Teaching ‘pods’ get blended response from high gamers at Australian Open 2025 – INA NEWS

The Australian Open has launched courtside “teaching pods” at this 12 months’s match in a Grand Slam first, however they’ve met with a blended response.

The pods are positioned in two corners on every of the foremost courts with as much as 4 individuals allowed, much like the set-up at staff occasions just like the Davis Cup and United Cup.

They’ve entry to real-time information on screens for statistical evaluation, with coaches having the choice to perch there or of their traditional place within the conventional participant field, the place family and friends may sit.

It follows the Worldwide Tennis Federation enjoyable its guidelines in October, permitting coaches to speak with gamers throughout matches so long as it’s “temporary” and “discreet”.

Australian Open chief Craig Tiley admitted that “some coaches have been a bit sceptical at first” of the pods.

“However then they sat down and stated: ‘That is nice’,” he informed The Age newspaper.

“After they [players] come and get their towel, you possibly can discuss to them, so that you’re virtually, in impact, capable of coach your participant after every level, if you wish to.”

However not all gamers are satisfied about the advantages.

“Truthfully, it’s not like I’m an enormous fan of that call. Or if you happen to do this, then make extra seats,” stated world primary and defending Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka.

“For instance, me personally, I prefer to see the entire staff. I need to see the entire individuals in my field.

“I don’t know, generally I simply need to take a look at my boyfriend for the assist. I simply didn’t need to, like, take a look at the coach first, then look within the field.”

Greek participant Stefanos Tsitsipas has lengthy been an advocate for teaching to be permitted throughout matches, however he stated he was shocked when he first noticed the pods.

“I really laughed after I noticed them,” he stated.

“I don’t know, it’s sort of bizarre. I see my coaches and another staff members in that specific field, and the remainder of them are upstairs, which I’m not used to.

“I suppose I’ll acclimatise in some unspecified time in the future.”

However 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, who’s gunning for an eleventh Australian Open title, is a fan together with his new coach Andy Murray planning to make use of them.

“I feel it’s nice that the Australian Open launched the teaching field on the court docket on the similar degree within the nook,” stated the Serb.

Djokovic made use of the pod as he walked as much as Murray on a number of events throughout his first-round match on Monday.