Monday, 10 September 2018:
 | | NAOMI OSAKA of Japan celebrates winning a point against Ashleigh Barty of Australia of the 2018 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Australia. | |
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The Australian Open tournament director has urged world tennis chiefs to lock in a position on in-match coaching in light of the stormy US Open women's final.
Craig Tiley says the rise of Japanese winner Naomi Osaka is only good news for his tournament, badged as the grand slam of the Asia-Pacific.
But the sport continues to reel from the nature of the match, in which Osaka triumphed over Serena Williams.
The legendary American railed against three code violations, beginning with an archaic call on coaching from the box that preluded penalties for racquet abuse and umpire abuse, as she lost in straight sets.
Tiley refused to be critical of Williams, instead referring to the first judgment that started the spiral.
"It all centred around coaching ... the sport has to really get itself sorted out on what it does with coaching," Tiley said.
"Are we going to have coaching? Are we not going to have coaching? What is it going to look like?
"The sport needs to get together and sort it out.
"Once that's sorted out, we don't have the issue."
Tiley, who spent a decade coaching College tennis in the United States, said he was a personal advocate for allowing some coaching.
Australian ace Thanasi Kokkinakis, speaking alongside Tiley in Melbourne on Monday, disagreed.
The Australian Open and US Open have trialled mid-match coaching in their qualifying events this year.
"It was a bit strange in US Open quallies," Kokkinakis said.
"I know they're always looking to evolve the sport ... I'm comfortable with how it is.
"The rule is a little grey.
"The sooner they sort that out, the better for everyone."
Kokkinakis took a pass when asked when asked whether he believed chair umpires acted differently towards male and female players, a central contention of Williams.
Tiley said he didn't expect the 23-time grand slam winner to be treated differently at Melbourne Park next January.
The big change at the 2019 tournament will be the emergence of Osaka.
"What an unbelievable performance, the entire two weeks," he said.
"For us as the grand slam in the Asia Pacific, to have a player from Japan, the first time ever a player from Japan to win that title in the fashion that she did, is particularly exciting.
"We all see how the Japanese fans flock to see Kei Nishikori.
"It's going to have a significant positive impact on our Open, on our fans."
