Tennis: Players express reservations over new rule

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.