Emmanuel LANGELLIER, Media365: published on Saturday January 11, 2025 at 3:56 p.m.
Since January 1, 2025, coaching has been authorized during matches on the circuit. Such a big change?
We have often talked about coaching in Tennis in recent years. It was not allowed but we could clearly see coaches giving their advice from the stands where they were comfortably seated. We can in particular think of the famous Apostolos Tsitsipas, the father of Stefanos, who was regularly talked about, and who aroused the fury of Daniil Medvedev during the 2022 Australian Open (semi-final against the Greek player who did not is no longer led by his father, since then). The practice has now been authorized since January 1, 2025. In a few days in Melbourne, we will therefore be able to see Andy Murray deliver his instructions to Novak Djokovic without incurring a fine.
Gasquet: “It won’t change anything in the game”
After several years of testing, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced on October 17 that it was modifying its regulations to make “off-court coaching” legal and outside of playing times, provided that it nevertheless remains ” discreet “. The trainer must now be placed on the same side as his “foal” to give him verbal instructions or stick to gestural indications if he is on the other side of the field. Even if authorized, the subject continues to divide. “Everyone has been coaching for a long time, my coaches too, but it didn’t show. It won’t change anything in the game,” said Richard Gasquet during the last Paris Rolex Masters. “Coaches already give advice at certain times. As a player, you stay alone on the pitch, but you know your coach and, in a few words or gestures, you understand what he is talking about and what he is suggesting,” said Jannik Sinner, the best player in the world.
“Why are you trying to change the beauty of the game?”
However, the measure does not gain general support. “Can we stop ruining the mental and strategic dueling sport, please? », said Taylor Fritz (current world No. 4). “Tennis is special because you are alone on the court. Why are you trying to change the beauty of the game?” asked the Canadian Denis Shapovalov about see the game evolve. The ITF wants to make “tennis fairer and, potentially, more entertaining”. Patrick Mouratoglou, the former coach of Serena Williams, the coaching will enrich the confrontation. Can this affect the course of a match? We will have to wait for the new season to unfold, while the organizers of each tournament have the final say on whether or not to apply the new regulations.
