After their fierce rivalry kicked off the 2025 season at the United Cup, Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff are back at the 2025 Australian Open. But this time, they share similar thoughts on AO’s new coaching system. What is that? If you haven’t heard, AO’s tournament boss, Craig Tiley, has introduced ‘coaching pods’. This will permit coaching staff to communicate directly with players during matches through a designated ‘players’ box’ situated on the court. And these top seeds see this innovation as a positive addition to their game. How?

Both players kicked off their 2025 season with new coaches, setting a positive tone. Gauff has shown impressive growth since adding Matt Daly to her team during the Asian swing. She clinched both the 2024 China Open and the WTA Finals title with him. Meanwhile, Swiatek is still adjusting to Wim Fissette’s coaching style and hasn’t secured a title since their partnership began in October 2024. However, she seems to be gaining confidence from the new coaching pods.

In her first-round match at the Australian Open, Swiatek delivered a solid performance, defeating Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 6-4. She shared her thoughts on having Fissette courtside during the tournament. When asked if she likes Wim to be this close or farther away from her, she said, “No, no, no. I like when he’s close. We had a nice practice kind of on United Cup because he was literally next to me on the bench and he had to coach me,” she said.

“So here is a little bit different because obviously he’s not going to be able to say as many stuff as in United Cup, but I just knew what I had to do today so I didn’t feel like I needed coaching,” the world No. 2 added. As a five-time Grand Slam champion, she’s accustomed to high-stakes competition. But, let’s face it. She will need guidance in future matches. And when she does, she plans to utilize this new setup effectively: “But for sure, there are gonna be moments when I am gonna use that,” Swaitek concluded.

These pods feature seating for four support staff members and are equipped with a screen for live match data analysis. These pods also include a cooling mechanism for coaches, a crucial addition given the extreme heat often experienced in Melbourne, with court temperatures reaching up to 50°C. On the flip side, Gauff isn’t fazed by the coaching pods.

She maintained her winning streak in 2025 by defeating Sofia Kenin in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. When asked about the coaching pods during her post-match press conference, she remarked, “I know some players don’t like the on-court coaching, which for me I think is fine to be allowed because it’s like you have the choice if you want to be coached or not.”

Having turned pro in May 2018, Gauff is familiar with traditional coaching arrangements but admitted it was “weird.” Believing they lacked privacy for player-coach conversations and limit interactions to once per set. While she prefers playing without talking, she appreciates the option. Even revealing that she let her coaches decide whether they wanted to sit in the box: “I gave them decision if they wanted to sit in the box or on court side and I didn’t know what they were going to choose until I walked out on court and I saw them in the box.”

On the men’s side, Stefanos Tsitsipas, the 2023 Australian Open finalist, expressed reservations about the new coaching rule. “I actually laughed when I saw them yesterday,” he said during his pre-tournament press conference.

“I was playing with Jannik (Sinner). I don’t know. It was kind of weird. It’s weird. You know why it’s weird? Because I see my coaches and some other team members in a particular box and the rest of them upstairs, which, I don’t know – I’m not used to it. I guess I will acclimatise at some point, but I wish to see those things applied into tennis and see matches change because of what a coach has to say.”

Coming back to Swiatek, the coaching pods appear to provide her with the mental support she needs to stay grounded in court. Knowing her team is close by offers reassurance. Especially her psychologist, who plays a vital role in her support system.

Iga Swaitek opens up about the importance of having a psychologist on her team

In an interview with ‘Tennis Insider Club’ on January 6, Swiatek emphasized the importance of her psychologist in her life beyond tennis. “As a child, I was always chaotic. I couldn’t sit in one place to focus. I wanted to work on that. But later I realized that I needed someone to talk to about deeper issues. I felt such a need.”

After working with two psychologists who didn’t meet her needs, she found Abramowicz in February 2019. Now ranked No. 2, Swiatek appreciates how Daria Abramowicz helps her understand outside expectations and develop effective strategies.

The Pole faced a challenging end to her 2024 season, receiving a one-month ban after testing positive for the banned substance, trimetazidine. This setback sidelined her from the Asian swing and cost her the No. 1 ranking to Aryna Sabalenka. In November, she admitted to sleepless nights over the situation, especially after revelations about her psychologist Daria’s involvement sparked a backlash from fans.

Despite this, Abramowicz’s mental coaching has been crucial for Swiatek. “She guides me in developing strategies that really resonate with me,” she noted back in October 2024.

Now she’s preparing for her next match against Rebecca Sramkova on Wednesday. But with her coach watching closely from the box, this should be a smooth ride for the player. What do you think?