A big problem in the tennis game that has been occurring a lot lately is the use of improper coaching. That is players looking to their box to see where their coaches want them to place the serve or what type of point to play, such as a serve and volley game. This is illegal in the game of tennis. You can be coached before or after a match but not in the middle of the match. Numerous players have been accused of doing this, but the one that sticks out most in my mind is Rafael Nadal when he won against Novak Djokovic in the US Open final. I was not there so I do not know what happened, but according to espn.com, Rafael Nadal admitted to receiving coaching on the last point of the match. He was told by his long time coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, to serve at a certain spot. However when Nadal leaked this information, he leaked it in Spanish, and it is not 100 percent sure what he said. The translator was not sure what Nadal said because he was talking so rapidly. Furthermore, Nadal could have been looking to his beloved Uncle Toni, who has been his coach throughout his whole life, in a moment of pressure, and Nadal could have been looking for support. This is not the first time that Nadal has been accused of receiving improper coaching.
Last Wimbledon, there was a big dilemma over whether or not Nadal received coaching in his third round match against Philipp Petzschner according to worldtennismagazine.com. Nadal was uncharacteristically angry with the chair umpire for receiving this warning. He glowered and yelled at the umpire in a John McEnroe way. This brings up what is construed as coaching. Is yelling “Vamos Rafa” coaching? Is telling him “Beautiful forehand” considered coaching? Where does is become too much?
Toni Nadal is not the only coach to be accused of improper coaching. There are plenty of other coaches who have been accused of doing just this. Other ones that come to mind are Jimmy Connors and Todd Martin. However, the Pilot Penn tournament in New Haven is now allowing on court coaching. What does this mean for the future of improper coaching? Will it be allowed at more tournaments? Only time will tell, but whatever the reason, Rafael Nadal is still the 2010 US Open men’s singles champion.
Last Wimbledon, there was a big dilemma over whether or not Nadal received coaching in his third round match against Philipp Petzschner according to worldtennismagazine.com. Nadal was uncharacteristically angry with the chair umpire for receiving this warning. He glowered and yelled at the umpire in a John McEnroe way. This brings up what is construed as coaching. Is yelling “Vamos Rafa” coaching? Is telling him “Beautiful forehand” considered coaching? Where does is become too much?
Toni Nadal is not the only coach to be accused of improper coaching. There are plenty of other coaches who have been accused of doing just this. Other ones that come to mind are Jimmy Connors and Todd Martin. However, the Pilot Penn tournament in New Haven is now allowing on court coaching. What does this mean for the future of improper coaching? Will it be allowed at more tournaments? Only time will tell, but whatever the reason, Rafael Nadal is still the 2010 US Open men’s singles champion.
Photo courtesy of deportes.orange.es
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