Ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has admitted to taking advantage of the most controversial new rule at this year’s grand slam.
2023 saw the introduction of in-match coaching for the very first time, after the US Open led the charge last year.
Tennis has long been locked in a debate over the merits of legalising the practice, which many coaches say is already happening under the table regardless.
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In the aftermath of his victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas, Djokovic was asked about the intense conversations between himself and coach Goran Ivanisevic, and said it was “just a normal chatter that we would normally have in the court where I was not comfortable and was looking for some help and some advices, some guidance.”
Patrick Mouratoglou, formerly the coach of Serena Williams during her infamous coaching scandal in 2018, welcomed the change, congratulating the ATP.
Williams infamously berated the chair umpire during the final of the 2018 US Open after Mouratglou appeared to signal her during the second set to move closer to the net, resulting in a warning and code violation that eventually saw her lose the final to Naomi Osaka.
“No more hypocrisy,” Mouratglou said.
He described it as a “practice that has been going on at almost every match for decades.”
Nick Kyrgios shot back at the Grand Slam-winning coach, saying he “completely disagree(s)”.
“Loses one of the only unique traits that no other sport had,” Kyrgios said.
“The player had to figure things out on his own.
“What happens if (there is) a high profile player versus a low ranked player who doesn’t have or afford a coach?”
Roger Federer was of the same view as Kyrgios, but has since retired.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, Djokovic’s opponent in the final at Rod Laver, has long supported in-match coaching and received numerous coaching violations, to the extent where tournament officials have sometimes sent Greek-speaking umpires to covertly spy on his team box.
“I see no reason to have a coach with you if they can’t share some of their view and knowledge with you when you’re competing,” he said.