The Rules of Tennis
Some of the case decisions in the ITF Rules of Tennis published in the USTA Friend at Court remind me of conversations with my kids as they desperately searched for loopholes in parental rules and regulations. This was typically an endless barrage of “What if… But what if…”
The Fiend at Court steady march through the ITF Rules of Tennis is currently in Section 30, Coaching. So far we have covered the rules that indicates that coaching is usually not allowed. In addition, the documented rules that define the exceptions to that prohibition have been explored. This week we have arrived at the “But what if…” point in the exercise.
Case: Is a player allowed to be coached, if the coaching is given by signals in a discreet way?
Decision: No.
ITF Rules of Tennis, USTA Friend at Court, Section 30, Case 1
I can almost hear the exasperation and fatigue in the ITF’s response. Another way to phrase the corollary to this question is whether it’s OK to coach via hand signals if you don’t get caught.
Probably the most famous — and notorious — violation of this rule occurred during the finals of the 2018 US Open between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. In a post-match interview, Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena’s coach admitted that he had indeed been coaching via hand signals. In fact, here is a direct quote from his interview by ESPN.
Well, I mean, I’m honest, I was coaching. I mean, I don’t think she looked at me, so that’s why she didn’t even think I was. I was like 100 percent of the coaches on 100 percent of the matches, so we have to stop this hypocrite thing
Patrick Mouratoglou
That quote is the manifestation of the next logical progression in debate with my loophole seeking children. The assertion is that it is OK, because everybody else does it.
It is probably not a coincidence that the WTA is started an experiment in allowing allowing coaching from the stands in 2020. While this practice is not currently allowed at the Grand Slams, coaches were permitted to communicate with their players at all the WTA Premier and International tournaments this year.
Specifically, the WTA experimental rule allows hand signals at all times. Additionally, coaches can say a few words to their players when they are on the same side of the court. The reason given for the new rule is that it was violated so frequently that allowing the practice levels the playing field between those that respect the rules and those that habitually push the boundaries.
If will be interesting to see how long it takes for this variation to be accounted for in the ITF Rules of Tennis. I will be looking for wording along the lines of “Fine” uttered in complete exasperation and resignation.
- United States Tennis Association (2020) Friend at Court. White Plains, NY
- Naomi Osaka captures US Open; Serena Williams fined, penalized game for calling chair umpire ‘a thief’, ESPN News Services, September 8, 2018.
- Seeking Rules Consistency, WTA to Allow Coaching from Stands in Trial, Associated Press, tennis.com, January 27, 2020.
