Mental strength and tactical acumen are two of Novak Djokovic’s top weapons.
Reigning Wimbledon champion Djokovic’s shrewd mid-match adjustments have helped him post a 36-10 career record in five-setters.
More: Djokovic Powers Into Wimbledon Week Two
Given Djokovic’s success creating solutions on court, you might think he’d oppose the ATP decision to trial off-court coaching starting later this month, but that’s not the case.
In an all-Serbian clash on Centre Court today, Djokovic dismissed Miomir Kecmanovic to reach The Championships fourth round for the 14th time.
Afterward, Djokovic offered a nuanced view on the ATP trialing off-court coaching saying while he respects the tradition of players problem-solving on their own, coaching from the stands occurs so frequently now he supports legalizing it.
“I’m kind of divided there in my opinion because I understand the arguments from both sides. There are obviously people that feel like the uniqueness of our sport is that an individual athlete needs to find solutions on the court by himself without getting coached during a match, which I absolutely understand,” Djokovic told the media. “That’s the way it has been for many years. But at the same time we all know that most of the times, most of the matches, coaching happens.
“To kind of officialize the coaching is something I also understand. Probably lean more towards that because anyway it’s happening, so why not just make it a rule or officialize the possibility. Of course, with certain conditions, under certain conditions that you have to coach a player only if he’s on your side of the court so you don’t pose the hindrance to other player.”
Sit back and enjoy…@DjokerNole playing cat and mouse with his compatriot#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/GBaBZvmnu0
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2022
The ATP announced it will permit coaching from designated seats at the stands starting from the week of July 11th, 2022 as part of a test that will span the second half of the season.
The trial includes the US Open and will run through to the season-ending Nitto ATP Finals in Turin in November.
The ATP cites two primary reasons for the coaching trial:
1. Consistency across the sport: the WTA already permits coaching from the stands.
2. Enhancing tactical insight for fans with coaches signals and presumably comments included in live broadcasts.
Off-court coaching will be permitted under the following conditions:
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Coaches must sit in the…
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