Novak Djokovic on illegal coaching during matches

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  • Novak Djokovic practices before his first round clash with Philipp Kohlschreiber.

    Defending Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic has squashed cheating allegations that have come his way after Boris Becker revealed that he communicates with his player to guide him during matches, saying it is more “encouragement and reassurance” he receives from his coach rather than actual tactics.

    Coaching is illegal during grand slam and ATP matches and “communications of any kind, audible or visible, between a player and a coach may be construed as coaching” according to the code of conduct for grand slams.

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    However many coaches, including Toni Nadal and now Boris Becker, have admitted that they have their own ways of getting a message through to a player during a match.

    “We have our ways about it to tell him it's good or tell him it's bad. Then it's up to him to change it,” Becker said in an interview with Radio Five Live.

    Djokovic was asked to explain the nature of these communications with his German coach. The world No1 said: “I don't think that we're cheating. I don't think that's how you can call it. There are special ways of, I would say, communication. 

    “As he mentioned, the way you look at each other, the way you feel your box, and box feels what you're going through on the court. I think that's something that just gives you that reassurance, gives you that confidence.

    “It's not necessary that he tells me where to serve or to which side of the opponent's court I have to play, because that doesn't happen. But it's more of encouragement, and more of a support and reassurance that's basically present in those moments.”

    The Serb admitted that a certain level of communication is generally present between all players and their coaches but that there is a certain limit to how often it should occur.

    “I think with all the cameras pointed out to him and to the box, I think you would already notice if he (Becker) would just kind of go kick serve, slice, to do the backhand or forehand,” said Djokovic with a smile.

    “But again, we can't pretend like that's not happening in tennis.  Of course, there are situations when it happens, and not just with the top players, with everybody. This is a very competitive sport. You're alone on the court. Of course, there are certain rules.

    “But also there are times when the team of the player communicates with the player when he gets to go and take the towel in the corner, which is closer to the box, or different ways.  

    “I think it's all fine as long as it's not regular. I think it just depends. Also that's up to the chair umpire or supervisor to decide if somebody's breaking the rules or not. I think as long as it's something that you can tolerate, let's say, within the ways of communication, I think it's fine.”

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