Miami – Former world-class tennis player Andy Roddick is having a little fun with it. The fact that tennis pros have been completely ticking off again and again recently prompted the American to shoot a short tutorial.
The 39-year-old explains in the video how to throw a racket and hit a ball without getting into trouble. His little lesson has a worrying background. Freak-outs are becoming an ongoing topic.
Tennis stars as role models? Often not when it comes to behaviour. When it comes to victories, world ranking points and prize money, many a tantrum gets out of hand. In their frustration, professionals recently even endangered umpires and ball kids. After Olympic champion Alexander Zverev’s attack on the umpire’s chair in Acapulco, the next incidents were not long in coming.
In view of his suspended ban, the Hamburg player must behave properly despite early defeats in Indian Wells and Miami if he does not want to risk the mandatory break. Competitors are not doing the sport’s image any good at the Masters tournaments in the USA either.
Kyrgios – a prime example
In the round of 16 in Miami, for example, Nick Kyrgios got annoyed with umpire Carlos Bernardes’ radio and railed so vehemently that he first received a point penalty and then a match penalty in his loss to Italy’s Jannik Sinner. Even at a distance on social media, the Australian lashed out at the respected referee. The Brazilian was not good enough for important matches, the 26-year-old scolded: “Get new people.”
Smashed tennis rackets and tirades against umpires are nothing new in the tennis scene. Decades ago, for example, the US American John McEnroe took on the role of a villain. His legendary saying: “You cannot be serious”. In 2020, the Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic caused a scandal at the US Open when he unintentionally hit a lineswoman with a ball that had been shot away and was disqualified.
At the moment, however, there is a conspicuous amount of discussion about whether and how tennis professionals cross boundaries and how leniently they get off. Referees get a lot of flack. At the Australian Open, for example, Russian US Open winner Daniil Medvedev asked the referee if he was stupid and called him a “little cat”. The Canadian Denis Shapovalov accused the referee of being corrupt.
Zverev’s freak-out in Acapulco
Zverev had a freak-out in Acapulco, which he himself described as “unacceptable” afterwards. After losing an insignificant doubles match, he repeatedly hit the umpire’s chair, on which the umpire was still sitting, with his racket. The consequences? The Hamburg player was disqualified for the singles. The professional organisation ATP imposed a fine and an eight-week suspended ban on the top player, who can be a figurehead in sport. Too little, some think.
The long-time women’s number one, Serena Williams, sensed a double standard. Former world number one Mats Wilander told Eurosport: “You sanction someone who behaves like that with a three-month or six-month ban. You don’t allow him to play the most important tournaments in the calendar in such a case.” Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal also spoke out in favour of tougher penalties, saying it would protect the sport and the referees.
Ball kids in fear
It has been years since Kyrgios was suspended for eight weeks. At the time, the ban was reduced to three weeks when he agreed to undergo sports psychology treatment. He is known for his controversial behaviour. In Indian Wells, he threw his racket on the ground so violently that it flew across the court in a high arc. A ball boy ducked away. For fear of being hit. Kyrgios denied any intent. In Miami, US pro Jenson Brooksby hurled his racket backwards, the ball boy had to jump to the side and was slightly hit. Was he disqualified? No. He received a point penalty and won.
It was also these instances that led to Roddick’s little instructional film. You shoot a ball far in the air so as not to seriously endanger anyone, he suggests. Throw the racket with the hitting surface flat on the ground so that it stays in place. That would not be exemplary either.
