Every professional athlete makes more sacrifices the higher they go.
Common ones include spending time away from your family and loved ones, missing events like weddings and birthdays.
The world’s best athletes would understand this better than anyone.
This summer brought big crowd numbers to sporting events, including seeing Rafael Nadal break the record for most Grand Slam titles, with 21, after defeating Daniil Medvedev.
(Photo by TPN/Getty Images)
The tournament, however, also revealed a dark side for some of the players’ experiences in front of the Australian fans.
Following the five hours and 24 minute, five-set marathon to conclude the Australian Open, Medvedev revealed he is uninspired to play tennis at the Grand Slam level after a challenging tournament with fans.
The world’s number two player was heckled for a large part of the tournament by fans, ever since he defeated Australian Nick Kyrgios in the second round.
Fans were criticised for making distractions while players served and for cheering when a player made unforced errors or served a fault.
Medvedev was targeted with this unwarranted fan behaviour, ultimately having an impact on him.
In an emotional post-match press conference after the final, Medvedev explained his current feelings towards playing tennis, making comparisons to the past where he doubted his playing future from having to deal with unjust fan behaviour.
(Photo by Andy Cheung/Getty Images)
Medvedev said he would prefer playing in front of more supportive crowds at home in Moscow over in the future.
“If there is a tournament on hard courts in Moscow, before Roland Garros or Wimbledon, I’m going to go there even if I miss Wimbledon or Roland Garros or whatever,” he said.
“The kid stopped dreaming. The kid is going to play for himself. That’s it. That’s my story.”
This is the sad reality of a player who has been exacerbated by a boisterous crowd to the point he is left in a hopeless situation.
Is this what we want to happen to visiting players as Australian fans?
People can mention the meltdown Medvedev had with the chair umpire in the semi-final, although would that have happened if the culture within tennis fans was different?
What if fans didn’t distract players as they threw the ball up to serve? If fans didn’t celebrate an opposition’s mistake more than your own player’s success? If fans didn’t talk after a first-serve fault?
If fans followed this tennis etiquette, would that meltdown have happened? Would Medvedev be happy and excited to come back and play another Australian Open?
If crowd behaviour continues like this, will more sporting athletes refuse to come back? Certainly.
And we will be left without some of the best players every year.
This is a wake-up call to tennis fans to show more respect to opposing athletes.
ChubbyMcLardFat
Roar Rookie
I’m not sure what it is about tennis (and golf), but I feel the requirement for silence adds to the theatre of the event. I guess it emphasises that _everyone’s_ complete, undivided attention is devoted to that athlete at that time. Even the nature of the commentators, in their commentary box, using a low subdued tone adds to it somehow (for me). Professional athletes, in fairness, should probably be able to handle some background noise, but I think the silence as someone is about to serve for the match, or hit the winning putt (for example) is pretty cool. Poor crowd behaviour leading to athletes refusing come? Not so sure. The australian open is still a grand slam, the event offers serious coin. There might be the odd one who sits out from time to time, but I think they’ll be rare (this doesn’t excuse poor behaviour btw). I suspect it’s more likely that players will try to ‘work with the crowd’ a little more. Go the pirates!
Bell31
Roar Rookie
Good article although I'm a bit 'on the fence' on this issue. On one hand, the comments referring to allowing constant noise in tennis don't appear to be fully understanding the nature of tennis - it's a relatively closed-in 'performance environment', with the need to focus and concentrate, especially when serving, and constant noise will probably impact the quality of tennis we're watching (I'd be interested to hear how the trials of 'noise' in non-ATP events are turning out though). I don't think it's at all similar to cricket, for instance, on a much bigger playing field, although no one is allowed to stand directly behind the bowler and move during the run-up and bowling action (which is probably similar to the distraction caused by noise during serving). Probably similar to golf I assume, although some might criticise golf for being out of touch as well I suspect! On the other hand, however, I don't see any issue with spectators cheering for whoever they want between points, even if clapping a player's poor shot - as long as it's not during play. Lastly, Medvedev certainly hasn't helped himself at all - he appears to blame others when he gets frustrated which doesn't endear himself to crowds, so he probably needs to have a think about that!
Max Hatzoglou
Roar Pro
Cricket is also similar in that the fielding team can’t talk as the bowlers running in. I wouldn’t mind tennis fans being able to talk during a rally. Just before a serve a bit different, leave it silent. I understand the frustration for fans having to follow this so called old fashioned crowd etiquette. My piece calls for more respect for players and to avoid the pathway of crowds unfairly distracting players while serving or barracking hard when a point is lost from a double fault.
Robbie
Guest
Tennis players have always a spoilt bunch. Fans are the reason they earn the money they do, treat the fans with respect and maybe you'll get it in return
Simoc
Roar Rookie
You'de say golf etiquette is out of date to. You'll get ejected pretty quickly there though.
Adam
Roar Guru
100% behind you there. Tennis would be a lot like cricket I imagine. A lot of low level constant noise with some clapping and cheering when something happens
Trung
Guest
What about tennis joins the rest of the sporting world and allowed crowd cheering, jeering during the match It has already been trialled in non-ATP tournaments in USA Tennis etiquette is out of date and the idea of crowd noise is distracting is unconvincing. Sudden noise from silence is distracting. Constant noise becomes part of background ambience as shown in any other sport
Adam
Roar Guru
Tennis is still stuck in a bygone era, or at least they want the punters to behave in a certain way. Despite many of the players being super brats, there's this unhealthy idea that the fans are somehow not only shelling out their money, but need to adhere to some ridiculous etiquette. Now I'm suggesting that we all try to distract players throughout the match, but I think the tone coming from players like Medvedev is a little distasteful as if the paying public should somehow be worshipping at their feet.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
These guys get paid a fortune to play a sport & live a comfortable life. What do they expect? Everyone makes sacrifices not just these guys & they get paid handsomely for it. The average Joe makes a hell of a lot more sacrifices than these sportsmen. They make money off the punters who use their hard earned money to go & watch these guys play. They receive ridiculous amounts of money, clothing, shoes etc. from sponsorships……we punters have to pay for all of that so please spare me the sob story Medvedev. You earned how many millions as runner up? I wish i did! These people should grow some balls & stop moaning like they’re owed love & support from crowds. Their lives are easy compared to most!