COVID-19 and Tennis

[love_the_life]

Australian behaviour at the tennis needs looking at - it is not a footie match - what happened to people applauding good play and not yelling out/acting like yobos. It does not add 'colour' at TA seem to think - just tacky and bogan.
Whilst I was pleased that Nadal won (I thought his opponent showed himself to be a right prat at times throughout the competition), I was disappointed that it was not a ND/RN final.
Also a bit disappointed that 'Special K' as they seem to have been christened won doubles - would have liked the underdogs to have prevailed. Rubbish behaviour on and off court means I rapidly lose interest.
No doubt YMMV.

 

[jase05]

I was disappointed that it was not a ND/RN final.

If Novak had played I believe he would’ve got Rafa in the semi finals. They couldn’t meet in the final

 

[love_the_life]

If Novak had played I believe he would’ve got Rafa in the semi finals. They couldn’t meet in the final

May not have been but would have been a better AO

 

[OATEK]

...
Also a bit disappointed that 'Special K' as they seem to have been christened won doubles - would have liked the underdogs to have prevailed. Rubbish behaviour on and off court means I rapidly lose interest.
No doubt YMMV.

Indeed. MMMV. The Special Ks may seem like clowns, but played some amazing doubles tennis.

 

[love_the_life]

Indeed. MMMV. The Special Ks may seem like clowns, but played some amazing doubles tennis.

I don't dispute they played some amazing tennis, I just can't stand the carry on by one of them in particular. Ruins enjoyment but respect others might enjoy the style.

 

[Pushka]

I don't dispute they played some amazing tennis, I just can't stand the carry on by one of them in particular. Ruins enjoyment but respect others might enjoy the style.

Sadly I think this is the way of the future and TA pretty much let him and the crowd get away with it.

 

[OATEK]

I don't dispute they played some amazing tennis, I just can't stand the carry on by one of them in particular. Ruins enjoyment but respect others might enjoy the style.

I will accept the insult by saying I enjoyed their tennis. I mean its not like he behaves any worse than McEnroe.

 

[MARTINE]

Sadly I think this is the way of the future and TA pretty much let him and the crowd get away with it.

Yep
What do TA want? …go to watch tennis or sit outside and drink at a festival and listen to music whilst people play tennis inside?
The business model appears the latter…bums on seats will trump the ‘older (my)’ tennis demographic going ahead I think.
Special K’s are the embodiment of the new way

 

[drron]

Well I also enjoyed the Special Ks. didn't know that they weren't really a new combination having won the Wimbledon junior doubles together in 2013.
I think this could be the making of Kyrgios as he now has a major title. I thought his interview at the airport the day after was a much better effort than his usual.

I was pleased to see one of the Super Macs agreed with me re Kyrgios.

One of the stars from the last all-local Australian Open men’s doubles final 42 years ago believes a title victory on Saturday night could be the making of Nick Kyrgios.
“It’s given doubles a real injection of interest and thrown up a lot of questions, which is healthy,” McNamee told News Corp of Kyrgios and Kokkinakis.

‘Injection of interest’: Doubles legend backs Special Ks

One of the stars from the last all-local Australian Open men’s doubles final 42 years ago believes a title victory on Saturday night could be the making of Nick Kyrgios.

www.news.com.au

 

[love_the_life]

I will accept the insult by saying I enjoyed their tennis. I mean its not like he behaves any worse than McEnroe.

Apologies - I did not mean the comment as a reflection on you or to insult you at all and yes, there have been many brats in the past as well - whether he is worse or not could be debatable. Truce.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I will accept the insult by saying I enjoyed their tennis. I mean its not like he behaves any worse than McEnroe.

Well, I’d defend McEnroe. His outbursts were for mostly just appalling line calls which generally were proven bad calls. The new auto system removes that anomaly.

