SA coach and player Roger Rasheed appointed board director of Association of Tennis Professionals
ACCLAIMED Adelaide coach and media personality Roger Rasheed is set to expand his influence at the very highest levels of tennis.
ACCLAIMED Adelaide tennis coach and media personality Roger Rasheed is set to expand his influence at the very highest levels.
From January 1 next year, Rasheed, who famously coached former world number one and Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt, will begin a three-year term as a board director with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the governing body of men’s tennis.
Rasheed will serve as the International Region Player Representative on the board, a role that will see him represent the players from his geographical group and act as a conduit between players and tournament directors and the ATP.
Rasheed reached 192 in the ATP rankings as a player and qualified for the Australian Open in 1985, aged just 15.
Rasheed, an active ATP coach still, said he represents players from the international region through discussion and which, by extension, effectively means representing ATP players from other regions also.
“This board position is elected by the players that form the player council which include Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray,” he said.
“My objectives are to help grow the game internally and externally. Obviously with me being a leading coach and respected by the players I have the ability to make an impact for them and the game in a proactive way.
“The ATP is a great brand that is moving in the right direction and I wanted to see if I could add some value on the tour not only on the court with players which I’m passionate about but also off the court . The competitive challenge is what I love , to see if I can impact positive development and change that benefits the whole sport.”
Former Tennis SA and Tennis NSW chief executive, organisational behaviour psychologist Ali MacDonald, is adamant Rasheed, who sought out the new job, will thrive in the cut and thrust of tennis politics.
“Roger will bring a very direct and fresh approach to the ATP. He is bold and will make a good addition to the team,” he said. “You don’t have to be a recent ex player but he has coached a lot of players and is close to them.”
MRasheed will be stepping into some big shoes. David Egdes, the international player incumbent for the past nine years is a president at the Tennis Channel (TV) in California, and a former lawyer with nearly a decade of experience as an agent at sports agency IMG.
Former ATP tour manager Giorgio Di Palermo represents the European players with ex pro, and TV Channel commentator, Justin Gimelstob is the Americas’ representative.
There are also three ATP tournaments with president, Chris Kermode the seventh member, the odd number always ensuring a result in the event of a vote.