Listen Closely, and You Will Hear Coaching During U.S. Open Matches

Jason Szenes/EPA, via Shutterstock

The prohibition against coaching during a match at the United States Open is supposed to be straightforward.

“Coaching is considered to be communication, advice or instruction of any kind and by any means to a player,” Article III, Section L states on page 44 of the 2020 Official Grand Slam Rule Book.

This year, not so much.

At this tournament, the strict prohibition is largely being ignored, two years after it prompted one of the most contentious moments in recent U.S. Open history — a harsh confrontation at the 2018 women’s final when the chair umpire issued a code violation to Serena Williams for receiving coaching.

Because of the lack of ticket-buying…