With the 2024 Paris Olympics fast approaching, the excitement for the multi-sporting event is higher than ever. While players are bracing for this sporting extravaganza, fans are hoping to see the best of the best take the field. Ahead of this edition of the Olympic Games, tennis has announced a new set of rules that are set to make life difficult for the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Carlos Alcaraz.

The duo will take the court in Paris, with their coaches in the stands. Both Tsitsipas and Alcaraz are quite infamous for coaching controversies, and there is a new set of rules announced in this matter. It states that players will not receive coaching in any form during their matches. Additionally, communication of any kind between a player and a coach is strictly disallowed while the match is going on and will be considered as coaching.

Further, violations in this regard will attract a fine of up to $20,000 for each instance. Additionally, the player will also be penalized with point deduction as per the Point Penalty Schedule. In grave circumstances, the team member can also be removed from the Olympic Tennis Event site if rules aren’t followed.

Tsitsipas, in particular, has faced many controversies in this regard. On numerous occasions, his father Apostolos can be heard shouting from the stands during his son’s matches, which has led to Tsitsipas facing action. The Greek star was once even accused of taking tips during a toilet break.

How Stefanos Tsitsipas became a talking point over lengthy toilet breaks

Back in 2021 during the US Open Swing, Tsitsipas caught the tennis world’s attention by taking several lengthy toilet breaks. After he returned, the momentum used to switch in his favor, coincidently, which led to many questions being raised. The Greek player was even accused of texting his father for tips while on a toilet break. This is one such instance how the father-son duo became a centre-storm of attraction with their antics.

However, his then coach, Patrick Mouratoglou defended Tsitsipas and rubbed off those accusations. He said, “Of course he’s not texting his father. Because he can’t and it doesn’t even cross his mind to text his father. But it’s very easy to accuse people falsely, and unfortunately, we live in a world, when you do that, people think it’s true. But it’s not, it’s a lie and it’s a bit shocking but that’s the world we live in I guess in which you accuse someone with zero proof or nothing.”

Meanwhile, with the rules being made stricter at the Olympics, there is no room for such incidents to happen. Do you feel the new set of rules on coaching in tennis will lead to more controversies? Let us know your views in the comments below.