World number one, Aryna Sabalenka is notorious for coach-bashing, and her antics were not softened by the open-coaching policy in her semi-final against Iga Swiatek at Roland Garros last year. Her coach, Joe Stacy, said the coaching team just cop 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 wild cat cool, baby. When the new rules were introduced, Sabalenka asked the team to stay in the traditional player’s box in the stand rather than the courtside pods. Perhaps distance makes the heart grow fonder.
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 offender at this year’s Open (so far) would have to be Serbia’s number three, Hamad Medjedovic. His first set against Alex de Minaur in the second round was sublime. The Demon hardly got a look-in. Medjedovic seemed energised by his little chats with the team. Life was good. Then bang. He slides back in the second and wants to fry his guys for dinner.
Was he peeved by his performance or that of his tribe? Either way, he shot arrows of despair directly at the pod, muttering, ranting, shouting, shaking the head, placing hands on hips, and unleashing the dreaded death stare whenever he missed a point. In the Channel 9 commentary box, John McEnroe wisely noted: “His head is not in this right now.”
Even the Demon couldn’t resist a sarcastic thumbs up or two to his group. A kind of “that would have been nice if it had gone to plan, mate”.
Is the tension worst with parent-coaches or parents who fancy themselves as coaches? In a moment of anger, Stefanos Tsitsipas made his dad, Apostolos, bleed when he accidentally struck him with his racquet as he sat courtside at the 2020 ATP Cup in Brisbane. And Andy Murray’s loud rants at his ever-loving ma were legendary. She, who breastfed him from birth and taught him how to lob at three. She would be left looking sad and stoic in the player’s box as she copped a shellacking from her second born. Again.
It’s excruciating. Ungrateful. And a little bit rude.
Stefanos Tsitsipas accidentally hurt his coach father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, when slamming his racquet during the 2020 ATP Cup.Credit: YouTube
Look, I know some players fret about their performance. And that they take it out on close ones because they’re the idiots who told them to go cross court when down the line was wiser. Players in other sports get frustrated too. It’s part of the gig. But they don’t get habitually pickle-faced. I’m trying to imagine that nice Cameron Green, for example, halting a Test match to chew out Captain Cummins.
Legal on-court coaching has improved the channels of communication but hasn’t greatly changed the snit-fits. If anything, it’s exposed how easily some crack it with those most invested in them. Here’s an idea. Scrap coaches altogether. Players can roam the court all on their ownsome. If they overhit, mishit, sink balls into the net or trip on their shoelaces, let them self-combust. And if they play brilliantly, may they pump the air or pull a Lleyton Hewitt duck sign of success.
Either way, it’ll be sensational entertainment.
Jo Stubbings is a freelance writer and reviewer.
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