Women's tour to experiment by allowing coaches on court

MIAMI, July 14 (Reuters) Tennis coaches will be allowed to talk to their players during matches after the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) agreed to an experiment in upcoming tournaments.

The trial will occur during tournaments in Montreal and New Haven, Connecticut, WTA officials said.

''I think on-court coaching will be really interesting, both for players and fans,'' former U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova said in a statement.

''This will add a new story to the match and I think fans will enjoy this new element. I know that as players we are all interested to see how this test works out.'' Players will be able to consult their coaches once per set as well as at the end of sets. If a player takes a medical or bathroom break, only the opposing player may request her coach.

Coaching breaks called while a set is in progress will only take place during the time allowed during changeovers, the WTA said, emphasising there will be no delay in play.

The Montreal tournament starts on August 14 and the New Haven event begins on August 21.

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