Novak Djokovic has reasserted his stance that on-court coaching is beneficial for players and good for the sport.
Djokovic emphasized on the importance of improvement of communication between coaches and players through innovation when he was asked why players unleash wrath at their boxes. The 23-time champion believes the sport could innovate to facilitate communication between coach and player and thinks that could also be employed to enhance the TV or live product experience.
The Serbian was asked why players shout at their teams in tennis when such behavior is a rare sight in basketball. ATP #1 handled the oddly phrased question in a straightforward way by alluding to the fact that basketball players can simply walk over to their bench to communicate with their coaches.
“Well, it’s different in basketball because you can basically go to your coach or bench any time you want. We are not able to do that.
“So we have to sometimes raise our voice in order for our team to hear us or for us to hear them, because otherwise, you know, we have to communicate with the signs or signals. You know, it’s louder out on the court.
“I would want to see, honestly, you know, a possibility of — I’m actually supportive of the on-court coaching or headset communication, whatever ways of getting more coaching. I think it’s good. I think it’s good for the audience. It’s good for player.
“I understand that there are some, you know, opponents of this, you know, coaching rule that are saying, Yeah, you’re a tennis player, individual athlete, so you have to figure things out by yourself.
“Well, you have to figure them out anyway, even if the coach comes in, say, in a set break or whatever, and you talk, you still have to have to play yourself, right? There is no substitution.
“So it’s quite different, you know, than basketball. It’s really not comparable.
“But yeah, I’m actually happy that we are able now to freely communicate rather than hiding from a chair umpire or supervisor like we did for many years. So it’s good. I’m supportive of that.”
Djokovic will face compatriot Laslo Djere in the R3 and expects his opponent to give him some tough time after sealing comfortable wins in first two rounds at the New York major.
“I think he’s playing one of his best tennis on hard court at the moment. He’s in very good form. It’s great for Serbian tennis that we have, you know, a matchup in the third round. So one Serbian is going to be definitely in the fourth round, which is always great for our tennis.
“You know, he’s one of the hardest workers on the tour. We follow each other, not just me and him, but, you know, players in the locker rooms, in the gym, you know, the amount of hours that one player puts or the other player puts in his time on the court, in the gym, and he’s definitely one of the top hardest workers out there. Puts a lot of hours into care for his body and trying to build his form.
“Eventually the results will come for a player like him because he’s very, very dedicated and very nice guy. Very quiet. Just, you know, works hard and big fighter. You know, does his best.
“Obviously clay, his favorite surface. But as I said, you know, he’s improving, improving on hard court, no doubt. Here, slightly slower hard courts, balls, as well, so I think it’s favorable to his game.
“He’s physically very fit, you know, so I must be ready for a physical battle.”