- Coaches are much closer to players at the Australian Open
- Not everyone is a fan of the new innovation to the sport
Tennis fans have been left divided over the new courtside coaching pods introduced at this year’s Australian Open.
Tournament boss Craig Tiley is excited about the new innovation that allows coaches to talk to players during a match from a pod that is on the court.
The pods, which have been established in the corners of the court, have seats for four people and have been equipped with screens where coaches can access real-time statistics and data.
‘We tested it this week, and some coaches were a bit sceptical at first, but then they sat down and said: ‘This is great’,’ Tiley told The Sydney Morning Herald.
‘I think we’re going to find much more than the majority will actually sit on the court. You have a great sight line of your player after every point.
‘When they come and get their towel, you can talk to them, so you’re almost, in effect, able to coach your player after each point, if you want to.’
Pictured: Alexander Zerev’s brother gestures at him from the controversial coaching pod that’s been introduced for the Australian Open
After his victory over Lucas Pouille, Zverev joked that he ‘hates’ the pods – but fans weren’t trying to be funny when they slammed the new addition to the grand slam
The new pods not only offer a prime seating view of the game but also permit coaches to interact with their player
The introduction of the pods at the grand slam coincides with coaches now being allowed to communicate with players, except during live points.
Alexander Zverev joked that he ‘hates’ the new addition after beating Lucas Pouille in his round-one match on Sunday, but tennis fans weren’t trying to be funny when they slammed the pods on social media.
‘Awful. It’s not tennis anymore. This is a different sport entirely,’ posted one X user.
‘They are ruining this sport. Making everything so easy for the new generation, next they will reduce the slams top best of three and that will be the end,’ said another.
‘This is terrible and a huge advantage to the best players who can afford the best coaches,’ replied a third.
Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas was unsure how he felt about the coaching pods.
‘I actually laughed when I saw them yesterday,’ he said before the tournament started.
‘I was playing with Jannik (Sinner). I don’t know. It was kind of weird. It’s weird.
‘You know why it’s weird? Because I see my coaches and some other team members in a particular box and the rest of them upstairs, which, I don’t know – I’m not used to it.
‘I guess I will acclimatise at some point, but I wish to see those things applied into tennis and see matches change because of what a coach has to say.
‘It’s definitely something that will be cool for tennis. I think it will offer something new and innovative.’
Tiley is proud of the new courtside pods and hopes to see coaches get a higher profile and more recognition in the sport.
‘As an ex-coach, I believe that coaches should have a bigger profile in the story of the event and in the story of the relationship with the players,’ Tiley said.
‘We think [the pods are] going to create bigger stories with coaches, a more interesting narrative, give the coaches more profile, and there’s a good chance we’re going to see some things happen down there that are pretty interesting.’
