Former world No.1 Dinara Safina and former world No.19 Alona Bondarenko will join MatchPointNYC as coaches in the Brooklyn club’s five-week training for top WTA and junior players. The coaching program will run between November 28th and January 6th, six days a week, and will include off-court training, swimming, two on-court practices, match play, and other activities.
Ukraine’s Bondarenko, tennis mom and proud owner of the 2008 Australian Open doubles trophy, joined the MatchPoint team during the summer of 2015, uniting with her younger sister Kateryna, who had already been part of the club ever since deciding to resume playing tennis following child birth. On top of her sister already being there, the 32-year-old Alona was attracted by state-of-the-art tennis facilities and a great relationship with the club’s co-founder Numrud Nino Muhatasov.
Safina, who has just returned from a spiritual trip to Cusco, Peru, can’t wait to start her coaching career, and, quite frankly, I can’t wait to see the emotional Russian as a coach.
The program has room only for 8 WTA and up to 10 junior players. (photos: © Neal Trousdale)
