"Terrible decision";"What a joke" - Fans furious over new 'appalling' off-court coaching rules introduced for 2025 tennis season

Fans have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the ITF's decision to allow off-court coaching in tennis. Many view it as a shift away from the sport's individualistic nature.

In a recent statement, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that off-court coaching will be permitted "in events played under the rules of tennis by the sanctioning body concerned." The rule, which had been in place on a trial basis for a while, will officially come into effect from January 1, 2025.

For context, 'coaching' refers to any form of communication between the players and the coaches. Under the new rules, coaching will now be permitted during specific moments: between points, at changeovers, during set breaks, and at other times designated by the sanctioning body, as long as it does not occur during active play.

Coaches can communicate with players verbally when they are at the same end of the court or use hand signals at any allowed time. However, it must be brief and discreet, ensuring that it does not disrupt the flow of the match. Notably, on-court coaching is not allowed except during team events.

Many fans on X believe the new rule undermines the essence of tennis.

"Terrible decision. This makes tennis look like a team sport. The best players never required such coaching. The beauty of the sport was to put the man on his own to deal with the tactical adjustments required to win. Sinner is a good example of this," one fan wrote.

In a statement, Stuart Miller, ITF Senior Executive Director, Integrity & Legal stated that feedback was taken from "all key stakeholders including players, coaches and chair umpires" before applying the new rule. One fan pointed out that the fans were not consulted. They wrote:

"...It would appear you did NOT consult the most important group; fans and spectators. You don’t care about them - US! This appalling decision strikes at the heart of tennis."

"Sad but guess it is inevitable. I missed the individual tennis player having to sort out things themselves..." another fan wrote.

Here are some more fan reactions to the new rule allowing coaching.

"So, for players without a coaching machine behind them, like Carlos, Jannik or Iga, it pretty hopeless," one fan wrote.

"You're ruining tennis big time," another fan wrote.

"What a joke," yet another fan wrote.

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When Roger Federer voiced his opinion against coaching in tennis

Roger Federer with his then-coach Ivan Ljubicic at the 2019 Rolex Shanghai Masters (Image: Getty)

During a press conference at Wimbledon in 2019, Roger Federer opened up about his views on coaching in tennis. He was completely against the idea for several reasons.

"In my opinion we shouldn't have coaching in tennis. I'm a big believer in that. I know some people are completely on my side. Some people are, Why not? Every other sport has it. I guess you can see both angles," the Swiss tennis icon said.

"I think the player gets his advice (before the match) then it's how much can he remember, how much can he deal with in the moment, figure it out yourself a little bit," he added.

Further, Federer believed that coaching was not necessary and raised concerns about fairness in the sport, suggesting that those who can afford more coaching may have an advantage. He felt that eliminating coaching would create a more level playing field for all players.