Cahill welcomes new WTA coaching rules

Unlike the ATP, the WTA tour has been quite revolutionary in some of the rule changes they apply with coaching at the forefront and more are coming.

The Dubai Duty Free Championship 2020 will be a historic one simply because it will be the first event with new coaching rules apply. The WTA first revolutionized coaching back in 2008 when they allowed on-court coaching. Now starting with the Dubai event, they will allow coaching from the stands as well.

While tennis purists might frown upon the idea many welcomed it including WTA Coach (Simona Halep) and ESPN commentator Darren Cahill. Speaking about it at the Australian Open he said:

"I'm big on tradition. I'm old. So I love the whole tradition of tennis and the one-on-one and problem-solving and what you're trying to do. But I think we're evolving as a sport." He continued:

"We can see the 10-point tiebreaker here [at the Australian Open] at 6-All [in the final set]. Who would have thought 20 years ago we'd be playing a 10-point tiebreak? But I think it's one of the greatest things we have seen here at the Australian Open. These 10-point tiebreaks, that building of the suspense and the pressure."

He explained how many coaches were coaching from the stands as it is using facial expressions and gestures. By allowing it they eliminated the need for secrecy. He also explained in simple words what coaching exactly is:

"But if you were allowed to do it, it's a simple one line: Hey, Simona, hold your line. Okay, that's coaching. But it's not over-the-top coaching. It's something really simple that can make a big difference to the players. We are trying to make the players better, we're trying to make the sport better, we're trying to make the coaches better."

All in all, it was very positive from one of the better-known coaches so this rule change is likely to stick around.

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