WTA chief Simon backs coaching from the stands

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Simon said the experiment to allow coaching from the sidelines was an important change in the sport's evolution. - AFP
Simon said the experiment to allow coaching from the sidelines was an important change in the sport's evolution. - AFP

Dubai - Simon, who was the Tournament Director and CEO of the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, prior to being appointed by the women's tour, said that the change needs to be handled meticulously.

By James Jose

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Published: Mon 17 Feb 2020, 9:44 PM

Last updated: Mon 17 Feb 2020, 11:47 PM

WTA CEO and Chairman Steve Simon said that the new system of allowing coaching from the stands should become a permanent fixture and felt it was an important change in the sport's evolution.
The WTA are trialling the system at the ongoing Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and Simon, who took over the dual roles in 2015, said that getting the fans involved will be the next phase, going forward.
"Coaching is a part of sport and I've always felt that was part of the story," Simon said when asked by the Khaleej Times about the trial.
"And why should tennis be different? We have our own traditions. We are not going to see coaches with headsets and throwing clip boards and going nuts, ripping their shirts off and everything that you may see in some of the other sports. But coaching happens. And why are we not supporting it and sharing with everybody because your fans want to know what that interaction is. It is part of the story. And I think it just makes sense," he added.
Simon, who was the Tournament Director and CEO of the BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells Tennis Tournament, prior to being appointed by the women's tour, said that the change needs to be handled meticulously. "If you want the sport and have the argument that it is the gladiator sport...first of all, if you want to be gladiators, there should be no coaches, no players, nobody near the court, you are truly out there by yourself. And that isn't the case, We are not trying to do that. And I don't think it takes away from that idea because the unique thing about tennis is there isn't anybody there with you," he explained.
"No one can hit the forehand for you, no one can hit the backhand for you, no one can hit that second serve at match point when you are down. So, I believe it is a good part of the sport and I think we need to evolve it. Needs to be done tastefully and then we need to figure out how we bring that to the fans as well," added Simon.
Simon also said that the women's game was in the pink of health, especially with the rise of so many young players making it even more competitive.
"I think that the WTA is really in its own unique place. And if you look at the sport, you have the ATP which has had great champions Roger (Federer), Rafa (Nadal), Novak (Djokovic) and Andy (Murray) until he got hurt. And they are still dominating. On our side, we've had Serena, who has dominated. But what you are seeing now is obviously the significant depth that we have. And what's also fun that we have is that we have the icons of the sport still playing and the next icons," he said.
"So, we have Serena still playing, Kim coming back. You have that element. We have our great champions which you see here in our current players. Karolina (Pliskova), Elina (Svitolina) and Simona (Halep) and all of them who stand on their own. And then you have Coco (Gauff) coming. And when you put that mix together, it creates some amazing stories. And then you throw a Kim Clijsters coming back, I'm very excited about our product and our depth of it," Simon added.
james@khaleejtimes.com
 


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