Martina Navratilova to coach Agnieszka Radwanska | CNN

Martina Navratilova to coach Agnieszka Radwanska in 2015

3 minute read
Updated 2:00 PM EST, Sat January 3, 2015
Martina Navratilova turned her tennis skills to coaching after winning a record 59 grand slam titles during a glittering playing career.
Martina Navratilova turned her tennis skills to coaching after winning a record 59 grand slam titles during a glittering playing career.
Allsport UK /Allsport
She followed the likes of Boris Becker, who helped Novak Djokovic win at Wimbledon in July 2014. The pair have been working together since December 2013.
She followed the likes of Boris Becker, who helped Novak Djokovic win at Wimbledon in July 2014. The pair have been working together since December 2013.
Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images
The German is one of several former grand slam champions to recently take up a coaching role with a top player.
The German is one of several former grand slam champions to recently take up a coaching role with a top player.
Matt King/Getty Images
The pairing of 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer and Stefan Edberg seemed obvious. The Swede, a six-time grand slam winner himself, was a player Federer idolized when he was growing up. Both men are renowned for being extremely stylish players.
The pairing of 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer and Stefan Edberg seemed obvious. The Swede, a six-time grand slam winner himself, was a player Federer idolized when he was growing up. Both men are renowned for being extremely stylish players.
Chris Hyde/Getty Images
Eight-time grand slam champion Ivan Lendl helped Andy Murray to win his first two major titles, as well as an Olympic gold medal.
Eight-time grand slam champion Ivan Lendl helped Andy Murray to win his first two major titles, as well as an Olympic gold medal.
Michael Dodge/Getty Images
Since splitting with Lendl in March 2014, Murray has teamed up with former women's No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo.
Since splitting with Lendl in March 2014, Murray has teamed up with former women's No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo.
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic (left) is something of a veteran on the coaching circuit having started coaching fellow Croatian Marin Cilic in 2010.
Former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic (left) is something of a veteran on the coaching circuit having started coaching fellow Croatian Marin Cilic in 2010.
Julian Finney/Getty Images
Cilic won his first grand slam title at the 2014 U.S. Open, beating another final debutant Kei Nishikori.
Cilic won his first grand slam title at the 2014 U.S. Open, beating another final debutant Kei Nishikori.
Chris Trotman/Getty Image/file
Michael Chang (right), who stunned Edberg in the 1989 French Open final as a teenager, took up a coaching role with rising Japanese star Nishikori in December 2013.
Michael Chang (right), who stunned Edberg in the 1989 French Open final as a teenager, took up a coaching role with rising Japanese star Nishikori in December 2013.
Scott Barbour/Getty Images
Nishikori made it to the semifinals of the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in 2014, and reached a career-high fourth in the rankings the following March.
Nishikori made it to the semifinals of the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in 2014, and reached a career-high fourth in the rankings the following March.
Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty
Navratilova, who holds the Open Era record for total singles and doubles titles in the men's and women's game, did not have the same success with Agnieszka Radwanska.
Navratilova, who holds the Open Era record for total singles and doubles titles in the men's and women's game, did not have the same success with Agnieszka Radwanska.
Michael Dodge/Getty Images
The Pole, still seeking her first grand slam title, had dropped to ninth in the rankings when they split after only a few months together in April 2015.
The Pole, still seeking her first grand slam title, had dropped to ninth in the rankings when they split after only a few months together in April 2015.
Julian Finney/Getty Images)
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Story highlights

Tennis ace Martina Navratilova to return to the game as a super coach

The 58-time grand slam winner will coach Agnieszka Radwanska in 2015

The world No. 6 hopes Navratilova will help her win a first grand slam title

"I'm really excited," says Navratilova about her new role

CNN  — 

A record-breaking winner of 18 grand slam singles titles, Martina Navratilova is to join the ranks of tennis’ super coaches.

The 58-year-old will work with world No. 6 Agnieszka Radwanska next season in her first major coaching role.

“I didn’t sleep very well last night thinking about getting back into match mode and the competitions,” said Navratilova, who won a record nine Wimbledon singles titles.

“I am really excited about this opportunity to join Agnieszka’s team – I can’t wait to get started.”

Radwanska, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2012, hopes appointing Navratilova will help end her quest for her first grand slam.

“I am absolutely delighted that Martina has agreed to help me and my team next season,” said the 25-year-old Pole.

“She is my idol in tennis and I am honored we will be working together. My goal is to win a grand slam, so to have someone with Martina’s accomplishments in my corner is going to be hugely advantageous and give me a big boost.

“We are originally from a similar part of the world so we share an understanding about tennis and life, which I’m sure will translate into a successful relationship,” added Radwanksa, referring to the Czech-born Navratilova, who is a naturalized American.

The sight of a super coach courtside has become de rigeur in the men’s game since Andy Murray sought the advice of eight-time grand slam winner Ivan Lendl in 2012.

That partnership paid off as the Briton went on to win his first majors at the U.S Open and Wimbledon before adding the 2012 Olympic gold medal on home soil in London.

Since then, Roger Federer – not shy of a grand slam or 17 himself – has worked with Swedish ace Stefan Edberg.

Reigning Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic opted for flamboyant German Boris Becker while Murray is now supported by French female major winner Amelie Mauresmo after his split with Lendl.

Navratilova is about to break new ground by becoming the first super-coach on the women’s tennis tour.

The Czech-born American citizen will no doubt relish the chance to set new standards as that’s just what she’s being doing since winning her first grand slam at the French Open in 1975.

Blending serve-and-volley style with a power game, the left-handed star blazed into the record books.

Navratilova holds an open era record 167 singles titles and 177 doubles titles as well as 59 grand slam crowns - in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

She won a final grand slam title – the 2006 U.S. Open mixed doubles with partner Bob Bryan – just one month shy of her 50th birthday before retiring from the game.

Navratilova is also known as a TV personality, an activist for gay rights and she has even turned her hand to writing detective novels set in the world of competitive tennis.

Now she must solve the case of the missing grand slam for Radwanska in 2015.

Read: Becker on why he had to work with Djokovic

Read: Navratilova predicts Serena will break records