Alexander Zverev, the World No. 2 tennis player, has shared his thoughts on the Australian Open’s newly introduced coaching box, revealing his dislike for the innovation. Zverev, who comfortably defeated former semi-finalist Lucas Pouille 6-4 6-4 6-4 in the opening round of the tournament, was asked about the courtside seating area after the match. His response? Not exactly enthusiastic.
Zverev’s coaching team consists of his father, Alexander Sr., and his brother, Mischa, who accompanied him to the Australian Open. With the introduction of mid-match coaching, the Australian Open has set up special seating pods for player support staff to access live data and stats, as well as interact with the players during matches. Zverev’s family members sat in one of these new pods on Rod Laver Arena while he faced Pouille.
Although Zverev had a relatively easy win, taking just two hours and 21 minutes to secure the straight-set victory, the new coaching feature seemed to leave him underwhelmed.
When asked about the experience of seeing his family in the coaching area, Zverev didn’t hold back. “Yeah, I mean, I hate it,” he remarked candidly. The question about whether his “hatred” was because he had to see his family more often prompted a quick-witted response: “Basically, I don’t want to see them too much in my life.”
However, Zverev didn’t stop there. Jokingly, he said, “I chose them as my coaches, unfortunately,” only to quickly backtrack, clarifying, “I didn’t really have a choice, to be honest. What am I going to say, Christmas dinner, ‘No, you’re not coming to Australia?’ Well, their bags are packed already. I wouldn’t get food from my mum, so that would be a problem.”
Despite his playful comments, Zverev did acknowledge the role of innovation in modern sports. “There’s innovation in all sports. Tennis is getting innovation as well,” he said. However, he remained unconvinced about the actual value of the coaching pod, adding, “I’m not sure what kind of innovation that is. But we’re moving forward, the world is moving forward. That’s the way it is.”
The Australian Open has introduced the new courtside coaching pods on the three main show courts, offering space for up to four members of each player’s team. These pods feature screens that display real-time match data, and they are equipped with cooling systems to help staff handle the heat during the tournament’s notoriously hot summer days.
Despite the changes, the use of these pods remains optional. Teams can choose to make use of the seating area, but they are not required to do so. This innovation was announced by Australian Open director Craig Tiley after a rule change that permits players to speak with their coaches while both are on the same side of the court.
While Alexander Zverev might not be a fan of the new coaching pods at the Australian Open, the innovation reflects the sport’s ongoing evolution. It remains to be seen how other players and teams will adapt to this new feature for the tournament.
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