Coach of the Month
ATP Coach Spotlight: Craig Boynton
American coaches pride themselves on developing players on and off the court.
September 16, 2024
1. ATP (automatic transmission)
Craig Boynton has been coaching professionally since 1993.
By ATP staff
After his 11-hour Wimbledon victory over Nicolas Mahout in 2010, John Isner returned to the London flat he shared with coach Craig Boynton and felt good about life.
“I actually felt fine physically, I didn’t know I was going to feel bad the next day,” Isner recalled to ATPTour.com this week. “So I told CB, ‘I feel like a million bucks.'”
“Yeah, the quarterfinals,” Boynton joked, knowing full well that a 70-68 fifth-set win would be a huge blow to him.
“And he was right. I felt like I got a million-dollar coin for 25 cents the next day. It was horrible,” Isner said, laughing. “He’s really funny. He’s one of the funniest people I know. He always has a witty retort. No matter who you ask, he’s hilarious.”
One of the most respected figures in the game, also known for his Santa Claus beard and affable personality, Boynton is the subject of ATPTour.com’s ATP Coach Spotlight this month.
Boynton’s life has been intertwined with tennis since his college days at Clemson University. After a brief professional career, Boynton found his true calling in coaching for over 30 years, working with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Boynton had an illustrious career mentoring players such as Jim Courier, Mardy Fish and Isner.
Most recently, the American coach worked with Hubert Hurkacz for five and a half years before the two amicably parted ways a few weeks ago.
“It was a labor of love. No, not really labor. It was just a lot of joy, getting to know these great people, helping these great players,” Boynton said of his coaching journey.
Boynton first began coaching in earnest in 1993, when he started working for the Courier.
“I was a travel coach with Jim and he brought a whole other level to the tour,” Boynton said of working with the world’s No. 1 player.
Boynton was particularly impressed by the American’s stamina and drive.
“I remember Jim saying at the time, ‘Anybody can win a five-setter,'” Boynton said. “I’m the only one who can win a five-setter like that tomorrow. I’ve seen it firsthand, and he’s an incredible competitor and an incredible worker.”
After coaching the Courier for several years, Boynton moved to Tampa Bay, Florida in 2007 to lead the tennis program at Saddlebrook Tennis Academy.
In Saddlebrook, Boynton encountered Isner, a 22-year-old American who was just starting to make a name for himself. In March 2009, Isner asked Boynton for help, and Boynton readily agreed.
“I had the luxury of knowing John for about two years before we started working together,” Boynton said. “I got to watch him and see his game evolve. I knew him, and we got along well. It was really fun to watch him come into his own and come into his own in 2009 and 2010.”
When these two started out, Isner was ranked outside the top 100.
By the end of the year, he had climbed over 100 places in the PIF ATP Rankings and reached the round of 16 for the first time at the US Open.
“He can definitely adapt to a player,” Isner said of Boynton’s coaching. “He’s been a huge part of my success. He took me from outside the top 100 to the top 20, and I’ve never left that position. I started working with CB and I’ve really taken off into the top tier of the game.”
Boynton’s cheerful demeanor and overall coaching approach that takes into account who a player is on and off the court have served Isner well.
“For me, he knew when to push and when to back off,” says Isner, who co-hosts the Nothing Major podcast with Steve Johnson, Sam Querrey and Jack Sock during his retirement. “He knew me, he listened to me. His work ethic is incredible, he loves being on the court, and he always makes practice fun.”
During Boynton’s three-year tenure, Isner reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal, an ATP Masters 1000 final and broke into the top 10 for the first time in his career.
After his time with Isner, Boynton took a position as a USTA Player Development Coach, working with players such as Donald Young and Sock.
Then in 2019, Boynton began coaching Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz.
When the two began working together, Hurkacz was ranked in the top 100. Under Boynton, he reached his first Grand Slam semifinal, won two ATP Masters 1000 titles and reached a career-high world No. 6 ranking in August.
“Hubi and I had a great five and a half years together. It was a great ride,” Boynton said. “I know that professional relationship will come to an end, but I’m proud of how close I still am to the players I coached.
“One thing I can take away from my time with Hubi is how meaningful it was for an American coach to work with a European player for five and a half years. That doesn’t happen very often, and I’m proud of the relationship we’ve built and the success we’ve had together.”
Hurkatz shared the same sentiments as his former coach.
“What a ride! Thank you for everything you’ve accomplished as a team! Thanks, CB,” Hurkacz wrote on his Instagram Story alongside a candid photo of the two sharing a few smiles on the court.
Boynton still loves coaching and is proud of the positive impact he has had on players both on and off the court.
He has no intention of stepping away from coaching, but is looking forward to spending more time with his family and traveling to places he has not yet been as part of his coaching journey.
