Former Pete Sampras, Davenport & Sharapova coach Robert Lansdorp thanked by Katherine Sebov, says she wouldn't be the player she is today without him
Katherine Sebov has expressed gratitude to her coach Robert Lansdorp, who is known for helping icons like Pete Sampras, Lindsay Davenport, and Maria Sharapova reach great heights in tennis.
Born in Toronto, Sebov turned pro in 2016 and is currently in South Carolina for the WTA 500 Credit One Charleston Open. The Canadian made her Grand Slam main draw debut this year at the Australian Open, where she lost to 2022 WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia in the opening round.
Under the guidance of 84-year-old Lansdorp, Sebov achieved her career-best ranking of No. 148 earlier this week (April 3). The Indonesian-American coach worked with 14-time Grand Slam champion Sampras, five-time Major winner Sharapova, three-time Major winner Davenport, two-time Major champion Tracy Austin, and Eugenie Bouchard.
He came into the limelight when Austin beat Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert to win the 1979 US Open at the age of just 16. Lansdorp, along with the late Nick Bollettieri, was honored as a Team USA coaching legend at the inaugural Team USA Coaching Awards reception held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in 2013.
Qualifier Sebov beat 57th-ranked Lauren Davis 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the first round of the Charleston Open on Monday and after the match, thanked Lansdorp for shaping her as a player.
"Yeah, I met him when I was, I think 13. So he came for a conference in Toronto," Katherine Sebov said. "So that's where I met him. He just gave his email and contact to my mom. I guess he liked the way I was playing at the conference."
"I went to California and started training with him. We spent a lot of hours together. He developed my strokes. If he's watching right now, a huge thank you because, without him, I wouldn't be the player that I am today," she added.
Katherine Sebov to face Belinda Bencic in Charleston Open 2023 R2
Katherine Sebov will take on defending champion Belinda Bencic in the second round of the 2023 Charleston Open. Last year, the Swiss player beat Ons Jabeur in the final to lift the title.
Speaking to Tennis Channel, Sebov remarked that she was excited about facing Bencic as both of them have similar game styles.
"I'm very excited, definitely very excited for that. I want to try every player that I can, the more matches I get, the better," Sebov said. "Belinda will be very interesting for me to try. She's a great player, a great competitor, and amazing game too. I think it will be an interesting matchup because we both take the ball early. So we'll see, I'm very excited."
Sebov beat Gabriela Ce and Francesca Di Lorenzo, both in straight sets, in her two qualifying matches in Charleston.