Off-court coaching didn’t make it into Andre Agassi’s 2011 induction speech to the International Tennis Hall of Fame at Rhode Island. There was one passage about the stark nature of the game that might have resonated with players past and present. “Tennis is a lonely sport, probably the most lonely. You’re out there with no team, no coach and no place to hide, “the former eight-time major winner said.

It seems that tennis no longer wants players to work it all out themselves. The International Tennis Federation has announced that off-court coaching will be allowed on the men’s ATP and women’s WTA tours and the majors from the beginning of 2025. The governing body’s annual general meeting in Hong Kong passed a majority vote to confirm the change.

The ITF stated that it had consulted with all stakeholders in the game, including officials, players, and coaches, and reported that the feedback was essentially positive. Trials of off-court coaching have been taking place since 2017, and these have also been rolled out sporadically at Grand Slam events.

Mixed Reaction to 2025 Off-Court Coaching Change

There has been a mixed reaction to the ITF’s new rulings, the main takeaway being that coaches can issue advice verbally (when the player is at the same end of the court) or with hand movements at any time except during points themselves. Patrick Mouratoglou, a disruptor for modern tennis outreach, has been outspoken about the need to validate the practice. Many in the game would agree surreptitious coaching has been prevalent and making it official is a belated acknowledgement of that fact.

Off-Court Coaching Devalues Tennis Claims Fritz

Denis Shapovalov’s reaction was stark and old-school. “Tennis is special because you are out there alone. Why are you trying to change the beauty of this game,” the Canadian said. Taylor Fritz’s take was in the same ballpark as his fellow North American. “Can we stop ruining the 1v1 mental/strategic aspect of the sport PLEASE,” bellowed the U.S Open runner-up on X. When the rule was legalized during the Flushing Meadows event in 2022, the current world No. 7 said: “I really hate it.”

Tennis authorities are increasingly busy with change-ups and trials across singles and doubles formats to reduce “dead time” and to find a balance between what works for the players while making the game more popular and entertaining.

There was something desperately compelling about Andy Murray screaming at the player’s box when unable to change the course of the match. Player meltdowns and rants at their coaches – who could only previously clap or shout encouragement – was part of the soap opera. Competitors now have the chance to reach out, albeit in a “discreet and brief” manner.

Off-Court Coaching Takes Pressure Off Umpire

After consultations with all parties, the ITF insisted that Chair Umpires have said they could concentrate on the match without the fear of distractions from supposed coaching infringements. The very worst-case scenario involved Serena Williams’s meltdown against Naomi Osaka in the 2018 women’s singles final at Flushing Meadows. Feedback from coaches suggested that they can develop players better and raise the standing of their profession. All such off-court coaching would still be originating from their designated seating positions.

One of the other headline changes is that players will have access to approved “player analysis technology” during periods when coaching is allowed. Former three-time Slam winner and Olympic champion Jennifer Capriati is open to the idea. “I think players should be able to have a stat pad to see the analytics in real-time. A player should be able to figure this out instinctually, but sometimes what you think you are doing is not what’s actually happening. You need to see the data. Then use that to execute,” wrote the 1992 Barcelona gold medallist.

Jose Mourinho once shared his “special respect” for tennis players, saying that they were of a different breed to footballers who could hide behind the collective responsibility of the team. Sport psychology coach Josh Burger, a former assistant tennis professional at the International Hall of Fame, feels that the ruling has taken that sense of responsibility away.

Tennis Thrives On Personal Responsibility

“Tennis has historically been a sport where athletes need to fend for themselves. It has been a sport where the strong survive, the mentally and physically strongest competitor wins, and players have to problem solve and figure things out for themselves. Allowing them to receive off-court coaching diminishes this need for players to take responsibility for their own games, which in my opinion takes away something special“, the co-host of Tennis IQ Podcast told me.

“Additionally, not all ITF players have the financial resources to bring coaches to all of their tournaments so this creates a potential imbalance and additional advantage towards those with the ability to hire and pay for a full-time coach, “ Burger continued. Ultimately, the perennial haves and have-nots will always be a factor too.

Tennis demands self-reliance and loneliness “teaches you to stand alone”, said Agassi in that speech. Jimmy Connors insisted that the only person who can make you a champion is “yourself.” Off-Court coaching wouldn’t get into the Brash Basher of Belleville’s lexicon.