New Australian Open Coaching ‘Pods’ Get Mixed Reaction

Casper Ruud of Norway speaks to his coaching staff during an Australian Open tennis tournament round 1 match against Jaume Munar of Spain at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 12 January 2025. (EPA)
Casper Ruud of Norway speaks to his coaching staff during an Australian Open tennis tournament round 1 match against Jaume Munar of Spain at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 12 January 2025. (EPA)
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New Australian Open Coaching ‘Pods’ Get Mixed Reaction

Casper Ruud of Norway speaks to his coaching staff during an Australian Open tennis tournament round 1 match against Jaume Munar of Spain at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 12 January 2025. (EPA)
Casper Ruud of Norway speaks to his coaching staff during an Australian Open tennis tournament round 1 match against Jaume Munar of Spain at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 12 January 2025. (EPA)

The Australian Open has introduced court-side "coaching pods" at this year's tournament in a Grand Slam first, but they have met with a mixed reaction.

The pods are positioned in two corners on each of the major courts with up to four people allowed, similar to the set-up at team events like the Davis Cup and United Cup.

They have access to real-time data on screens for statistical analysis, with coaches having the option to perch there or in their usual place in the traditional player box, where friends and family can also sit.

It follows the International Tennis Federation in October relaxing its rules, allowing coaches to communicate with players during matches as long as it is "brief" and "discreet".

Australian Open chief Craig Tiley admitted that "some coaches were a bit skeptical at first" of the pods.

"But then they sat down and said: 'This is great'," he told the Melbourne Age newspaper.

"When they (players) come and get their towel, you can talk to them, so you're almost, in effect, able to coach your player after each point, if you want to."

But not all players are convinced about the benefits.

"Honestly, it's not like I'm a big fan of that decision. Or if you do that, then make more seats," said world number one and defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka.

"For example, me personally, I like to see the whole team. I want to see the whole people in my box.

"I don't know, sometimes I just want to look at my boyfriend for the support. I just didn't want to, like, look at the coach first, then look in the box."

Greek star Stephanos Tsitsipas has long been an advocate for coaching to be permitted during matches, but said he was taken aback when he first saw the pods.

"I actually laughed when I saw them," he said.

"I don't know, it's kind of weird. I see my coaches and some other team members in that particular box, and the rest of them are upstairs, which I'm not used to.

"I guess I will acclimatize at some point."

But 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, who is gunning for an 11th Australian Open title, is a fan with his new coach Andy Murray planning to use them.

"I think it's great that the Australian Open introduced the coaching box on the court at the same level in the corner," said the Serb.

"I think it's great. That's where Andy and the coaching staff will sit."



Novak Djokovic Beats Carlos Alcaraz and Gets Closer to 25th Grand Slam Title

Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures during his quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)ASSOCIATED PRESSLess
Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures during his quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)ASSOCIATED PRESSLess
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Novak Djokovic Beats Carlos Alcaraz and Gets Closer to 25th Grand Slam Title

Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures during his quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)ASSOCIATED PRESSLess
Novak Djokovic of Serbia gestures during his quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)ASSOCIATED PRESSLess

Novak Djokovic refused to let anything stop his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam trophy in the Australian Open quarterfinals. Not a problem with his left leg. Not an early deficit. And not the kid across the net, Carlos Alcaraz, who was making things difficult and eyeing his own bit of history.

Djokovic overcame it all, just as he has so often along the way to so many triumphs, moving into the semifinals at Melbourne Park for the 12th time with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Alcaraz in a scintillating showdown Tuesday night between a pair of stars born 16 years apart and at opposite ends of their careers, The AP reported.

The action was non-stop, the shot-making brilliant, even as the match stretched on for more than 3 1/2 hours and nearly to 1 a.m. — never more so, perhaps, than when Alcaraz saved a break point that would have put Djokovic ahead 5-2 in the fourth set, allowing him to serve for the win. The 33-stroke exchange was the longest of the evening, and when it ended with Djokovic sailing a forehand long, the capacity crowd at Rod Laver Arena went wild. Djokovic reached for his bothersome leg and yelled toward his entourage; Alcaraz, his chest heaving, leaned on a towel box and grinned.

Turned out that only delayed the final result.

With his wife, son and daughter cheering in the stands, the No. 7-seeded Djokovic prevailed thanks to the sort of remarkable returning and no-mistakes-made groundstrokes against Alcaraz that now-retired rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal dealt with for years.

Djokovic enjoyed some of his own best efforts in the latter stages, pointing to his ear or blowing kisses or spreading his arms while puffing out his chest. There was the forehand winner on a 22-stroke point that earned the break for a 5-3 lead in the third set. There was that set’s last point, which included a back-to-the-net sprint to chase down a lob. Alcaraz wasn’t shy, either, shouting “Vamos!” and pumping his fists after one particularly booming forehand in the fourth set.

On Friday, Djokovic’s 50th major semifinal will come against No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev, a two-time runner-up at majors who beat No. 12 Tommy Paul 7-6 (1), 7-6 (0), 2-6, 6-1. The other men’s quarterfinals are Wednesday: No. 1 Jannik Sinner vs. No. 8 Alex de Minaur, and No. 21 Ben Shelton against unseeded Lorenzo Sonego.