Tennis might be an individual sport, and on the court we see one player competing against the other. At least, this is what we see right in front of our eyes. However, we can not miss out on the role played by the coaching that goes on, both when the ATP and WTA players are training and also when they are playing on the court.

ATP announced in June that by July the ‘off-court’ coaching trials will start. These will be in place in the second half of the tour that is going on at this moment.

ATP is undertaking off-court coaching trials

The ATP had decided to undertake the off-court coaching trials where the coaches can guide the players from their seats during qualifying and main matches. They will also use the trial in the hard court major tour at the US Open this year along with other ATP tours. Other than that, such a trial is undergoing the WTA Hologic tour.

Other trials like on-court coaching as well as coaching via headsets have been tried, where during changeovers, the player used headsets to listen to their coaches’ guidance.

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This type of off-court coaching trial was done in 1999. It was when Andre Agassi came out victorious in 3 ATP tours with the help of his coach, Brad Gilbert. However, these trials were shut down after that.

What are the changes in the conditions of the off-court coaching trial?

The authorities have put the trials in place but they come with some conditions. Coaches can guide only from their designated seats and both verbal and non-verbal coaching should take place only when it is not a hindrance to the game. Coaching should be crisp and any sort of conversation should not take place.

The announcement of trails got a very mixed reaction. The famous former coach of Serena Williams and now Simona Halep’s coach praised the move.

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However, Australian star Nick Kyrgios was against it as according to him, it would put higher and privileged players on a pedestal of profit as compared to the other unseeded players.