Djokovic, Murray got Australian Open trainer boxes tested

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic stood with his hands on his hips, listening intently to Andy Murray – his long-time rival on the court, and now, astonishingly, his coach at the Australian Open — between sets at Rod Laver Arena. Murray pantomimed the swing of a two-handed backhand. Djokovic took it all in and then responded.

The scene was notable because of the new — and “a little bit weird,” Djokovic said Monday night — relationship between these two stars of their sport, yes, but also because that face-to-face conversation could even happen in the middle of one Grand Slam match.

It is part of a new setup at the three biggest stadiums in Melbourne Park where the first major tennis tournament of the year giving up to four people from each player’s entourage a chance to sit in coaches’ boxes, which include access to screens with real-time data and are located at court level in corners right near the playing surface, rather than up in the stands.

“A couple of times I approached Andy, asked him something about whatever it was, whatever shot I had,” 24-time major champion Djokovic said after his 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over 19-year-old American Nishesh Basavareddy in the first round. “He gave me his feedback, his guidance and his opinion.”

It’s the kind of normal and obvious coach-athlete interaction seen in almost every team sport, almost every day, and sometimes even overheard on broadcast television. But tennis is different, both because it is almost always an individual endeavor and because in-match coaching was traditionally completely banned on the elite tours.

That has gradually changed in recent years, with various attempts to introduce coachingwhich was often done on the sly despite rules against it (memorably, Serena Williams was penalized when coach Patrick Mouratoglou was caught signaling during the 2018 US Open final against Naomi Osaka).

The International Tennis Federation announced last year that coaching is fine everywhere now, which not everyone thinks is a good idea.

“It’s something that should be between the two players. Being able to strategize, how you handle decision-making, coming up with that kind of thing under pressure is just as important as hitting a serve or hitting a forehand, ” said Taylor FritzUS Open runner-up in September and seed no. 4 at the Australian Open. “It would be insane if someone could come onto the field for you and serve, wouldn’t it? So why can someone tell you what to do?”

However, that debate appears to be settled.

The new question: Is it a good idea to let coaches be so close to the action where they can potentially have even more influence on an outcome?

“I think it’s fine. My coaches can tell me what they want, but if I don’t apply it, it’s not going to happen,” said two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka. “We’re investing so much money to have coaches to lift our performance, I don’t see why that shouldn’t be used.”

One thing Djokovic and other players say they appreciate: It’s much easier to hear a coach when he or she is sitting nearby.

When they are up in the seats near the ticket-buying spectators in the usual arrangement – and a spokesman for the US Tennis Association said on Tuesday that there are no plans to put anything like Australian Open pods in place for this year’s US Open – it can be difficult to distinguish something in the middle of the cacophony.

“I like the energy of it. I like having a little back and forth with my coach. And it gives me an opportunity to either blow off some steam or get some input,” said Yannick Hanfmann, a top-ranked German 100, who got used to in-match coaching while playing college tennis in Southern California. I don’t mind.”

Most athletes seem to favor the Melbourne setup, although only those affiliated with Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena or John Cain Arena get to try it.

The other 11 battlegrounds in these two weeks do not have pods for trainers.

“I just knew what I had to do today so I didn’t feel like I needed the coaching,” said the no. 2 Iga Swiateka five-time major champion who recently hired Wim Fissette and had him near the course for his first-round win on Monday. “But for sure … there will be moments when I will use it.”

Coco Gauffthe American, who won the US Open in 2023, employs two coaches and likes to have them around.

“I’m the type, I don’t talk to the coaches a lot, but I like to get advice,” she said. “I’m a fan of it.”

Not everyone takes advantage of the opportunity.

no. 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenkaseeking a third consecutive Australian Open title, won his opening match this week with an empty box. That’s because there wasn’t enough room for everyone on her staff in there.

“If you do that, make more seats. For example, me personally, I like to see the whole team. … Even if I don’t look at every person in my box, I always look at my coach, but I see still everyone. For me it’s important. Sometimes I just want to look at my girlfriend for support, for example,” said Sabalenka.

“Four seats are not enough,” she said. “If they would make it eight seats – I don’t know how – it would be much better.”

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Howard Fendrich has been the AP’s tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP tennis: