The debate, revived in particular by the great anger of Serena Williams during the final of the US Open 2018, seems to be advancing. And it will surely please Patrick Mouratoglou. The WTA, which oversees the women's professional tennis circuit, will allow coaching from the stands on an experimental basis, it announced on Tuesday. Players will be able to benefit from advice from their coaches based on screams, signals and other codes, which is currently prohibited, during two tournaments to be held in Dubai and Debrecen, Hungary, from February 17 to 23.
"This type of coaching is not currently allowed but it is difficult to regulate, so these tests will allow coaches to provide advice by verbal encouragement, signals with their hands from the players' dressing room, without incurring penalties" , said the WTA. "This experiment will continue throughout the season," she added without giving further details.
Masters 1000 of Paris-Bercy: “It questions the very identity of tennis”… Coaching, or modern opposition vs traditionalists https://t.co/V8OaMZTkkm via @ 20minutesSport pic.twitter.com/QGqiCXKeT1
- 20 Minutes Sport (@ 20minutesSport) October 30, 2018Players will always be able to call on their coaches, as has been the case since 2008, once per set to benefit from their advice on the court in all tournaments, except those of the Grand Slam.
The WTA also announced that it will test the video arbitration system on clay, the only surface where it is not currently used. This experiment will take place during the Charleston tournament, in the United States, from April 6 to 12.
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