Taylor Fritz believes the tennis authorities ought to have clamped down laborious on off-court teaching somewhat than change the principles to permit it, and Sky Sports activities’ Laura Robson agrees with the American.
The Worldwide Tennis Federation (ITF) will enable off-court teaching from 2025 following trials on the 4 Grand Slams and ATP and WTA Tour occasions since 2023.
However the US Open finalist Fritz thinks organisers have been bullied into the change.
“I think as far as it should go with the coach talking to you is giving you encouragement, saying, ‘great shot, good job, keep going, keep fighting’ stuff like that,” he informed reporters in Turin on the ATP Finals.
“I believe when it will get into strategic, like ‘again up, hit it this far more, cowl this’, I do not assume that is (proper).
“I think a lot of the reason they made this rule in the first place is they were almost in a way bullied into it because people would just break the rules anyway and coach anyway.”
Fritz, who’s at a career-high world No 5, mentioned the easy repair would have been to make use of microphones in teaching packing containers.
“I think there should be mics in the boxes. I think there should be someone monitoring the mics. It should be very, very strict to where if anything goes past just encouragement, immediately you’re penalised,” he mentioned.
“That’s how you fix it. That’s how you have no coaching. Players have to figure things out on their own. That’s, like I said, one of the great things about tennis.
“I believe not lots of people realise how a lot technique is occurring. That is one thing that must be between the 2 gamers.
“I think being able to make strategies and how you handle decision-making. I think it’s just as important as hitting a serve or hitting a forehand, but it would be insane if someone could come on the court and serve for you, right? Why can someone tell you what to do? That’s just how I feel.”
Denis Shapovalov has additionally criticised the change, writing on X: “Not just as a tennis player but as a fan of this sport it’s sad to see this new off-court coaching rule.
“Tennis is particular since you are on the market alone. Why are you making an attempt to vary the great thing about this sport?
Rule modifications shedding a part of the sport
Robson agrees with Fritz, admitting tennis might be shedding quite a lot of parts, however it would even be “very hard to police”.
“I can see why they’ve done it, but it does feel like you’re losing part of what makes tennis so difficult,” mentioned the previous British No 1.
“There was a time when on-court coaching was being talked about. It did actually happen on the WTA tour where the coach was allowed to walk onto the court. I don’t think anyone was a fan of that. That was awful.
“They put microphones on them as nicely. It was horrible. Likewise, teaching has all the time form of gone on.
“If you’re the coach on the side of the court and you shall move your feet, is that coaching? I guess it is, and that type of thing used to go on, and now they’ve really just allowed that.
“I do not assume it has a major affect actually on the play itself. I believe it is one thing that I’ve grown to know and settle for actually, and now it is constant.”
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports activities app, giving Sky Sports activities clients entry to over 50 per cent extra dwell sport this 12 months at no additional price. Discover out extra right here.
