Hingis supports on-court coaching

Should tennis embrace on-court coaching? Martina Hingis believes so.

The retiring world No.1 doubles player applauded the US Open’s initiative to allow sideline coaching in qualifying earlier season. Under the rules, players could communicate with a coach in a designated player box between points without penalty.

“Some people do it no matter what, so I think why not make it legal,” Hingis told Tennismash.

It is an interesting perspective from a player who understands both being a professional player and coach. Hingis spent time coaching WTA stars Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in 2013 and Sabine Lisicki in 2014, before resuming her playing career as a doubles specialist.

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The Swiss champion, who announced this week she will retire after the WTA Finals, pointed out coaches could communicate with players in many other sports and suggested tennis rules could be overhauled further.

“Whether it is soccer, American football, it doesn’t matter. You pay them (coaches) and they are there to help you,” Hingis said.

“Of course you can prepare for matches and talk strategy before, but why not make it like the Davis Cup or Fed Cup when you have the coach sit on the bench and support you? I’d definitely be supportive of that.”

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The WTA Tour currently allows one on-court coaching visit per set during changeovers at tour-level events. Coaching of any form during matches remains banned in ATP World Tour events, however it will be trialed in next month’s inaugural Next Gen ATP Finals in Milan.

Coaches of the Next Gen finalists will not be allowed on court, but can communicate with players from the sidelines at certain points in the match. The ATP reasons this provides “additional content and entertainment value for broadcast”.

Other rules in Milan include shorter format and warm-up, a shot clock and no let rule. Most Next Gen players are supportive of the initiatives.