Since the 2025 season, tennis has officially authorized off-court coaching on the ATP, WTA, and ITF tours. A historic decision, but one that deeply divides the world of the little yellow ball. Where the  paddle  or  badminton  have long since integrated the coach as a visible actor in the show, tennis is moving forward in measured steps, caught between tradition and modernization.

A recent change, but one that doesn't convince everyone

Until 2022, any direct coaching during a match was strictly prohibited in tennis competitions. Coaches could gesture or encourage from the stands, but without technical or tactical advice—at least officially. Exchanges were often limited to glances or coded signs. This rule began to crack when the ATP launched a  experimentation with verbal and gestural coaching from the stands Since 2025, the ITF has taken the step: off-court coaching is now permitted in Grand Chelem, with certain restrictions (duration of exchanges, location of the coach, content of the advice).

For  Taylor Fritz  (United States, world No. 5), this development is a mistake:

“Can we stop ruining the 1v1 mental/strategic aspect of the sport PLEASE. »
(“Can we please stop destroying the mental and strategic aspect of one-on-one.”)
The American fears that this opening will dilute what makes tennis unique: strategic solitude.

 Denis Shapovalov  (Canada, former No. 10) shares this vision:

“Not just as a tennis player but as a fan of this sport it's sad to see this new off-court coaching rule. Tennis is special because you are out there alone. Why are you trying to change the beauty of this game? »
(“Not only as a player, but also as a fan, it’s sad to see this new rule. Tennis is special because you’re alone on the court. Why change the beauty of this sport?”)

Same direct tone for  John Millman  (Australia, former no. 33):

“Off-court coaching sucks. »
(“Off-court coaching sucks.”)

These positions do not only come from conservative players: they reflect a deep attachment to the image of tennis as an intellectual duel where each decision belongs to the player alone.

Other voices call for urgent modernization

At the opposite,  Nick Kyrgios  (Australia, former world number 13) warns of the need to adapt tennis to the expectations of an audience more accustomed to interactive formats:

“What I love about tennis is traveling all over the world… The worst part is the broadcasting, it’s brutal. I wish the game continued to grow… I want to turn on the TV and feel the excitement.”

 Patrick Mouratoglou , former coach of Serena Williams, is even more direct:

"Why does tennis prohibit on-court coaching, while all other sports allow it? If we don't involve spectators in this way, tennis will only be followed by purists. To attract a modern audience, you have to offer something other than the game: you have to show the personalities. Tennis must become more modern."

 Novak Djokovic  (Serbia, world number 1) welcomed the “coaching pods” tested at the Australian Open 2025 , benches installed at the edge of the court to bring the coach closer to the player:

"I think it's a great introduction to the tournament... I'm happy like this... What I don't like is that someone from the opposing team could hear and pass information to their player. You have to keep some privacy in the strategy."

Djokovic embodies an intermediate position here: opening the door to the spectacle while preserving tactical secrecy.

Padel, the example that makes you think

In the  paddle Coaching is an integral part of the match. The coach sits on the bench, talking with his players at every change of ends, in front of cameras and microphones. The spectators thus discover the tactical adjustments, the encouragement, the occasional arguments... These are all moments that create drama and fuel post-match discussions.

This model works: it adds rhythm to the broadcasts and humanizes the champions. The idea appeals to some tennis fans who dream of seeing their idols in these moments of tension or complicity.

Other racket sports have already integrated it

  •  badminton  : the coach is behind the player and can intervene verbally at each break or change of ends.
  •  Table tennis  : the coach gives his instructions at the end of each set, often live on television.
  •  squash  : Player access is limited, but hints are visible and audible between games.

These disciplines prove that a sport can remain highly competitive while offering greater strategic transparency to the public.

Imagine for a moment Rafael Nadal, sitting on the bench, explaining to Carlos Alcaraz how to return a Novak Djokovic slice. Or Roger Federer, notebook in hand, drawing up a game plan for Holger Rune at 5-5 in a deciding tiebreak. This kind of scene, currently reserved for backstage or the Laver Cup, could become a highlight of broadcasts, capable of captivating even those who don't usually watch tennis.

A strategic… and economic challenge

Tennis is facing unprecedented competition: the meteoric rise of  paddle  in Europe and Latin America, the rise of  pickleball  in the United States, or the attractiveness of hybrid racket sports for a young audience. Nick Kyrgios summed it up:

"If we don't make tennis more exciting to watch, it will be overshadowed by other sports that offer more spectacle."

By refusing to fully integrate visible coaching, tennis risks locking itself into an elitist image, far from the entertainment standards of a modern professional sport.

Franck Binisti

Franck Binisti discovered padel at the Club des Pyramides in 2009 in the Paris region. Since then, padel has been part of his life. You often see him touring France to cover major French padel events.

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