In a dramatic revelation, Natalia Zabiiako, partner of Daria Kasatkina, fearlessly spoke out against Russian coach Dmitry Tursunov, leaving no room for doubt about the player’s decision to avoid training with him. With a trail of injuries linked to his coaching methods, Tursunov’s reputation comes under fire, and Zabiiako is not holding back in exposing the dark side of his coaching prowess.
In a fiery response to a comment, Zabiiako dismisses any notion of Daria Kasatkina seeking guidance from Tursunov. She condemns his coaching approach, which may achieve instant results but leaves players injured and incapacitated in the long run. Taking aim at Tursunov’s coaching history, Zabiiako reveals that “everyone gets injured” under his guidance, and some have even ended their careers, injured.
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— Sam (@sogsupreme) August 4, 2023
He himself – Retired due to injuries
Vesnina – Success & no injury
Sabalenka – Success & no injury
Raducanu – Short stint & injuries
Kontaveit – Success & career-ending injury
Bencic – Short success & injury
Alexandrova – Dumped him almost immediately— Matt 🎩 (@TimTtam77) August 4, 2023
Anett Kontaveit, a notable player he coached, might not be as grateful for his influence as some might believe after she retired at just 27 years of age due to injury. But Zabiiako’s candid criticism doesn’t stop at Tursunov’s professional conduct; she dwells into his character as well, stating, “he is a sh*t man,” adding a personal dimension to the utter disapproval she has for the coach.
Tursunov’s track record includes coaching Belinda Bencic and briefly working with the sensational young talent Emma Raducanu, with injuries that seem to lurk in the shadows of his coaching methods, as seen with these players. With a raging intensity, Zabiiako’s words underline the gravity of the situation and shed light on the potential consequences of his coaching methods.
Why did Anett Kontaveit retire at just 27 years of age
Anett Kontaveit, the former world No. 2, has announced her retirement from competitive tennis at the age of 27 due to a chronic back injury that has troubled her for a continuous period of eight months. In a social media post on Tuesday, the Estonian explained that lumbar disc degeneration, a condition usually associated with wear and tear on a spinal disc.
“After several doctor’s visits and consultations with my medical team, I have been advised that I have lumbar disc degeneration in my back,” Kontaveit wrote on Instagram. She explained further that it did not allow for full-scale training and made it impossible for her to return at the highest level.
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Known for her aggressive shot-making and impressive two-handed backhand, Kontaveit’s breakthrough came in 2021 when she found the mental strength to match her exceptional ball striking. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 2 and secured an unlikely place in the WTA Finals with an impressive run of 28 wins out of 30 matches and four titles.
However, her fortunes took a turn for the worse as her back troubles intensified. Despite taking periodic breaks to recover, her difficulties continued resulting in a first-round exit at the French Open. Her win-loss record in 2023 stood at 3-7, and she dropped to No. 79 in the rankings after being the world’s second-best player just last summer.