Pet peeves in tennis: From sore losers and faking accidents to the usage of the phrase ‘underrated’

All of us have our pet peeves. And if you happen to play and watch tennis, you’ll absolutely have yours.

Billie Jean King, the last word trailblazer, who crusaded to enhance our sport since she was 11, has lengthy focused Wimbledon’s strict all-white gown code. “Nothing is worse in sports activities than while you activate the tv and two gamers are sporting the identical uniform or identical outfits,” she instructed  CNN final 12 months. “It’s horrible. Nobody is aware of who’s who. I’ve been yelling for years that that is certainly one of my pet peeves. Have you ever ever seen any sport the place opponents put on the identical outfit?”

‘Wasted time’ tops Patrick McEnroe’s record of pet peeves. “In no different sport do gamers have as a lot management to find out once they need to begin play as in tennis,” stated  ESPN analyst McEnroe, a former world-class competitor, through the 2018 US Open. “Think about on the brink of begin an NFL recreation, a tee time on the Masters, or a World Cup soccer recreation, and the participant says, ‘Maintain on! I must go to the lavatory!’”

Time is of the essence in a sport the place ‘motion time’ — when the ball is in play — constitutes solely about 15% of the ‘complete match time’ in comparison with about 40% in soccer, basketball, ice hockey, and soccer. Rightly irritated by lackadaisical, dawdling gamers, McEnroe lauded the adoption of a 25-second ‘serve clock’ and escalating penalties for violations. “I’m so blissful that the US Open is using the shot clock on court docket in the primary draw,” P-Mac stated. “That is nice for the followers. We now have to maintain issues transferring, change with the occasions.”

As one of many world’s hottest sports activities, tennis has lots to brag about. But it surely ought to undertake and implement guidelines — each written and unwritten—that promote equity for gamers and leisure for followers.

In direction of this finish, I’ve listed some pet peeves about what tennis can and may do with out.

Floor actuality: The first duty of ball girls and boys is to effectively take away balls from the enjoying space after which rapidly return to their stationary positions.
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The wacko warmup — One among Australian professional Daria Saville’s pet peeves is opponents hitting winners through the pre-match warmup. I can’t conceive of that on the professional tour. At Forest Park in Springfield, Massachusetts, the place I follow, a vibrant character used to whack winners through the warmup, and when it was over, he’d crow, “I gained the warmup!” At a senior match warmup, my opponent stored blasting balls within the corners. So as to add insult to harm, once I hit a weak return, he’d hit a drop shot.

Ball youngsters older than 14 years of age — Towering, older youngsters, and even younger adults with beards, carry out this necessary however routine job when a lot youthful ball youngsters can do it simply as nicely. The first duty of ball girls and boys is to effectively take away balls from the enjoying space after which rapidly return to their stationary positions. Nevertheless, I consider a secondary objective ought to be to encourage and educate younger gamers from 10 to 14, the formative ages, concerning the many sides of match tennis they witness up shut.

Backward scores — Wish to know the rating of the one Grand Slam match Novak Djokovic misplaced this 12 months? Go to his ‘Participant Exercise’ part on the ATP web site. There you can see the rating for the Wimbledon closing that he misplaced to Carlos Alcaraz proven as: 6-1, 6-7 (6), 1-6, 6-3, 4-6. Attempt to unravel that monstrosity. The rating ought to seem because the much more readable and comprehensible 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. Simply as NBA groups don’t lose video games 108-115 or La Liga groups don’t lose contests 2-4, tennis gamers at each degree don’t lose matches 4-6, 5-7. The correct rating — whether or not written or spoken — is 6-4, 7-5.

Lack of element in scoreboards — BJ Miller, an astute tennis observer from Oakland, California, contributed this pet peeve together with the treatment. “Main League Baseball and Nationwide Soccer League’s on-screen scoreboards present a large number of related stats and information. In sharp distinction, tennis’ on-screen scoreboards generally don’t even give the gamers’ final names, solely the primary three letters. They need to present serve speeds, seeding, nationality [not with flags], and, ideally, variety of winners, compelled errors, aces, and unforced errors. The data that sometimes reveals up on display now could be too difficult — 3D charts the place viewers should kind out whether or not a participant’s information is by line or column earlier than having the ability to evaluate between gamers, all in too brief a time to even observe the announcer’s clarification. The on-screen scoreboard ought to be within the higher left, not the decrease left nook the place it obscures necessary options of the match.”

