Top
STEFANOS TSITSIPAS
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Tennis News

‘It’s about time the sport takes a big step forward’ – Tsitsipas suggests rule change


World number four Stefanos Tsitsipas believes a significant rule change should be made in tennis regarding coaching. 

The 22-year-old thinks players should be allowed to receive coaching “on every point” during matches – something that is currently prohibited on the ATP Tour and at Grand Slams.

At WTA Tour events, players are allowed to request on-court coaching once per set, while coaching from the stands was also trialed in 2020.

Tsitsipas has regularly been given code violations for receiving coaching from his box.

“Coaching on every point should be allowed in tennis. The sport needs to embrace it,” the Greek said on Twitter.

“We’re probably one of the only global sports that doesn’t use coaching during the play. Make it legal. It’s about time the sport takes a big step forward.

“Everybody has a coach; it’s affordable at this level of the sport. We’re talking about professional tennis (ATP & WTA Tour). I personally have never faced a player that didn’t have a coach at his disposal.

“Why does tennis ban on-court coaching when every other sport allows it? Tennis has to modernize, which is difficult because the traditionalists are very powerful and prevail.”


By
0

Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.