Controversial high-profile change to the Australian Open is slammed by fans for making players’ lives too easy: ‘It ruins the game’

Tennis fans are divided over the new coaching pods introduced at this year’s Australian Open.

Tournament boss Craig Tiley is excited about the new innovation that will allow coaches to talk to players during a match from a pod on the pitch.

Set up in the corners of the field, the pods can accommodate four people and are equipped with screens that allow coaches to access statistics and data in real time.

“We tested it this week and some of the coaches were a little skeptical at first, but then they sat down and said, ‘This is great,’” Tiley said. The Sydney Morning Herald.

‘I think we’re going to find a lot more than the majority will actually be on the field. You’ll have a great line of sight of your player after every point.

“When they come to get their towel, you can talk to them so you can coach your player almost after every point if you want.”

After his win over Lucas Pouille, Zverev joked that he ‘hates’ the pods – but fans weren’t trying to be funny as they decried the new addition to the grand slam

The new pods not only provide an excellent view of the game, but also allow coaches to communicate with their player

The introduction of the pods at the Grand Slam coincides with coaches now being allowed to communicate with players except during live points.

Alexander Zverev joked that he ‘hates’ the new signing after beating Lucas Pouille in his first-round match on Sunday, but tennis fans weren’t trying to be funny as they slammed the pods on social media.

‘Terrible. It’s not tennis anymore. This is a completely different sport,” said an X user.

‘They are ruining this sport. To make everything so easy for the new generation, they will then reduce the slams top best of three and that will be the end of it,” said another.

“This is terrible and a huge advantage for the best players who can afford the best coaches,” a third replied.

Greek player Stefanos Tsitsipas wasn’t sure how he felt about the coaching pods.

“I really had to laugh when I saw them yesterday,” he said before the tournament started.

‘I played with Jannik (Sinner). Don’t know. It was a bit weird. It’s weird.

“Do you know why it’s weird? Because I see my coaches and some other team members in a certain box and everyone else upstairs, which I don’t know – I’m not used to it.

‘I think I will acclimatise at some point, but I would like to see those things applied in tennis and matches being changed by what a coach has to say.

“It’s definitely something that will be cool for tennis. I think it will offer something new and innovative.”

Tiley is proud of the new pods on the field and hopes that coaches will have a higher profile and greater recognition in the sport.

“As a former coach, I believe that coaches should have a greater profile in the story of the event and in the story of the relationship with the players,” Tiley said.

‘We think [the pods are] “We’re going to create bigger stories with coaches, a more interesting story, give the coaches more profile, and there’s a good chance we’ll see things happening down there that are quite interesting.”