Scoring a degree: Simply as NBA groups don’t lose video games 108-115 or La Liga groups lose contests 2-4, tennis gamers at each degree don’t lose matches 4-6, 5-7. The correct rating—whether or not written or spoken—is 6-4, 7-5.
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Incomplete scores — TV networks that don’t put all the rating throughout a match on the display. As a substitute, they show the variety of units gained by every participant and the sport rating of solely the set in progress. Viewers must know the total rating to grasp the course and context of the match.

Caps or visors indoors — Moreover trying foolish indoors, caps and visors present no operate. Mats Wilander additionally identified that baseball caps partly disguise the faces of gamers, citing four-time main champion Iga Swiatek. A part of the attraction of tennis is that we are able to clearly see the gamers’ feelings, one thing a lot more durable to do in ice hockey and American soccer.

Obsession with participant packing containers — Is it vital or fascinating for  ESPN,  Tennis Channel, and different TV networks to show their cameras on participant packing containers throughout matches so usually? We see the participant’s household and mates cringe or cheer after factors, particularly massive factors, and their coaches, psychologists, and trainers shout recommendation. However when coach Brad Gilbert talked an excessive amount of through the US Open, champion Coco Gauff mildly criticised him afterwards. Often, members of ‘the crew’ even argue with one another, as have the mother and father of Stefanos Tsitsipas. This cleaning soap opera stuff is fascinating up to some extent, however an excessive amount of will get distracting and annoying.

Chubby gamers — I lose curiosity in and respect for gamers who don’t get into and keep in tip-top form. Criticism of obese skilled athletes will not be ‘physique shaming,’ as some apologists like Zina Garrison declare. It’s justified, and TV tennis commentators ought to do it extra usually with neither concern nor favour.

Tennis commentator’s use of ‘underrated’ to explain a participant or a participant’s stroke — There’s a modicum of plausibility to this overused adjective when gamers are low-ranked, however in any other case, it’s seldom justified. Additionally, the clear implication is that the commentator is the neatest man within the room, and different analysts simply haven’t fairly discovered how wonderful this participant or stroke really is. When  ESPN analyst Pam Shriver as soon as countered this ‘overrated’ assertion with “Who’s underrating him?” she acquired no reply from her offending colleague, and I needed to say “Hooray!” Shriver was saying what I had been pondering for years.

Sore losers — They by no means give their successful opponent credit score for his or her good and even wonderful efficiency. As a substitute, it’s all about them. These sore losers give you all method of excuses, from the nasty to the absurd. Serena Williams used to say she performed solely 20 p.c of her capacity and that the actual Serena didn’t present up. We must always take a look at how 24-time main winner, Novak Djokovic, one of the crucial emotional champions in tennis historical past, graciously handles defeat, regardless of how massive the upset or how prestigious the match.

Distracting chatter by TV tennis commentators — Tennis Channel Plus, the worst offender, makes use of a break up display with one half displaying a reside match and the opposite one displaying commentators speaking about all kinds of tennis trivia, gamers, and occasions—something however the match occurring, which is difficult to view anyway as a result of it’s on a half-screen.

Different channels have ‘speaking heads’ who blabber advert nauseam about themselves even when it doesn’t relate to the match and the gamers they’re broadcasting. Early within the TV profession of the late Vitas Gerulaitis, he memorably stated, “Nobody cares what I did 15 years in the past.” A little bit of an overstatement, however the 1977 Australian Open champion had a legitimate level.

Gamers who rejoice after an opponent hits an unforced error — Like him or detest him, the charismatic Jimmy Connors began fist-pumping 50 years in the past, and at this time it’s extra in style than ever. Usually this celebratory gesture is accompanied by a shout of “Yeah!”

Spaniard Rafael Nadal’s “Vamos!” after a blinding shot added to his mystique as a fierce however sporting fighter.

Nevertheless, fist pumps and yells after an unforced error — whatever the rating — are uncalled for and boorish.

Not the actual deal: Gamers who faux accidents to interrupt their opponent’s momentum, not like Zverev (in pic, on the bottom) infuriate opponents, check the goodwill of ATP and WTA physiotherapists, and disappoint match administrators, TV networks, and spectators.
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Pre-match mini-interviews — Perfunctory, boring, and uninformative. That describes the two-minute interviews with gamers simply earlier than they enter Heart Courtroom for matches at Grand Slam tournaments. Of their futile quest to elicit one thing fascinating, TV interviewers generally ask absurd questions like “What’s your technique at this time?” Even probably the most inexperienced participant gained’t reply that query.

