Rennae Stubbs has very different opinion after ITF allow coaching during matches in 2025

Follow us on Google Discover

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has confirmed a major change for 2025 as off-court coaching will be allowed.

Off-court coaching aims to make tennis fairer, with the ITF also wanting to make the sport more entertaining with the rule change.

Denis Shapovalov has blasted the off-court coaching rule, while Taylor Fritz says off-court coaching ruins the mental aspect of tennis.

The ITF landed on the decision at its annual general meeting, having recently trialled it across the ATP and WTA tours.

Coaches can issue advice any time aside from during the playing of a point, either verbally or through the use of hand signals.

Rennae Stubbs reacts to ITF allowing off-court coaching

Apart from during breaks in play it must be brief, with team captains also allowed to give coaching advice while sitting on court during team events.

Former doubles world number one Rennae Stubbs has now weighed in on the debate, sharing her thoughts on the latest episode of The Rennae Stubbs Podcast.

“Can we just laugh about that?” she said. “The amount of vitriol and stuff – even John Millman, who I love, was like it sucks. We have had it for like two years already!

READ MORE: Rennae Stubbs says what she would tell Coco Gauff during matches if she was her coach

“Here’s my thing with coaching. One thing is that it is tough for lower-ranked players if you don’t have a coach. That does hurt you, but if you have a friend they can help you and watch you play.

“So there is an imbalance there but you know what? So is if you’re a top player you get the practice courts for two hours, and a player ranked 60 gets it for an hour. You get to hit on Arthur Ashe Stadium every time you play, so it’s not a big deal when you play a match but if you never play a match you are like ‘this court is big’.

“If you are successful and you are good, everything happens for you, it’s easier. You get more balls, more practice time, you get the private car. All of it.”

Rennae Stubbs shares what coaches did which they shouldn’t have

Stubbs continued with her thoughts about on-court coaching, with the Australian having turned to coaching upon her retirement from playing.

Having worked with the likes of Karolina Pliskova and Eugenie Bouchard, Stubbs notably coached legendary figure Serena Williams.

Discussing her techniques used over the years, Stubbs added: “With on-court coaching it’s like I have played and coached and believe me when I tell you that even when it wasn’t allowed everyone was coaching.

READ MORE: Rennae Stubbs has noticed a change in Novak Djokovic’s tennis which has seen him get worse

“I can do a little tip of my righty, it means serve to the forehand. You can cross your arms for cross-court. There are so many ways to get around on-court coaching which are not allowed.

“Also there is only so much you can tell a player in 20 seconds. I think it’s fine as it was happening anyway, so now we don’t have to worry about those stupid warnings for coaching.”