Wimbledon coaches in awkward spot after blunder during Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard match

The coaches of Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and Lorenzo Musetti may have felt hampered in their ability to do their job at Wimbledon , after the tournament bizarrely decided to seat both teams directly next to each other during their fourth-round match, won by the Italian 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-2.

Over the past few years a change to the rulebook has allowed coaches to provide in-game instructions to their players, but very rarely are the two teams in the same vicinity - as to not overhear the opposition's plans.

Mpetshi Perricard was looking to become the first Lucky Loser in Grand Slam history to reach the quarter-finals, but was unlikely to have received the same impact as he would typically expect from his coach, who was unable to relay secrets in conversation with their player.

The 20-year-old French star, who stands at 6ft 8" and smashed 51 aces on SW19 debut , had been the surprise package at the Slam while working with Emmanuel Planque, Cyril Genevois and Jean Baptiste Dupuy.

Planque has been able to tutor Mpetshi Perricard and hone his exceptional service game, but the Lyon-born youngster knows that such a weapon "is not everything" and comes with its own disadvantages.

“The balls are a little heavier, the surfaces a little slower, there are some long returns, and then you still have to have a strong enough base to make the difference,” Mpetshi Perricard told Essentially Sports .

Planque called on him to utilise every facet of his game to reach the next level, adding: “I've made it a point of honour for Giovanni to have great technique.

“I wanted him to be technically reliable and not be hampered by the limitations of his height. I didn't want him to have any big gaps. He has to be able to start early, arrive on time and put a lot of pace into his first shots, whatever the ball.”

Both Mpetshi Perricard's coach and Simone Tartarini, who is working with Musetti at Wimbledon , were said to be shocked at the unusual decision to pair them next to one another on the court.

Tartarini has worked with Musetti throughout his professional career and the 22-year-old sees his coach as a father figure, but won't be able to receive on-court advice without Mpetshi Perricard's team overhearing.

“The relationship with me is the same,” Tartarini explained. “When he was ten years old, I was like a father or an uncle. Now we are best friends. He started with me at eight years old, and now he is 19. It is a great satisfaction to see Lorenzo, and I hope we stay together until Lorenzo finishes as a professional player, but I don't know what will happen in the future .”