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Elena Vesnina
The new rule allowing on-court coaching on the women's
professional tennis circuit has been less than universally
embraced at the ASB Classic this week.
Elena Vesnina, who meets top seed Elena Dementieva in an
all-Russian final in Auckland today, said she wasn't a fan.
Briton Anne Keothavong went further by describing the
innovation as "silly", even if she did make use of it.
Under the change, which is limited to WTA Tour events and
won't be used in the Grand Slams, a player can call her coach
once per set during a change of ends.
She can also call her coach if her opponent takes a medical
or a toilet break.
During televised matches, coaches have to wear a microphone
so that what they say can be broadcast live.
Vesnina, whose coach, Andrei Chesnokov, is not in Auckland,
has had her father, Sergej Vesnin, at courtside, but didn't
require him during her marathon semifinal against Keothavong
yesterday.
"I'm not a fan of that," she said of on-court coaching.
"See, I didn't call my dad once. He said, `Why am I always
wearing this microphone and you don't call me?"'
Vesnina said she didn't feel the need because she had watched
Keothavong play, had spoken with Chesnokov by phone before
the match and had her game plan worked out.
Keothavong, whose hopes of being the first British player to
make a WTA Tour final in 19 years were snuffed out her 6-7
(3-7) 6-1 7-6 defeat, also expressed reservations.
"I do think players should have to figure it for themselves
on the court," she said.
She added: "I think it's a silly thing to bring into the
women's game, but then, at same time as saying that, I did
use it."
Keothavong called out Great Britain Fed Cup captain Nigel
Sears twice yesterday, and their exchanges were interesting.
At one point, Keothavong asked Sears for more support in the
form of more applause and eye contact.
She admitted that, having wanted so much to win, she got a
bit uptight.
"Sometimes, it's just encouraging to have some eye contact
and some encouragement," she said.
"He probably was doing it, but in the heat of the moment you
just want it a bit more."
Earlier in the week, Dementieva, who goes into the final as
the overwhelming favourite, said she hadn't needed to call
her coach because she remembered his words of advice.
"Usually he tells me what to do before the match and we have
a game plan," the world No 4 said.
"It's up to me when I'm playing and I try to be focused and
do the right thing."
Dementieva, the Olympic champion and a two-time Grand Slam
finalist, said the new rule probably favoured the newer
players on tour who would find a few words of advice helpful
in a difficult situation.
