Taylor Fritz is one of the main opponents of match coaching, officially introduced by the ITF at all levels following a two-year testing phase.
Asked about this at a press conference after his victory against Daniil Medvedev at the Turin Masters, the American delivered a very reasoned response which we have chosen to share with you in its entirety.
“Yes, I think one of the things that makes Tennis such a unique, so cool sport is that it really is as mental as it is physical. It's a key element, in my opinion, to be able to understand things and develop strategies for yourself. People change what they do on the field to adapt to the opponent. I don't want a coach to be able to say to someone, “Hey…”. Sometimes we see things differently when we don't play the match. I think tennis is a sport where you not only play against each other, but also mentally fight against each other. This is a very important aspect of the game. I don't think many people realize this. I think you have to play at almost the highest level to really understand the magnitude of the strategy. This is something that should stay between the two players. I think being able to strategize, make decisions, find solutions under pressure is just as important as serving or hitting a forehand. It wouldn't make sense for someone to come onto the field in your place to serve, wouldn't it? So why would anyone tell you what to do? That's how I feel. I compare it to everything you do on the field. Why would anyone help you? I have no problem with this in team competitions like the Nations Cup, Davis Cup or Laver Cup. It makes sense. Training, okay. For individual matches, the rest of the season, it makes no sense to me. »
Published on Monday November 11, 2024 at 2:44 p.m.
France
Tennis
