Like it or not, on-court coaching is here to stay. Since the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour permanently implemented on-court coaching in 2009, coaches have been required to wear live microphones to capture their conversations with players during a match.
Granted, the live audio is primarily used to enhance the TV or online viewing experience. But there just may be one unexpected (or unwanted) side effect of giving fans audible access to these on-court coaching conversations: betting.
It can be argued that people from around the world who bet on tennis and listen to player/coach conversations during a match, can more easily predict the outcome of a match, regardless of the language spoken on court.
ESPN.com recently reported on this topic, as a result of a controversial incident that occurred during Caroline Wozniacki’s first round match in Luxembourg. She retired at 7-5, 5-0 — just one game away from winning the match. A left hamstring injury prompted the retirement, but the controversy stems from Caroline’s coach/father Piotr, who may have unknowingly tipped off tennis betters to her retirement while his microphone was on.
What do you think? Does on-court coaching encourage betting? Should the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour stop requiring coaches to wear microphones? Tell us your opinion in the comments below or send a reply to @OnTheBaseline on Twitter. Have a great weekend!
Paula Vergara is a freelance tennis journalist, covering the WTA and ATP tours. Paula’s publishing credits include On the Baseline Tennis News, Tennis.com, USTA New England Magazine, and Bob Larson’s Tennis News. Paula is also a member of the United States Tennis Writers’ Association. To view her work, visit www.paula-vergara.blogspot.com.
coaches should stop wearing microphones certainly. as a fact, on-court coaching must be stopped.
I think you have already given me the answer to that Paula. It seems hard to argue against the confiscation of microphones.
Microphones are not in use in football match’s (soccer) over here, but I believe microphones are in use in other sports such as Forula 1 and rugby.
I am supportive of on court coaching, but maybe the broadcasting of coaching conversation is something that needs looked at. It could be viewed as an intrusion of privacy. On the other hand, rather than encouraging cheating and illegal beating, microphones may help combat cheating and tanking.
Just some ad hoc thoughts. Am sure others can add something more thought provoking here.
On court coaching is offensive. What’s the message here, that tennis girlie’s are too mentally impaired to work out match strategy on their own? Must be that hormone thing.
Look, I’m a guy, but even I can see that this is blatant sexism.
There’s going to be gambling with or without on-court coaching, with or without microphones.
Gambling is one of the greatest evils of humanity: people trying to make money for nothing, and I’ve seen the way it can destroy lives and relationships with its addiction, huge debts, shady characters, threats, crime, violence, and even death.
All gambling should be illegalised, and then we could all enjoy tennis purely for our love for the game and its players.
I’m in favour of on-court coaching, because it improves the quality of tennis that we then see, it adds extra entertainment in and of itself (therefore keep the microphones!), and it obviates the need for an illegal system of visual signals between coach and player.
Sure, it’s unfair on those players who cannot afford a good coach, or who eschew on-court coaching as a matter of principle. But, IMO, the pros far outweigh the cons.
If one of the WTA’s best assets is facing a lifetime ban for making the ultimate sporting gesture, while wicked people are getting away with lining their pockets with money that they did not earn, what’s the world coming to?
People that bet will bet. The amount of the bet might change with coaches’ comments, but I do not think someone not prone to betting would be drawn in because they heard a comment. Gambling is an addiction. If someone thinks they have an inside tip, they might bet more than their normal amount. Greed and the love of money destroy much.
She only stop because she wanted her oponent to have the chance in the next round – that’s in my part of the world (Scandinavia) called sportsmanship. Betting after the game has started should not be allowed – that’s what you should concentrate about. If you’ve followed what happened afterwards you should now that both scans and doctors state that she couldn’t have played round two. She first take up training Monday because she’s been ordered to rest – so leave that brilliant girl alone and concentrate of fobidding betting after match start. Have a nice week-end.
Wozzy fan
Alice – great point about the use of microphones as as way to combat cheating and tanking.
Leif,
There are two separate issues with regards to Caroline Wozniacki’s 1st round match in Luxembourg–one has to do with tennis betting, and the other involves Caroline’s retirement one game away from winning. I did follow all of the news after the match ended, but this particular Open Forum Friday is about how on-court coaching can potentially increase tennis betting. I agree that both Caroline and her father did nothing wrong and should not face any fines, but live microphones may invite some problems into the game. Moving forward, I’m sure Caroline’s father will be a bit more carefull about what he says to her during on-court coaching!