‘Very little value’ – Tim Henman and Laura Robson agree on one rule tennis should change
The 2025 Australian Open became the first Grand Slam to implement a significant rule change. In October, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that off-court coaching would be allowed from the beginning of 2025. New coaching rules have come into place for the 2025 seasonAFP The decision was made at the governing body’s annual general meeting and followed trials on the men’s ATP and women’s WTA tours. New changes mean coaches can issue advice either verbally or via hand signals at any time, except during the playing of a point. The coaching must be ‘brief and discreet’ – except during breaks in play – and players can now access approved ‘player analysis technology’ at times when coaching is permitted. A decision on whether to implement the rule changes will be at the jurisdiction of the sanctioning body of each individual tournament or event. The Australian Open welcomed the change and last month, off-court coaching was introduced and new coaching boxes were placed court-side. Women’s champion Madison Keys, who won her first slam at the age of 29 in Melbourne, praised the rule change and revealed that it helped her secure glory. “I felt like in the past things could get a little bit tough, and it was almost as if I was watching myself from above, and it was like my brain and my body weren’t connected,” keys said. “So things were happening in matches and I felt like I couldn’t problem solve. I would get really nervous, and it was like as soon as the nerves hit, I would almost start panicking. “It finally got to the point where I was able to know that I can be nervous and I can still play really good tennis at the same time. And once I started really believing that I was able to actually be really present. “Especially now when we have on court coaching, being able to actually have conversations with your support team on the side, I think it just really kind of helps you to stay in the moment.” Keys believes she benefitted from a rule change en-route to winning the Australian OpenAFP Tennis, of course, is an ever-evolving sport. this isn’t the only rule that has changed in recent years. And according to two former stars, there is another that should be scrapped to help improve the game. Tim Henman, who played in 14 Wimbledon championships and reached the semifinals on four occasions, believes it’s time to get rid of the let serve. A let serve occurs when a legally served ball hits the net cord but lands in the correct service box. The umpire or opposing player will signal a let and play immediately stops. The server can then take the serve again, without penalty. Speaking to talkSPORT, former world No.4 Henman revealed the let serve is the one rule he would liked to have changed from his 14-year professional career. Henman believes it’s time for tennis to scrap one ruleAFP The British tennis legend reached four Wimbledon semifinalsGetty “Personally, if I could just change one rule I would get rid of the let serve,” he said. “You can hit the top of the net on every other shot that you hit, I think (the let) adds very little value. “In terms of getting rid of it, it would be very straightforward to do. “It would take a bit of adjusting for the players, I’m sure they would leave a lot of returns to begin with but that would be one I’d go for.” Fellow British star Laura Robson, who played at Wimbledon eight times during her career, agreed with Henman’s rule change suggestion. “I would get rid of lets. I think we’re all in agreement over this,” she told talkSPORT. “I don’t know why we have lets on the serve but we don’t in the point. “It just seems like we have evolved past it. I don’t know what the original reason for having lets was in the first place so let’s get rid of it.” Robson also believes the let serve should be scrappedGetty Laura Robson and Tim Henman spoke to talkSPORT as Sky Sports celebrated the launch of their 2025 tennis coverage. Sky Sports is the home to more live tennis than anywhere else. Watch year-round action including the ATP and WTA Tours and US Open exclusively on Sky Sports and NOW.
The 2025 Australian Open became the first Grand Slam to implement a significant rule change.
In October, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that off-court coaching would be allowed from the beginning of 2025.
The decision was made at the governing body’s annual general meeting and followed trials on the men’s ATP and women’s WTA tours.
New changes mean coaches can issue advice either verbally or via hand signals at any time, except during the playing of a point.
The coaching must be ‘brief and discreet’ – except during breaks in play – and players can now access approved ‘player analysis technology’ at times when coaching is permitted.
A decision on whether to implement the rule changes will be at the jurisdiction of the sanctioning body of each individual tournament or event.
The Australian Open welcomed the change and last month, off-court coaching was introduced and new coaching boxes were placed court-side.
Women’s champion Madison Keys, who won her first slam at the age of 29 in Melbourne, praised the rule change and revealed that it helped her secure glory.
“I felt like in the past things could get a little bit tough, and it was almost as if I was watching myself from above, and it was like my brain and my body weren’t connected,” keys said.
“So things were happening in matches and I felt like I couldn’t problem solve. I would get really nervous, and it was like as soon as the nerves hit, I would almost start panicking.
“It finally got to the point where I was able to know that I can be nervous and I can still play really good tennis at the same time. And once I started really believing that I was able to actually be really present.
“Especially now when we have on court coaching, being able to actually have conversations with your support team on the side, I think it just really kind of helps you to stay in the moment.”
Tennis, of course, is an ever-evolving sport. this isn’t the only rule that has changed in recent years.
And according to two former stars, there is another that should be scrapped to help improve the game.
Tim Henman, who played in 14 Wimbledon championships and reached the semifinals on four occasions, believes it’s time to get rid of the let serve.
A let serve occurs when a legally served ball hits the net cord but lands in the correct service box.
The umpire or opposing player will signal a let and play immediately stops. The server can then take the serve again, without penalty.
Speaking to talkSPORT, former world No.4 Henman revealed the let serve is the one rule he would liked to have changed from his 14-year professional career.
“Personally, if I could just change one rule I would get rid of the let serve,” he said.
“You can hit the top of the net on every other shot that you hit, I think (the let) adds very little value.
“In terms of getting rid of it, it would be very straightforward to do.
“It would take a bit of adjusting for the players, I’m sure they would leave a lot of returns to begin with but that would be one I’d go for.”
Fellow British star Laura Robson, who played at Wimbledon eight times during her career, agreed with Henman’s rule change suggestion.
“I would get rid of lets. I think we’re all in agreement over this,” she told talkSPORT.
“I don’t know why we have lets on the serve but we don’t in the point.
“It just seems like we have evolved past it. I don’t know what the original reason for having lets was in the first place so let’s get rid of it.”
Laura Robson and Tim Henman spoke to talkSPORT as Sky Sports celebrated the launch of their 2025 tennis coverage.
Sky Sports is the home to more live tennis than anywhere else. Watch year-round action including the ATP and WTA Tours and US Open exclusively on Sky Sports and NOW.
