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Tennis world erupts over coach's fiery mid-match pep-talk

With on-court coaching still a very controversial topic in the tennis world, fans have gone bonkers over this moment.

Daria Kasatkina got the better of Alize Cornet at the Kremlin Cup on Thursday, coming back from a set down to win.

However it looked very dicey when Kasatkina dropped the first set.

The young Russian was completely frazzled and frustrated, and looked devastated as she sat at her chair on the change of ends.

Kasatkina’s coach delivered an inspired speech. Image: WTA
Kasatkina’s coach delivered an inspired speech. Image: WTA

But a remarkable pep-talk from her coach completely turned things around.

Philippe Dehaes came down to the court to encourage his player (completely legal at WTA events), delivering an incredible rev-up.

Dehaes referenced the Great Wall of China in an attempt to turn Kasatkina into the Great Wall of Russia.

“You know the China Wall?” he asked. “Now you’re gonna be the Russian Wall. It’s completely new in the market, the Russian Wall. Do you know it? It’s solid. Extremely solid. And you don’t give any free points.”

Kasatkina turned things around. Image: WTA
Kasatkina turned things around. Image: WTA

With Kasatkina appearing to question whether she could mount a comeback, Dehaes completely changed her mental state.

“You can do it! I promise you’re going to do it,” he said.

And do it she did, storming back to win in three sets.

Fans went bonkers over the remarkable moment on social media.

Serena’s coach wants coaching at grand slams

One man who took notice of Dehaes’ pep-talk was Patrick Mouratoglou, coach of Serena Williams.

Mouratoglou retweeted a clip of the pep-talk after speaking out about the controversial issue that reared its ugly head during the US Open.

The Frenchman insists that coaching goes on all the time at tournaments and to believe otherwise is “hypocrisy”.

“Coaching is a vital component of any sporting performance. Yet banning it almost makes it look as if it had to be hidden or as if it was shameful,” Mouratoglou wrote in a Twitter statement.

“Authorising coaching in competition and actually staging it so that the viewers can enjoy it as a show would ensure that it remains pivotal in the sport.”

At the moment, on-court coaching is only allowed in WTA events but not on the men’s ATP Tour or at the four Grand Slams.

Mouratoglou insists that all players are coached from the sidelines and it is hypocrisy to deny it exists.

The US Open has experimented with on-court coaching in qualifying and junior events and it’s understood that the issue will be discussed on the sidelines of the season-ending WTA Finals in Singapore next week.

Serena and Mouratoglou. Image: Getty
Serena and Mouratoglou. Image: Getty

“To attract new fans, you need to get them emotionally involved. You want spectators and TV viewers to have opinions about the players — and the coaches — and to know who they like and don’t like,” added Mouratoglou.

“Moreover, emotions run high when coaches talk to their players during matches.

“Sometimes the players don’t like to hear what their coaches are saying, but this all adds to the drama, which creates engagement on social media.”

with agencies