Next Gen players react to coaching, scoring changes

WATCH— Court Report - November 8th:

Players at the ATP's Next Gen Finals are allowed to consult their coaches during play as part of the event's various rule changes, but have not found the experiment appealing.

Top-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas, who also criticized the rule requiring players to get their own towels, said the coaching was the other change he did not like.

"Maybe a little bit the coaching on court I'm really not a big fan of, to be honest with you," he said. "I think the player should find solutions by himself. I don't really like to talk when I'm playing on the court."

Frances Tiafoe, also competing at the event, was doubtful about whether coaching should be allowed in tennis.

"I feel like obviously team sports you have coaches," he said. "I like that. 

"But then, you know, part of me also feels, you know, like I kind of like the problem-solving in tennis. I think that's what makes it fun."

According to Andrey Rublev, coaches do not speak freely if the exchanges are televised.

"I think it's little bit not real. It's more for the people who are watching just to see the talk between player and coach," he said. "Because in my opinion most of the coaches, especially mine for sure, he's trying to find the words to be just simple because... maybe, if other coach can hear, then he can make some notes for the next match that will help him a lot.

"My coach, for sure, he just say simple things that make no change. Is the same just if I look at his face and he will clap the hands or just show me, 'Come on.'"

A few of the 21-and-under players competing at the tournament both in 2017 and this week have also joked with their coaches during their conversations in addition to talking tactics.

Poland's Hubert Hurkacz, asked about getting to talk to his coach, said it could be helpful but was unsure.

"I mean, sometimes it's fun because you don't want to take it too much seriously," he said. "Obviously you want to get to the tennis and, yeah, ask for to help maybe and maybe show my faults, what was happening on the court. And he can also show maybe this one looks a little different from there, from a different perspective. So it might be helpful, but, yeah, I don't know."

Taylor Fritz, who got laughs while talking to his coach by saying his earphones would need a wipe down, was among the more vocal in opposing coaching.

"I disagree with coaching. I think tennis is individual and how you analyze the match yourself should have an important impact," he said, though adding that he liked the other changes like altered scoring.

"I think it makes tennis more entertaining and it's trying something new. So I think tennis needs to try to appeal to be more exciting and get younger fans involved."

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