Martina Navratilova is one of the greatest tennis players of all time, and yesterday she bore witness to Iga Swiatek, widely expected to end her career in a similar bracket.
However, whilst the Polish tennis star was dominant as she overcame Sofia Kenin, it was one rule which she saw exercised at Wimbledon, that has been prevalent for some time across other competitions, which drew frustration.
She would debate its usefulness, and questioned whether it made for a fair playing field.
Martina Navratilova not happy with one tennis rule
Speaking live on BBC Sport just yesterday, as she oversaw Swiatek cruise into the Wimbledon second round, Navratilova’s focus was instead on the rules of the sport rather than the demolition she played witness to.
After all, clearly an issue she was witnessing in that match, her frustration boiled over into punditry, where she complained about how prevalent coaches are becoming in the modern game.
With more and more rules emerging that ease their integration, the 67-year-old argued: ‘I think it has gotten out of hand, honestly. It has been better here, maybe because the people are further away. But I’m seeing coaches talking to a player after every point, telling them what to do, I’m like just play ball.
‘You can go over your game plan beforehand but now the coach can change it during the match, so the player doesn’t have to work out it for themselves. It’s maybe gone too far the other way. It is an individual sport so maybe it has lost a little bit of that.’
Coaches take away from the independence of tennis
Nick Kyrgios has spoken before in length about the use of coaches in tennis, and for the most part, he makes valid points.
After all, he sees tennis as an individual sport, where one person goes out on court and then it is just opponent vs opponent.
However, with the new rule change which has allowed far more conversations between the coaching staff and their players, it removes that independence.
No longer is it just two men or women on court clashing tactically and physically, it becomes more of a team sport and takes away from the essence of tennis.
Navratilova is more than justified in her complaints, and it is not a new grievance either.
However, it feels like since this can of worms has been opened, it can no longer be put back in.
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