Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens believes adjustments should be made to rules regarding on-court coaching after saying ‘a lot of coaching’ already occurs from the stands.
Earlier in the week Patrick Mouratoglou, who is the mentor of Serena Williams, released a comprehensive statement calling for the practice to be implemented at grand slams. On-Court coaching has been used on the WTA Tour since 2009, but is prohibited on both the men’s tour and at all four major tournaments. During the US Open Williams engaged in a heated argument with umpire Carlos Ramos after being issued with a warning for coaching.
“Coaching is a vital component of any sporting performance. Yet, banning it almost makes it looks as if it has to be hidden, or as if it was shameful.” Mouratoglou wrote.
“Authorizing coaching and actually staging it so that the viewers can enjoy it as a show would ensure that it remains pivotal in the sport.”
Weighing in on the debate, 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens has supported the motion to change the rules. Looking at both the pros and cons of the argument, the world No.8. agrees the many players already violate the current policy regarding coaching.
“I think on-court coaching is good. Obviously it can change a match. For one player it can be really, really great, and at the same time you could come on the court with your coach and could lose eight games in a row.” Stephens told reporters in Singapore on Saturday.
“I think that a lot of coaching does happen from the stands, anyway. Whether it’s right, wrong, whatever, I think that coaching is a big part of tennis, and you’re out there alone.
“I think that I can’t say definitely there should be or should not be, but I think there needs to be a little bit of a change to the rule, definitely.”
Stephens, who will make her debut at the WTA Finals, believes the practice enables fans to form a more ‘personal’ connection with the match. Where they can get an insight into the relationships between players and coaches. Although it may not be a completely accurate portrayal.
“I think the on-court coaching brings in that aspect of you feel like you’re more involved like with the player and coach, and I think that’s kind of like makes it more like a personal type of thing. I guess it’s cool in a way.” She said.
“But then there is also you don’t really know what the other half of it is, because 90% of it is you can’t say it because you can’t cuss on TV and all this stuff.”
Organisers of the grand slams have previously said that they will look into the rules regarding coaching. However, they are yet to commit to introducing on-court coaching. As it currently stands, the US Open is the only major to allow coaching from the stands. Although this is only applied to the juniors tournaments and qualifying rounds.