 

[MARTINE]

I think we all agree the K’s are outstanding tennis players, I have no problems with their personalities/post match interviews etc
I DO have a problem with encouraging unprofessional disgraceful behaviour in the crowds - booing opponent double faults/screaming and making others feel uncomfortable - don’t care about which came first or who encourages what but I expect better as a patron

 

[jakeseven7]

Crowd were a bit of a disgrace at times this tournament IMO. Especially for a final there should be zero tolerance

Tickets were too cheap and too available this year. Next year should shut some of the riff raff back out …

If we are talking about manners though - how rude was Medddevvvevvev during the Virgin CEO’s speech though. At least it’s now a good meme…

 

[jase05]

Tickets were too cheap and too available this year. Next year should shut some of the riff raff back out …

If we are talking about manners though - how rude was Medddevvvevvev during the Virgin CEO’s speech though. At least it’s now a good meme…

Medvedev was a disgrace. Yes Jayne might have waffles a bit long but these guys are getting paid the millions they are because of her and the fantastic staff of the AO. The least he can do is show some respect and attention for the 4 minutes she took

 

[MARTINE]

I’m beginning to feel that - like many things - respect is a pre-Covid phenomena.

Re: ticket prices it was a deliberate strategy to fill the stadium to the max and people upgraded - as was the year before when there was no interstate or corporates due to Covid 21.

As I’ve said upstream - TA threw a net from the back of a tram and whatever got scraped up got tickets to RLA (AFFers excluded)

 

[antycbr]

I’m beginning to feel that - like many things - respect is a pre-Covid phenomena.

Re: ticket prices it was a deliberate strategy to fill the stadium to the max and people upgraded - as was the year before when there was no interstate or corporates due to Covid 21.

As I’ve said upstream - TA threw a net from the back of a tram and whatever got scraped up got tickets to RLA (AFFers excluded)

The huge amount of alcohol being consumed on site would not have helped. Between the pre drinking at the grand slam oval, beach club and garden square and then into the venue.

A womens final that lasted less than two hours. Some of the people near us would have spent half of the time in the bar line.

 

[burmans]

Medvedev was a disgrace. Yes Jayne might have waffles a bit long but these guys are getting paid the millions they are because of her and the fantastic staff of the AO. The least he can do is show some respect and attention for the 4 minutes she took

While I certainly don’t condone some of the behaviour Medvedev needs to take a serious look at himself, his own behaviour is the main reason he had so little crowd support. Each point has a winner and a loser, so cheering your preferred player is just that, interpreting it as disrespecting the point loser is frankly very self centred. Not denying it happens but do think most people were cheering FOR Rafa rather than against Medvedev and he has only himself to blame for the perception Rafa is a good guy and he is a dick.

 

[HappyFlyerFamily]

While I certainly don’t condone some of the behaviour Medvedev needs to take a serious look at himself, his own behaviour is the main reason he had so little crowd support. Each point has a winner and a loser, so cheering your preferred player is just that, interpreting it as disrespecting the point loser is frankly very self centred. Not denying it happens but do think most people were cheering FOR Rafa rather than against Medvedev and he has only himself to blame for the perception Rafa is a good guy and he is a dick.

I understood the etiquette was to applaud both players winners/passing shots, rather than applauding an unfavoured player's missed shots/volleys into the net. The only exception was for long rallies (say 20+ shots).

 

[Anna]

Some of the people near us would have spent half of the time in the bar line.

Yes I once missed most of a Serena set because at the end of the previous match I needed to go to the ladies'. Huge queue there and then another huge line to get back in to the stadium. Too many people trying to get in in the time allowed between games, so had to wait till the next break between games. And the video screen at that door wasn't working so couldn't even watch what was going on by video. I think that was the last time I bothered trying to go to the AO in person. It was so congested it wasn't enjoyable.

 

[MARTINE]

I think I’m just getting old.
Think I’ll download some old episodes of Grumpy Old Men/Women today.
No doubt we can revive the thread around Oct 22 when we decide - or not - to get tickets.
Of course our memories are short and I will probably read all my threads and still go!
Let’s hope it is renamed COVID-19 and Tennis