American John Isner dismisses Stefanos Tsitsipas’ recent on-court coaching suggestion

American John Isner dismisses Stefanos Tsitsipas’ recent on-court coaching suggestion

Stefanos Tsitsipas and John Isner

World No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas is currently experiencing a slight slump in form after his shocking first round exit at 2021 Wimbledon a month ago. More recently, he was also downed by Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic in the quarterfinals of Hamburg Open in three sets.

The Greek superstar’s decline has been met with a surprise, especially after his stellar season on the European clay. Tstisipas won the Monte Carlo Masters and also made the finals of ATP Barcelona and the French Open.

Meanwhile, the 22-year-old has also suggested that “on-court coaching on every point,” on the men’s tour should be made legal. Currently, coaching during a match is banned and upon violating rules, the player and his coach can get penalized on the ATP tour and Grand Slams. That said, on-court coaching between every set is allowed on the WTA tour.

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Post his suggestion, Tsitsipas has not received any support or encouragement from his ATP colleagues. “I don’t agree with Tsitsipas about the on-court coaching. Tennis is a one-on-one sport and that’s the cool part about it,” American John Isner told the media in Atlanta.

Tsitsipas find no support from Federer and Kyrgios

Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios too didn’t respond in the affirmative earlier. “I usually don’t mind his (Tsitsipas’) ideas, but this one is terrible. Some people choose not to have a coach, some people can’t afford a coach. On the tennis court it’s a level playing field. I think it’s the beauty of the sport. Why should there be a punishment or a penalty rule for a coach that feels the need to talk or give advice?”

Back in time, Roger Federer too had made his intentions clear about on-court coaching. “I don’t support on court coaching. I think that I have the best team in the world, and so it’s not fair that I could profit from that and another guy, who has maybe no coach, can‘t benefit at all.”

Tsitsipas has currently won 41 matches in 2021 till now as compared to 11 defeats. In the coming weeks, he will be representing his country Greece in the Olympics in the singles and doubles event in Tokyo. Tsitsipas has never won an Olympic medal in his career till now.

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