This debate started when David Goffin and Iga Swiatek both complained about some elements of the crowd at the current French Open in Paris and their behaviour. Tournament organiser, Amelie Mauresmo then decided to ban alcohol in the match arena but they can still drink in the grounds before coming in so may end up arriving much like a drunk football supporter. Good intentions from Mauresmo but maybe not the answer, if in fact an answer is required?
The powers that be in tennis have been for years trying to jazz up tennis for the fans and are in fact worried that the tennis environment can be a bit flat and boring. In Madrid recently, fans were allowed to move freely at certain parts of the arena for example.Not sure that this made much of a difference other than annoying the players.
Opinions have varied among the players but if you happen to be French in Paris or Italian in Rome, as a player, you will be delighted with the Davis Cup atmosphere it provides. The atmosphere I experienced in Rome as a spectator a few weeks ago was fantastic and 90% of the time didn't go over the line of decency which could have a negative impact on the "away" player.
Both Dan Evans and Novak Djokovic have expressed their view that they are in favour of a loud crowd who cheer for their home or favourite player as the French always do.
I suppose the question we should be asking is "Are the players here for the fans or the other way about? Without the fans the players wouldn't have a sport and a very good salary to boot. I do think that the vast majority of players appreciate this and respect the obvious partisanship that a particular crowd may display towards the home player. There is also the hugely influential cultural element which can play a part. The tennis crowd at the US Open in New York is very different from the Wimbledon crowd for example. (more on Wimbledon to come). A Davis Cup match held in Argentina or Mexico can be fairly high spirited to say the least with the crowds attempting to influence the outcome any way they can!
For me it's quite simple in that there is a line of acceptable behaviour and when that line is crossed (maybe twice), whenever possible, that person should be removed from the arena. This will be more difficult on the outside courts where players will just have to be ready for anything, but on the show courts I think that it should be possible to weed out the serious offenders. The culture in my view for the audience should be to show your support loudly in between points but during the point be quiet! Tennis is different to football, basketball, ice hockey etc as there is almost always a level of noise but when you play in a vacuum (the norm for the majority of tennis) then the slightest sound apart from a gasp of excitement from the entire crowd can affect the outcome of some very important points.
It has been said as part of this debate that Wimbledon is better in the sense that the crowd are well behaved but many of us will remember a number of years ago when we had "people's Sunday" when tickets were available on the day and the atmosphere was the best it had ever been. A fix here is tricky as it's generally the boring middle class tennis punters (like me) who are able to get tickets for Wimbledon.
And still on the Wimbledon theme, who will ever forget the atmosphere from the partisan crowd when Andy Murray beat Novak to win in the final? Admittedly, the line was rarely crossed but it was border line on many occasions and at the same time an incredible sporting experience helped by a great crowd. In a similar vein in the year of GB winning the Davis Cup I attended the important doubles tie of the Murray brothers v Hewitt and Groth in the east end of Glasgow and it was one of the best tennis atmospheres I've ever experienced with the Stirling University barmy army only occasionally going over the line.
So, what's the verdict? In my view if we take it that the players are there for the fans then the fans should be allowed to express their enthusiasm in line with their cultural norms and it's up to the organisers (at least on the show courts) to control consistent offenders who go over the line of acceptable behaviour for that particular part of the world. Like in most popular sports at the highest level the players who want to win will just have to learn how to deal with it all and take the rough with the smooth. One of the positives that came out of Covid was how much both sport performers and punters realised that without a crowd, and a lively one at that, the ability to find the motivation to compete or watch on TV was greatly reduced.
C'mon, Allez and Forza to all the rowdy crowds of the world with acceptable limitations during the point!
And I didn't even mention the Ryder Cup which has become one of the most watched sporting events in the world with wildly enthusiastic fans and players too! Just ask Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods what event motivates them the most and if the crowd have an impact.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on such an important issue for tennis and it's future appeal?
Post below or email me at [email protected]
https://www.tuscantennis.com
The powers that be in tennis have been for years trying to jazz up tennis for the fans and are in fact worried that the tennis environment can be a bit flat and boring. In Madrid recently, fans were allowed to move freely at certain parts of the arena for example.Not sure that this made much of a difference other than annoying the players.
Opinions have varied among the players but if you happen to be French in Paris or Italian in Rome, as a player, you will be delighted with the Davis Cup atmosphere it provides. The atmosphere I experienced in Rome as a spectator a few weeks ago was fantastic and 90% of the time didn't go over the line of decency which could have a negative impact on the "away" player.
Both Dan Evans and Novak Djokovic have expressed their view that they are in favour of a loud crowd who cheer for their home or favourite player as the French always do.
I suppose the question we should be asking is "Are the players here for the fans or the other way about? Without the fans the players wouldn't have a sport and a very good salary to boot. I do think that the vast majority of players appreciate this and respect the obvious partisanship that a particular crowd may display towards the home player. There is also the hugely influential cultural element which can play a part. The tennis crowd at the US Open in New York is very different from the Wimbledon crowd for example. (more on Wimbledon to come). A Davis Cup match held in Argentina or Mexico can be fairly high spirited to say the least with the crowds attempting to influence the outcome any way they can!
For me it's quite simple in that there is a line of acceptable behaviour and when that line is crossed (maybe twice), whenever possible, that person should be removed from the arena. This will be more difficult on the outside courts where players will just have to be ready for anything, but on the show courts I think that it should be possible to weed out the serious offenders. The culture in my view for the audience should be to show your support loudly in between points but during the point be quiet! Tennis is different to football, basketball, ice hockey etc as there is almost always a level of noise but when you play in a vacuum (the norm for the majority of tennis) then the slightest sound apart from a gasp of excitement from the entire crowd can affect the outcome of some very important points.
It has been said as part of this debate that Wimbledon is better in the sense that the crowd are well behaved but many of us will remember a number of years ago when we had "people's Sunday" when tickets were available on the day and the atmosphere was the best it had ever been. A fix here is tricky as it's generally the boring middle class tennis punters (like me) who are able to get tickets for Wimbledon.
And still on the Wimbledon theme, who will ever forget the atmosphere from the partisan crowd when Andy Murray beat Novak to win in the final? Admittedly, the line was rarely crossed but it was border line on many occasions and at the same time an incredible sporting experience helped by a great crowd. In a similar vein in the year of GB winning the Davis Cup I attended the important doubles tie of the Murray brothers v Hewitt and Groth in the east end of Glasgow and it was one of the best tennis atmospheres I've ever experienced with the Stirling University barmy army only occasionally going over the line.
So, what's the verdict? In my view if we take it that the players are there for the fans then the fans should be allowed to express their enthusiasm in line with their cultural norms and it's up to the organisers (at least on the show courts) to control consistent offenders who go over the line of acceptable behaviour for that particular part of the world. Like in most popular sports at the highest level the players who want to win will just have to learn how to deal with it all and take the rough with the smooth. One of the positives that came out of Covid was how much both sport performers and punters realised that without a crowd, and a lively one at that, the ability to find the motivation to compete or watch on TV was greatly reduced.
C'mon, Allez and Forza to all the rowdy crowds of the world with acceptable limitations during the point!
And I didn't even mention the Ryder Cup which has become one of the most watched sporting events in the world with wildly enthusiastic fans and players too! Just ask Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods what event motivates them the most and if the crowd have an impact.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on such an important issue for tennis and it's future appeal?
Post below or email me at [email protected]
https://www.tuscantennis.com
