Rafael Nadal finds the no-coaching rule during matches “absurd” saying the reason why it was created many years ago no longer exists.

– GALLERY: Top ten Wimbledon upsets of all-time
– Diary: Tournament steeped in tradition serves up unique affair
– Wimbledon: Federer, Nadal and Kvitova all advance with ease
– Djokovic: Lucky bird helps Serbian advance into round two

Coaches are not allowed to communicate with their players in any form during grand slam and ATP matches but Boris Becker recently revealed that he has his own way of sending signals to his charge, Novak Djokovic, while the Serb is on court.

Nadal was asked to weigh in on how he felt about the rule and while the Spaniard said he complies by it, he doesn’t find it applicable to the current times on tour.

“At the end, I’m going to be very frank with you. I don’t know what the story is (with Becker), but that rule of not being able to talk during the match, we all try to comply by it because it is a rule. But it’s an old regulation. It was logical many years ago because some players had coaches, and others didn’t, so this was protection for those who didn’t have coaches,” explained Nadal.

“But now everybody has a coach so today I don’t see any player in this circuit who doesn’t have a coach so it’s rather absurd that everyone pays for a coach to help him and then when you need him the most you can’t talk to him. But rules are rules. But if you ask me my opinion, I’ve given you my opinion now.”

Ironically, Thomaz Bellucci, Nadal’s opening round opponent does not currently have a coach according to the ATP match notes.