Notable coach Paul Annacone says that players have to learn to love playing in front of their home country's fans. An Australian male has not won the Australian Open since Mark Edmondson in 1976, and an Aussie woman hasn’t won it since Chris O’Neil in 1978. "It's a tough thing, but all great athletes think it's a great thing," Annacone told Channel 9. "It's a great thing to have that much passion behind you and that many emotional attachments. The tricky part is balancing the big picture view of what happens, good or bad."
Annacone currently coaches Roger Federer, and has also coached Pete Sampras and Tim Henman. Australian females Sam Stosur and Jarmila Gajdosova have recently complained about getting tight while playing at home. "Pete loved it, Tim loved it, Andy (Murray) loves it," Annacone said. "Pat (Rafter) had to do it, Lleyton (Hewitt) did it."
Neither Rafter not Hewitt won the Australian Open, but Rafter reached the semifinals and Hewitt got to the final.
Annacone added that 16-time Grand Slam champion Federer loves the sport so much "he could get to 20."