WTA Dubai: go-ahead for on-court coaching - Simona Haleps Coach pleased
This week, the WTA tournament in Dubai kicks off a test phase for permitted on-court coaching for women. Simona Halep's coach Darren Cahill was delighted.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Feb 19, 2020, 10:35 am
It is an eternal issue in women's tennis. What can you do about coaching from the players' boxes? Or: should you do anything about it? "No," says the WTA, recently announcing that on-court coaching will be allowed on a trial basis at some tournaments. The starting signal for this is now given at the WTA event in Dubai. Simona Halep is also number two in the world in the United Arab Emirates.
It is also the Romanian coach who, in the course of the Australian Open, is clearly in favor of this new regulation. "It is important that we continue to develop and do this. I am really in favor of it. I think the WTA is doing something good," said the 54-year-old. The fact that coaching is now allowed will, according to Cahill, make coaching less and more precise in the future, instead of the "sneaky" attempts to coach his protégé.
"Coaches are part of the game"
Simona Halep's co-coach, Artemon Apostu-Efremov, also sees a positive development in this test run: "I think this is a step that should have been taken a while ago because coaches are part of the game They're almost permanent with the players, so I find it a little strange to take them out of the game when it matters most. " You will see how it develops. Apostu-Efremov, however, hoped that things were going in the right direction.
Simona Halep will face the Tunisian Ons Jabeur in Dubai after a walk-through in the first round of the round of 16. Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin and third in the world rankings Karolina Pliskova are also fighting for the tournament victory in the United Arab Emirates. The coming days will show what role on-court coaching will play and whether Simona Halep's coaches know best how to deal with the innovation that gives them so much pleasure.