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Looking ahead to 2025, it was confirmed that coaching will continue and some important players did not like it at all.
It cost a lot, but it was achieved. Tennis was historically characterized as a very conservative sport and not very prone to change. But reality meant that some modifications had to be made, especially with regard to the duration of the matches. That is why the figure of the 10-point tie break was established to define a doubles match instead of playing a conventional third set, or even the established time between serve and serve.
Mostly, The changes were accepted in a good way by the common players, although there are always critics and also issues that the ATP must improve, especially in calendar matters. But on this occasion, the central issue is the approval of coaching for 2025 in reality it is a reaffirmation since the coach’s help to the player has been allowed for a few years, although it had not been established.
Fritz and Shapovalov, against
It has already begun to circulate strongly that both the ATP and the ITF are going to continue allowing coaching in their competitions by 2025 and are even seeking to establish the best way to do it. Either with dialogue when the bench is close or through gestures, when the player is on the other side of the court. Taylor Fritz, current world number 6 in the ATP rankings and US Open finalist in 2024, expressed himself on his Twitter account: “Can we stop ruining the mental/strategic aspect of the 1v1 sport, PLEASE?”.
On the other hand, Denis Shapovalov, who is slowly seeking to return to the foreground, did the same on his social network: “Not only as a tennis player, but as a fan of this sport, it is sad to see this new rule for coaches outside of the court. Tennis is special because you are out there alone. Why are you trying to change the beauty of this game?”.
What does coaching in tennis entail?
It should be noted that the majority of tennis players are in favor of coaching, but there are also dissident voices, something understandable in a circuit that has hundreds of players in both the men’s and women’s courts. Coaching, basically, is receiving the help of the coach from the stands, from indicating which place to serve or what shot to look for from the opponent. On the other hand, the ATP also approves the use of technology – only that permitted – in which the match statistics can be seen live and thus see the opponent’s weak points to exploit them, as well as their own to improve them.
