Under-fire coach hits back over ‘normal’ outbursts

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It was during Thursday’s semi final featuring Victoria Azarenka and Elena Rybakina that the new rule really came to the fore when the latter’s coach fired up.

Rybakina was poised to take the first set at 5-3 but eventually went to a tiebreak after a comeback from her Russian rival.

Down 0-40 at 5-5, the Khazak’s coach Stefano Vukov was pictured yelling and pointing at his head.

Asked on Friday about the intense response to Rybakina’s short-lived slump, Vukov said any perception that it was an overaction was wide of the mark. 

The coach was also critical of footage viewed in isolation.

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“I mean, first of all, I think that like it’s easy to just, you know, take clips and then make something controversial,” said Vukov.

“I mean, this is part of our sport. It’s normal, you know. As coaching, you know, there is 10,000 people out there. To get attention of the player is definitely not easy.

“People don’t understand that. I have to scream out something if she’s off track. Then people can interpret this how they want. 

“But at the end of the day, we are just doing our job. Coaching is now allowed, and I think she’s using it in the best possible way.”

Rybakina unpacks semi win

Vukov said there were moments in the match where he had to remind her to push as she conceded games to Azarenka.

“There are moments of the match the player doesn’t remember, for example, or in a pressure point, which side to defend more, where to serve more,” he explained.

“We are there to remind them. So obviously I think that coaching is very important. 

“If the player wants to listen, obviously, they should use it as much as possible, because there is some matches that a few points make the difference. 

“Look at the beginning of yesterday; 3-2 down, two bad choices. That’s it. That’s it. She could have been 3-0 or 4-0 up. I don’t know, something like this.

“Not to be negative, but it’s just our job, right? That’s what we are there for.”

While Vukov argued courtside coaching is the new normal, Australian tennis great Sam Stosur stopped short of endorsing the rule change.

Appearing on Stan Sport’s Grand Slam Daily, the 2011 US Open champion said there are benefits for the broadcast and subsequently its fans.

“I like the way tennis has been with the history of not having that,” Stosur said of the ban on courtside coaching.

“To be honest, it did happen, it was just not legal. I think that’s probably why they’ve done it (the rule change). 

“Obviously, I think it gives really good insight to the viewers at home, hearing what they’re able to say. 

“I think it was always going to happen. And like I said, it happened on occasion anyway.

“I think it probably adds a bit to the tennis. You can get a bit from the box, a bit from the player, see a bit of banter, see a bit of frustration and really see where both of their heads are at.”

Rybakina is set to face Aryna Sabalenka on Saturday in the Australian Open women’s final. 

Rybakina is vying for a second grand slam title after winning at Wimbledon last year, while Sabalenka is looking to score her first singles grand slam win.

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