World number one Aryna Sabalenkova is notorious for attacking coaches, and her antics were not dampened by the open coaching policy in last year’s semi-final against Iza Swiatek at Roland Garros. Her coach, Joe Stacy, said the coaching staff took it on the chin: “We have a very simple saying, don’t fight it. Don’t feed it.” In other words, try to keep this wildcat cool, baby. When the new rules were introduced, Sabalenka asked the team to stay in the traditional players’ box in the stands and not on the courts. Maybe the distance melts the heart.
Twelfth seed Elina Svitolina listens as her coach Andrew Bettles and husband Gael Monfils, left, give her advice during her fourth round match against Mirra Andreeva on Sunday. Credit: AP
The worst at this year’s Open (so far) would have to be Serbian triple Hamad Medjedovic. His first set against Alex de Minaur in the second round was amazing. The demon barely looked. Medjedovic seemed energized by his small talk with the team. Life was good. Then bang. He slips back into the other and wants to fry his guys for dinner.
Was he upset with his performance or his tribe’s performance? Either way, he shot arrows of despair straight into the pod, muttering, roaring, screaming, shaking his head, putting his hands on his hips, and giving a terrifying death stare whenever he missed the point. Commenting on Channel 9, John McEnroe sagely observed: “He’s out of it at the moment.”
Even the Demon couldn’t resist a sarcastic thumbs up or two from his group. The “it’d be nice if it went to plan, dude” kind of thing.
Is the tension worse with parent-coaches or parents who see themselves as coaches? In a moment of anger, Stefanos Tsitsipas left his father Apostolos to bleed to death when he accidentally hit him with his racket while sitting courtside at the 2020 ATP Cup in Brisbane. And Andy Murray’s loud rants at his ever-loving but legendary. She who nursed him from birth and taught him to lob three. She would remain sad and stoic in the players’ box as she coped with shellacking from her second-born child. Again.
It’s excruciating. Ungrateful. And a little rude.
Stefanos Tsitsipas accidentally injured his coach father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, when he slammed his racket during the 2020 ATP Cup.Credit: YouTube
Look, I know some players who are afraid of their performance. And that they take it out on loved ones because they are the idiots who told them to go to court when it would be wiser. Players in other sports are also frustrated. It’s part of the concert. But they don’t get it usually cucumber. I’m trying to imagine, for example, the lovely Cameron Green stopping a Test match to chew out Captain Cummins.
Legal coaching on the court improved communication channels but did not change very lean behavior. If anything, it’s revealed how easily some screw it up with those most invested in them. Here’s an idea. Scrap the trainers completely. Players can move around the field by themselves. If they overshoot, mess up, put balls in the net or trip over the laces, let them self-ignite. And if they play great, let them pump the air or pull out the Lleyton Hewitt duck success sign.
In any case, it will be sensational fun.
Jo Stubbings is a freelance writer and reviewer.
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