Sharon Fichman hasn’t but taken the time to, as she places it, sit along with her retirement from skilled tennis, however that doesn’t imply she’s resting on her laurels both following a notable profession as a participant on the highest stage of the game.
Whereas she’s eager to fondly reminisce about reaching the Prime 100 in each singles and doubles on the WTA Tour, her two Junior Grand Slam doubles titles, and a magical run to the celebrated WTA 1000 Rome doubles trophy in 2021 that allowed her to attain a lifelong dream of representing Canada on the Olympics, however as of late, the 34-year-old has shifted her consideration to mentoring the subsequent technology of Canadian gamers by way of her teaching position with Tennis Canada. It’s a task during which she hopes she will encourage younger gamers whereas additionally paving the way in which for extra ladies to remain concerned in tennis, in each teaching and management roles.
“It’s humorous as a result of once I was enjoying, I all the time thought oh, I’ll by no means coach. And it was Sylvain Bruneau (former Head of Ladies’s Tennis at Tennis Canada) who referred to as me and stated there’s a Coach 3 course beginning and we will quick monitor you. Would you be curious about attempting it? I had no expectations entering into and I beloved it,” Fichman defined. “I bear in mind on the finish of that the primary few days, I used to be so comfortable. You already know while you’re doing one thing, and also you change into time blind? That’s what was taking place, and I shocked myself once I realized that I wished to remain concerned in tennis.”
READ: Sharon Fichman retires from skilled tennis, joins Tennis Canada in teaching position
Fichman coaches on the Regional Tennis Centre in her hometown Toronto and serves as a touring coach, travelling internationally with Canada’s prime junior gamers. In 2024, she was named captain of the Junior Bille Jean King Junior Cup crew.
“There’s positively issues that I want I used to be in a position to do once I was their age or I had folks to inform me a number of the issues that I’m doing my greatest to share with these younger gamers,” Fichman stated. “Nobody’s good. I’m studying, I’m attempting my greatest and all the children are too, however total, I’d say it’s actually enjoyable. It’s actually rewarding and it’s additionally very therapeutic.”
Fichman is hoping her enterprise into teaching will encourage extra ladies to do the identical. Particularly her fellow former gamers who she feels have a lot to supply the youthful gamers and that their impression can be integral to their growth. A proud ambassador of Tennis Canada’s Recreation. Set. Fairness. dedication, she is a powerful advocate of the worth that girls along with her expertise can convey to the career.
“There’s one thing about having been there on the highest stage on the most important levels that lets you assist gamers in a manner that’s much more tangible. You’ve been by way of it, you’ve felt what they’re feeling and also you’ve come out the opposite facet,” Fichman stated.
Followers who watched Canada be topped World Champions on the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in 2023 on Sportsnet might recall Fichman’s emotional response stay on air to the unimaginable second she simply witnessed as a commentator. It got here from the guts as a proud former member of the crew that made Canadian tennis historical past proper earlier than her eyes. In actual fact, certainly one of Fichman’s largest mentors was former Workforce Canada Billie Jean King Cup captain Rene Simpson Collins.
“She’s the rationale why I wish to be Billie Jean King Cup captain in the future,” Fichman defined. “She helped me a lot on court docket as a participant and unknowingly gave me the instruments that may hopefully be useful once I’m on the bench as a result of I bear in mind issues she used to inform me, the way in which she was and the way she behaved, and I’ve tried to emulate that quite a bit. She was an integral a part of my growth, and I wouldn’t be who I’m or the place I’m as we speak with out her.”
As Fichman continues to encourage others to comply with in her footsteps all whereas navigating the realities of a brand new profession that hasn’t all the time put out the welcome mat for ladies, she’s solely targeted on instilling good habits and a powerful ethic within the youngsters she coaches and representing herself properly.
“I hope that my impression is optimistic on different coaches and the gamers. I hope when folks work with me, I’m seen as not only a nice feminine coach, however coach,” Fichman stated.
Thus far, it’s mission completed for somebody who has skilled her fair proportion of victories on the tennis court docket.
