Coaching from the stands will be definitively adopted from January 1, 2025. A decision which is not unanimous among the players.
France Télévisions – Sports Editorial
Published on 10/31/2024 06:00
Reading time: 6min
Serbian Novak Djokovic chats with his coaches during a practice session at the Australian Open, in Melbourne, January 13, 2024. (DAVID GRAY / AFP)
The measure did not go unnoticed on the circuit. After several years of testing, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced, on Thursday October 17, modify its regulations and authorize the “off-court coaching from January 1, 2025”. From now on, it will therefore be authorized for a coach to communicate verbally with his or her player to give him or her instructions or advice during a match from the stands, provided that he or she is on the same side as his or her student.
Gestural indications will be authorized from the other end of the court. This coaching must, however, be discreet and rapid, and will only be authorized between points or at the end of games and sets. So no more penalty points and fines of up to $5,000 for coaching. Through this modification of the regulations, the ITF believes that this will notably allow of “reduce subjectivity in the application of the current restriction on coaching”, and of “making tennis fairer and, potentially, more entertaining”, is it written on the ITF website.
The ITF also assures that the modification has been approved by the main members of the circuit. “Players found this made tournaments more interesting; Coaches said it improved player development and enhanced the reputation of their profession, and referees were happy to be able to focus on what was happening on the court rather than in the stands. supports Stuart Miller, Director of Rules at the ITF. The reality is more nuanced. “Can we please stop ruining the mental and strategic duel of sport,” the American Taylor Fritz, world number 6, was angry on his X account (formerly Twitter).
“Not only as a tennis player, but also as a fan of the sport, it is sad to see this new off-court coaching rule, had greatly regretted the Canadian Denis Shapovalov on the same social network. Tennis is special because you are alone on the court. Why are you trying to change the beauty of this game?” The regulations, however, specify that the organizers of each tournament will have the final say on whether or not to apply this new rule, and in what form.
In the wings of the Rolex Paris Masters, the players obviously couldn’t escape the question. For Richard Gasquet, who will leave the field at Roland-Garros 2025, this coaching authorization will make it possible to formalize a common practice. “Everyone has been coaching for a long time, my coaches too, but it wasn’t visible. It won’t change anything,” decides the 133rd player in the world, eliminated in the first round of the Paris tournament. Same story with the Italian Jannik Sinner. “It won’t change anything. Coaches already give advice to their players at certain times,” confirms the world number one.
“As a player, you are alone on the pitch trying to understand the situation. But the connection with the coach allows you to communicate with him with just a look. As soon as you look at the coach, you understand each other.”
Jannik Sinner, world number one
at a press conference
The Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (9th in the ATP) is more nuanced. If he also confirms “the little signs here and there during the matches”however, he regrets the loss of a key element of tennis. “We are on the ground to find a solution for ourselves, and we have been able to do that for so many years. I like traditions, and things the way they are. I don’t really like the changes on that side But of course it remains entirely up to the players on how they want to play.
Questioned during his test period, Arnaud Clément, former world top 10 and consultant for franceinfo: sport, was clearly opposed to this off-court coaching: “We see players who have analytical skills when changing sides. They allow them to find solutions if necessary, which is a quality, while others have much more difficulty. There, we are going to have a an outside perspective which will help the players and take away from some the little extra they have compared to others. I find that a bit of a shame.developed the former captain of the French Davis Cup team.
Could this measure endanger the very essence of tennis, where the mind is an integral part of the game? “There is always a risk, but tennis, like other sports, must evolve.” believes Richard Gasquet, while seeing another positive point: that of better visibility and recognition of coaches. “I hope that the coaches will be highlighted in this way, so that we are aware of their work”slips the 38-year-old.
For his part, Enzo Couacaud, 208th player in the world, has a much clearer opinion. “Today, by paying a coach, sometimes very expensive because he is a former top 5 or top 10 in the world, he will give him the keys, he replied to us, when the measure was still in the testing phase. So I’m going to play against the opponent and the coach who was top 5 in the world. It’s harder and unfair. We don’t all have the same means. It should be this player against that player, and each with their own weapons to win.” We will therefore have to wait until 2025 unfolds to know if this reform benefits players to the detriment of others.