Gamers who say “I’ve nothing to lose” — I’m not a psychologist, however these world-class athletes could also be attempting to minimize the strain they really feel as massive underdogs. Regardless of the motive, this pre-match expression defies logic. Upsets — main and minor — happen on daily basis at each degree in tennis. However a participant should embrace the underdog standing — as 18-year-old qualifier Emma Raducanu did when she gained the 2021 US Open — and never put together for defeat with the nonsense that they don’t have anything to lose. Memo: all of us have a winnable match to lose. So don’t say it and even assume it.

The ‘home cash’ line — A corollary to the earlier rationalisation is the equally nonsensical declare by TV commentators: “He’s enjoying on home cash now.”  Wiktionary defines this expression as “To be in a scenario the place little or no private threat could be incurred” and “To behave as if little or no threat could be incurred.” Commentators trot out this logical fallacy when an unheralded participant or a heavy underdog pulls two or extra upsets after which faces a a lot higher-ranked opponent. However, the truth is, these underdogs who’ve growing momentum and confidence not solely have a lot to achieve within the coming match but additionally a lot to lose—sometimes a berth within the semifinals or closing.

Faking accidents — Gamers who faux accidents to interrupt their opponent’s momentum and to get relaxation when they’re exhausted after which defend it by saying — “Everybody does it” — when everybody clearly doesn’t. These dangerous guys infuriate opponents, check the goodwill of ATP and WTA physiotherapists, and disappoint match administrators, TV networks, and spectators. Whereas these rascals generally get away with it and win the match, they find yourself shedding the respect of their colleagues.

Pointless replays and challenges — Asking for a replay or difficult a line name that was clearly very far in or out. In 2025, the ATP Tour will use Digital Line Calling Stay — referred to as ELC Stay — for all ‘out’ calls in all matches. Till then, umpires will indulge gamers who exploit the present Participant Problem rule and delay play for no good motive.

Hypersensitive gamers — These infants can take care of the roar of the gang throughout high-pressure factors however get bent off form and refuse to play following a changeover as a result of a few spectators means up on Row 37 within the stadium are unobtrusively returning to their seats. You can’t be severe!

Misplaced trigger: Tanking is without doubt one of the worst sins—if not the worst—a match tennis participant can commit. It additionally shortchanges and angers spectators, match administrators, opponents, the media, and sponsors.
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Tanking — What Nick Kyrgios, Bernard Tomic, and Benoit Paire have completed on this period and what Marat Safin did 15 years in the past produces greater than peeved reactions. Tanking is outlined as deliberately shedding a match by not attempting. Sometimes, which means both not working arduous or in any respect to return pictures, or hitting extraordinarily low-percentage pictures to get the match over with as quick as doable. Tanking is without doubt one of the worst sins — if not the worst — a match tennis participant can commit. It additionally shortchanges and angers spectators, match administrators, opponents, the media, and sponsors.

ITF sexism — On its web site, The Worldwide Tennis Federation, the world governing physique of the game for its 213 member nations, proudly declares, “The Worldwide Tennis Federation is combating bias and discrimination in opposition to girls in sport.” If that’s the case, it ought to have a Board of Administrators that displays its various membership.

Denouncing the longtime and worsening management sexism inside ITF management, Judy Murray, the eminent coach and mom of Andy and Jamie, not too long ago stated: “It’s 14 males once more.

It was 14 males once I first observed it again in 2010. And in between time, due to sure folks campaigning, there have been 12 males and two girls. And the 2 girls who had been on it had been each former gamers, nice gamers. And this can be a world board, they usually got here off it as a result of they weren’t being listened to.”

Look no additional than Pam Shriver, Amelie Mauresmo, Mary Carillo, Leslie Allen, Stacey Allaster, Caroline Wozniacki, and Murray herself. These tremendous seven are greater than certified to serve on the ITF Board of Administrators, and their experience, expertise, and judiciousness would make a profound distinction.

Now that I’ve gotten my peeves about all these human failures and foibles off my chest, I stay up for happier days in 2024.

Then institution bigwigs all over the place will present us how open-minded and good they’re as they reform our stunning, however imperfect sport.