Any kind of on-court conversation, including hand signals, between a player and coach was long banned in the racket game. But a change in the rules has now permitted active coaching, as players can now converse with their coaches during the matches. Now, with the end of the old tennis rule, Aryna Sabalenka‘s coach is still finding it difficult for them to make the most of the new on-court coaching at the Australian Open.

After overcoming Coco Gauff in the semis, the defending champion is now one victory away from another Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park. While speaking about her stellar performances throughout the tournament, Sabalenka’s team issued their honest take on the new on-court coaching rule, which has apparently played very little role in the Belarusian player’s campaign.

Aryna Sabalenka’s coach and physiotherapist talk about the on-court coaching rules

Under the tutelage of Anton Dubrov, the second-seeded player has now reached the title match of the Australian Open. Ahead of the championship game, the Belarusian tennis coach was recently asked if he ‘supports and utilizes’ the new on-court coaching rules that are still being trialed.

In his honest response, Dubrov said, “We’re using them, but not that much, I would say, not talking a lot. It’s more about trying to manage the energy sometime; where she has to come down more, where she should be more fired up. Where it’s something, like, definitely you can see is not working, you’re going to help 100%.”

Sabalenka’s coach added, “But we are not like talking after every point, because with Aryna –“ before her physiotherapist, Jason Stacy, intervened and said, “Terrible.” While revealing the true reason for not making the most of the new on-court rules in Melbourne, Dubrov asserted that the current number 2 player knows ‘better what to do’ on the court. He also opened up about how it’s ‘just easier to be simple’ and exchange only a few words during the matches.

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Sabalenka’s coach said, “She knows better what to do, she feels better. Sometimes we need to help to feel it for her. Something she cannot understand, just put it and she’s doing it.” Given her recent performances at the Australian Open, the defending champion has performed brilliantly so far without making the most of the on-court coaching, and she will now lock horns with the 12th-seeded Chinese player Qinwen Zheng for another major title at the Rod Laver Arena. 

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