Trick-shot trophies are not what drove Agnieszka Radwanska to brave sub-zero temperatures training on rundown indoor courts, during icy Krakow winters, when she was growing up.
Nicknamed the Magician, the Polish world No.6 has won the WTA Shot of the Year in each of the past two seasons – in 2014, for an impressive overhead backhand at the Rogers Cup and in 2013, for a 360-degree full body spin, to hit a winning backhand volley in Miami.
Renowned for her exceptional court nous and intuitive defence, the 1.70m Radwanska joked that her aim was to hit one even better in 2015, and while such titles are a novel honour, the big picture is Grand Slam trophies.
The 25-year-old has come close once before, pushing Serena Williams to three sets in the 2012 Wimbledon decider. And despite finishing 2014 in the top 10 for the sixth time in the past seven years, it was her lowest finish since 2011.
It was time, she felt, to draw on the expertise of an 18-time Grand Slam singles champion – Martina Navratilova – a player also renowned for her court craft and regarded as among the greatest athletes to have played on the women’s tour.
Where Andy Murray ushered in the recent trend of super coaches – first hiring Ivan Lendl, before turning to Amelie Mauresmo – the successful trend did not go unnoticed to Radwanksa.
Novak Djokovic teamed up with Boris Becker and went on to win Wimbledon before finishing the year at No.1, Roger Federer called on Stefan Edberg and returned to the top two, Marin Cilic brought Goran Ivanisevic on board and won his first Grand Slam title, with Kei Nishikori reaching his first final after turning to Michael Chang for advice.
Martina Navratilova and Radwanska only started working together after Christmas and while the former Czech great did not make the trek to Perth, the change reaped rewards sooner than expected as Radwanska teamed up with Jerzy Janowicz to claim the Hopman Cup for Poland.
"The goal, of course, is a Grand Slam," Radwanska said of the appointment. "I didn't make it yet, so I'm trying everything to win those slams. Martina is a person who will be a huge experience with so many titles. With that I think she can help me out a lot.
"All of her numbers and her winnings, I was very impressed like everyone. I am very happy she is a member of the team and I was in Miami before (Perth), so we practise together and she is coming to Sydney and Melbourne, of course. So far, so good, and we will see how it is going to be."
The title run in Perth was made all the more impressive after she thwarted the top-ranked Serena Williams in the final for the first time in nine matches.
Williams had not dropped a set against the Pole since their 2012 Wimbledon decider. "I think wins like this always give confidence, especially before a Grand Slam," she said. "Every year is a different story, but I feel very well this year and I´m healthy and ready to go, I´m ready for it.”
However, the Hopman Cup success took its toll in Sydney where, as the No.1 seed, Radwanska fell in the opening round to Garbine Muguruza.
Where grass has typically been her strongest surface – she also reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2013 – Australia, for the most part, has been a happy hunting ground.
She won the Sydney International in two years ago and reached the semifinals at last year’s Australian Open, where she downed two-time defending champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals before losing to Dominika Cibulkova.
Victory at Melbourne Park in 2015 would make Radwanska the first Polish player to land a Grand Slam singles crown.
And while it may be too early to expect such a breakthrough after just one month with Navratilova, given the current run of successful super coach appointments, talk of grand slam trophies – as opposed to trick-shot titles – could well end up being the headline in 2015 for Radwanska.
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