Australian Open 2025: Coaching Pods Introduced Courtside at Melbourne Park

In a Grand Slam first, the 2025 Australian Open will feature new coaching "pods" positioned in two corners of each court, allowing for up to four performance staff per player to be on court with the players.

Tournament director Craig Tiley, who has been a vocal advocate for on-court coaching, believes the introduction of the pods will add a fresh element to the sport. Coaches can choose to sit courtside in the pods or in their usual space in the stands, and will have access to real-time data and statistics from a screen inside the pods, as well as a cooling mechanism for comfort.

The pods coincide with the official introduction of in-match coaching, where coaches will be allowed to speak to players when they are at the same end of the court.

"We tested it this week, and some coaches were a bit sceptical at first, but then they sat down and said, 'This is great'," Tiley said. "I think we're going to find much more than the majority will actually sit on the court. You have a great sight line of your player after every point."

Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has faced penalties for in-match coaching in the past, welcomed the rule changes and the new pods, although he initially found them "kind of weird" due to the separation of coaches between the court and the stands.

Tiley believes the pods will also provide greater commercial opportunities for the coaches, as the sport continues to explore ways to integrate the coaching element more into the fan experience.