Mirra Andreeva is among players at the forefront of innovation at Melbourne Park.
Gone are the days when a coach’s not-so-subtle attempts to pass on advice to their charge from the stands is penalised.
Building on the tour’s transition to legalised on-court coaching, the Australian Open this year has taken it to another level – or down to ground level to be more exact.
Even since on-court coaching has been permitted, for those competing on the bigger arenas this hasn’t necessarily meant the messaging gets across over the roar of the crowd from even the lowest-tier front-row seats above court level.
This has changed at AO 2025 thanks to the innovative addition of optional coaching pods on the court – actually on the court – which has enabled discussion between points, a move that Andreeva and her coach, former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, have successfully explored.
“I hear everything that she says and it's not really what I want, no but if we're serious, yes of course it's better because she can also tell me stuff that obviously I need because if she talks it means something's wrong,” Andreeva told The Tennis podcast at Melbourne Park.
“Her being closer I feel like is a good innovation. When I don't want to hear anything, I just don't come there, and I think she understands, so after she doesn't talk but then as soon as I come to the towel of course she sees that, well, I'm there and maybe I want to hear something, and she starts talking.”
The pods, which come equipped with a screen to enable real-time statistical analysis, are located in the corners of the court and allow up to four of a player’s team members to sit at court level.
It brings the player even closer to their coach than previously possible.
Some, including reigning women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka, have opted against the move, preferring to keep their extended team together in the traditional player’s box in the stands.
For Andreeva and Martinez though, it has been a welcome change.
“It's great because we can get closer to the players,” Martinez said. “We have a really good view from there. Some of the big arenas I feel like the coaches are far away so now that is allowed to talk a little bit or coach a little bit I think is a great thing to have.
“For us it's great to actually be at the end of the court. I mean I can really see the match well. She's a good energy and, you know, sometimes it's just a ‘c'mon’, reassuring that she's doing good.”