On-Court Coaching in Tennis: A Significant Rule Change

Since 2025, tennis has permitted players to receive on-court coaching during matches. This rule change ended previous restrictions on direct communication between players and coaches during play.

This rule change ended previous restrictions on direct communication between players and coaches during play.

Current Implementation

The current implementation involves coaches sitting in designated pods. At events such as the Australian Open, these pods are courtside, allowing players to directly consult their coaches during matches.

Historical Context and Notable Incident

Historically, on-court coaching was prohibited, making direct communication between players and coaches during matches challenging. Coaches previously resorted to coded signals, a practice that could lead to warnings and penalties.

A notable instance occurred at the 2018 US Open final, where Serena Williams received a game penalty after a warning for a hand gesture from her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, which was identified as an on-court coaching violation.