Kenneth Jonassen, Malaysia’s Director of Singles Coaching, on his approach to training, getting the most out of players and his learnings from his stint so far.

Part 2 of an interview conducted at the YONEX All England 2025 (Read Part 1).

Technically, what’s the main difference between Malaysian and Danish players – at the elite level – from what you’ve seen so far?

Technically, I don’t think there is a massive difference. I think the approach is slightly different. I look for ownership and I think this is the key, if we can get more individual ownership and understanding. What we mean when we say ownership – it’s not just ‘I do this and then you take your own decision’.

Ownership for me, it’s communication and then we find that joint way of moving forward and then we go do it. Every day I come for practice, I don’t sit and expect things to be handed on a plate; I already have my own mindset of no matter what the coach put in, I’m going to also want to focus on different areas within that session. But I can individualise everything when the mindset is right.

I feed off players’ ambitions and dreams and that’s my motivation as a coach. But they have to bring that also, not just when you sit and talk about it, but on a day-to-day basis, you bring that passion behind your ambition and your dream.

So you believe if you get that right mindset everything else falls into place?

Not everybody can become a world champion. But my main goal is that all players that I work with, they are willing that we can get the most out of their potential. We challenge the full potential of a player. If we can reach this I’m happy because then there’s nothing more to go for.

What about the overall training system? For example, in Denmark the tendency is for shorter, more intense sessions, while in Asia the volume is generally higher. Are you look at tweaking those things as well?

We have adjusted already in some sense, it’s a little bit about the intensity. But also, having the mindset that while you do the session, there’s a focus and quality in whatever you do. (At the highest level) it’s very uncomfortable. It’s long games, but it’s very intense so you need to get a control of everything you do. So of course, those are things that we adjust but as I said, we are all human, I think we can adjust accordingly.

What have you learnt in this short period?

I’ve learnt a lot about communication and making sure that even though I need to have patience, I also need to be quite clear in my communication. Also, to address things that I like and I don’t like, so to speak up when I see on-court sessions and stuff like that. I think communication and patience are two very important things; I already like those kind of things, so I find that it’s even more important now when you’re dealing with a different culture and a different way of understanding the words being said as well.

Before you took up this assignment, did you seek Morten Frost’s advice – as a fellow Dane who held a similar position in Malaysia?

I never really had a chance to; I had always been worried to come in with a pre-assessed mind about how things are. I’d rather have my own experience and then it will be that some experiences might be tough, because you could have maybe avoided them, but for me to learn, I’ve to be very open to this.

Click here for Part 1 of the interview