Jannik Sinner has commented on the decision to officially allow off-court coaching next year, saying he doubts it will lead to a significant change on the ATP or WTA Tours.
The amount of assistance players should be allowed to receive from their teams is a much-debated topic. Some feel that players being coached during matches makes tennis a less unique and compelling sport.
Others think it is wise to allow some off-court coaching since some break the rules anyway by communicating with their coaches, whether verbally or nonverbally.
In recent years, coaching has been trialed at various ATP and WTA events. The WTA tests on-court coaching at some of its events. The ATP has allowed on-court assistance at the Laver Cup, but that is a team event.
Proponents of introducing off-court coaching were pleased when the International Federation announced that it would be introduced next year, with some leeway given to the Grand Slams, the ATP, and the WTA regarding how to implement it.
Players will be allowed to receive off-court coaching between sets and at the change of ends. The coaching can be verbal or with hand signals under the rules being brought in next year, but it must not disrupt the flow of the match or the opponent.
That move was not met with universal acclaim. Taylor Fritz and Denis Shapovalov swiftly criticized the decision, with Shapovalov saying that off-court coaching could destroy the beauty of the sport.
Sinner is at the Paris Masters for the final Masters 1000 tournament of the season. The world No. 1 must navigate a very difficult draw to secure a fourth Masters level title in 2024.
During a press conference in Paris, Sinner explained why he does not think the new coaching rules will have a significant impact since players are already getting help from their teams.
“Yeah, I don’t think it will change like incredible much. Even now there are just some coaches who still, you know, give some advice at some times. So, you know, I believe that sport is still — as a player, you are alone in the court and trying to figure out alone what the situation is.”
“But, you know, there are already, you know, some connections with the coach, and then you understand already what he’s talking about and what he’s suggesting already, so I don’t think it’s going to change incredibly much.”
“We haven’t seen, like, a big, big change when there is no coaching, no? Because you watch the coach, you understand him already for years, and, you know, so you understand what’s coming. So let’s see. But I don’t think it’s going to be a big, big change.”
This is not Sinner’s first disagreement with some of his peers. The Italian was more diplomatic than many other players about the length of the tennis calendar, leading to Ugo Humbert telling him he was not thinking clearly.
It remains to be seen how much difference there will be next year on the ATP and WTA Tours because of the off-court coaching rules.
