World No8 Svetlana Kuznetsova thinks on-court coaching, which is allowed at WTA tournaments, should be introduced to the Grand Slams, the Russian said following her quarter-final exit at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
The two-time major champion fell 6-3, 6-4 to 2015 runner-up Garbine Muguruza, in a match that witnessed an incident that was perceived by Kuznetsova’s coach Carlos Martinez as illegal coaching from the Spaniard’s camp.
Grand Slams do not allow any form of coaching during matches and Kuznetsova said Muguruza was receiving some information from her physio during the match.
“I could hear that because it was pretty clear because we all speak Spanish here. She was talking to her all the time. But it’s her physio. I mean, I know she acts like this all the time. I know that. I don’t think it’s appropriate, but okay, I was focused on my game,” said Kuznetsova of Muguruza.
“My coach says it’s elements of coaching. The thing is, the same umpire gave my coach a warning last year for telling me, ‘Vamos, vamos’. Then this girl was talking to Garbine during the match. She didn’t say anything to her. That probably what surprise him a lot.”
While many players are against on-court coaching, and prefer to stick to the solitary nature of the sport that forces a player to figure things out for themselves while battling through a match, Kuznetsova thinks it makes the sport more appealing for fans and should make its way to the Grand Slams.
“I don’t see why not. I think it’s great these coaches can work more their job. It’s more interesting to the fans. I don’t see why not. I mean, I’m not here to complain, whatever they were doing on the court. Garbine played very good game today. And I think she deserved to win, because I didn’t play so well,” explained Kuznetsova.
The US Open qualifying tournament will experiment with some form of on-court coaching but in a different way to how it’s done on the women’s tour, where coaches visit their players during changeovers.
In New York, the event will experiment with coaching from the stands, mid-match, where players can talk to their coaches if they are on the side from which they’re serving, and can signal back and forth with them, if they are on opposite sides.
On the WTA tour, some coaches cover their microphones so fans on TV cannot hear their conversations with their players during changeovers, which is actually against the rules.
“I think it all started because of the TV. I don’t think (on-court) coaching started because of the players,” said Kuznetsova. “I mean, I think the scheduling is made for the TV. Many times who make the schedule, they don’t care about the players. It’s sad, but it’s true.
“This is a thing. If the fans not going to hear (the on-court coaching visits), it’s not going to be there.
“The same thing, like I finish last night at 7:00 to play doubles. I check the schedule. I was really mad. Because why do I play first, not second? When I ask the question. They said, Because of the TV.
“The TV is more important for the tennis than the players, probably.”
