’s top 50, results were not as good as he hoped with a third round exit at the French Open, a second round defeat at Wimbledon and a first round disappointment at the US Open, admittedly against former world no.1 Rafael Nadal.

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.