Coco Gauff remains optimistic towards the AO new on court coaching pods

After the AO’s new on court coaching pods received backlash from players, Coco Gauff remains optimistic towards the new initiative, while Stefanos Tsitsipas declares it ‘good for tennis.’

On-court coaching has divided the world’s top tennis players, with American star Coco Gauff optimistic that teams will remain “respectful” while in close proximity to opposition players.

Defending Australian Open women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka conceded she was “not a big fan” of the new innovation which allows up to four members of a player’s coaching team to sit just metres from their players and converse with them between points from an on-court “pod” of seats.

The new addition to this year’s tournament – which features on Rod Laver Arena and Margaret Court Arena – has coincided with coaches being allowed to speak to players when at the same end of the court and also access real-time statistical data.

Gauff, who on Monday advanced to the second round, said she had left the call on where to sit up to her coaches, and was happy to be surprised when she walked out on court.

The new coaching pods have drawn attention. Picture: WILLIAM WEST / AFP

“For me it’s fine, and obviously my coaches, I gave them the decision if they wanted to sit in the box or on courtside,” she said.

“I didn’t know what they were going to choose until I walked out on court, and I saw them in the box.

“I’m the type of person, I don’t talk a lot to the coaches, but I do like to get advice. I am a fan of it, but I definitely like the way it is now instead of having like the on-court coaching where they come on court.

“I think it’s good. I like this format better than I think a couple of years ago when the coach had to come on court and, like, one time a set or something. I think that was just like a little bit weird. I like that you can just say what you want when you want.”

Gauff said she harboured no fears that it could open the door for more interaction between players and opposition teams that sit close to the baseline.

“If you are respectful, they aren’t really saying anything to you while you’re on that side, and I don’t say anything to them,” she said.

Coco Gauff says teams will remain respectful. Picture: DAVID GRAY / AFP

“I will say at United Cup it was a little bit weird because I put my towel right next to the bench. It was just awkward not wanting to look at the opposing team, but I don’t think there will be any crazy stuff unless people are being disrespectful.

“I think most of the teams on tour are pretty respectful. I don’t think that will open it up for that.”

Eleventh-seed Stefanos Tsitsipas had initial reservations about the “pods”, but said after his opening round defeat that access to live data in particular was “good for tennis”.

Coaches on outside courts – who sit in the stands - have access to the same analytical data via an app.

World No. 2 Iga Swiatek also backed the initiative after her straight-sets first round win, saying she enjoyed having coach Wim Fissette so close. Sabalenka opted not to use the pod in her first round clash with Sloane Stephens, and said she preferred her whole team to sit together.

“Honestly, it’s not like I’m a big fan of that decision,” Sabalenka said.

Super curious about the court-side coaching pods at the #AusOpen

First time ever for tennis, coaches will be court level and have up to four members of their staff.

Wild times, when I was playing, we’d get a penalty if we even looked at a gesture from our coach in the stands.

— Tami McQueen (@tami__mcqueen) January 13, 2025

“Or if you do that, then make more seats. For example, me personally, I like to see the whole team. I want to see the whole people in my box.

“Even if I’m not looking at each person in my box, I always look at my coach, but I still see everyone. For me that’s important.

“I don’t know, sometimes I just want to look at my boyfriend for the support, for example. I just didn’t want to, like, look at the coach first, then look in the box because I have a lot of coaches. Four seats is not enough.

“If they would make it to eight seats, I don’t know how, but it would be much better for me. “So we decided to put everyone in the box. Maybe they were kind of like tight there and not comfortable, but I was comfortable to see all of them.”

Originally published as Coco Gauff remains optimistic towards the AO new on court coaching pods