One thing I don't like about today's tournaments....

[gzhpcu]

In the old days, the players would come out together, and after the match, leave together. The loser would wait for the winner.

Nowadays, the players are announced separately and enter separately. OK, not too bad, but after the match is over, the loser quickly gathers his/her equipment and beats a hasty retreat, usually ignoring autograph seekers. The winner takes his/her time and basks in his/her victory. Call me old-fashioned, but I find it a shame.

[stotty]

In the old days, the players would come out together, and after the match, leave together. The loser would wait for the winner.

Nowadays, the players are announced separately and enter separately. OK, not too bad, but after the match is over, the loser quickly gathers his/her equipment and beats a hasty retreat, usually ignoring autograph seekers. The winner takes his/her time and basks in his/her victory. Call me old-fashioned, but I find it a shame.

I agree. In my country, in my day, that would have been considered the height of bad manners and very disrespectful to leave the court without your opponent...whatever level of tennis you played. In my day it never happened.

Walking on together was also customary in my day.

In my country, the home team used to lay on a full match tea and socialise with the away team after league matches. This never happens any more. The younger players just want to split and go home. Times change...and not always for the best.

[klacr]

I agree. In my country, in my day, that would have been considered the height of bad manners and very disrespectful to leave the court without your opponent...whatever level of tennis you played. In my day it never happened.

Walking on together was also customary in my day.

In my country, the home team used to lay on a full match tea and socialise with the away team after league matches. This never happens any more. The younger players just want to split and go home. Times change...and not always for the best.

It's a new generation. It's entertainment. Fans pay to see personalities.
Just stating the case.

Purpose of full disclosure: I agree with Phil. What's with all these players with their own unique post match celebration. Much like NFL players doing a dance and gesticulating. The old school and respectful way of thinking is to act like its not the first time you've scored a touchdown and act like it won't be the last. Tsonga jumping around like a wild man is just lunacy. Although the best has to be Youzhny. His racquet and hand salute to all sides of the court. Low key, respectful.

Kyle LaCroix USPTA
Boca Raton

[tennis_chiro]

In the old days, the players would come out together, and after the match, leave together. The loser would wait for the winner.

Nowadays, the players are announced separately and enter separately. OK, not too bad, but after the match is over, the loser quickly gathers his/her equipment and beats a hasty retreat, usually ignoring autograph seekers. The winner takes his/her time and basks in his/her victory. Call me old-fashioned, but I find it a shame.

I think you have to remember the matches we are seeing from the Australian are a different situation from the norm. The winner has to stay for the interview after the match. It would be unfair to expect the loser to sit there and watch that. Let's not put that onus on the losers.

But I'm with Kyle as far as acting like you've been there before.

don

[gzhpcu]

I think you have to remember the matches we are seeing from the Australian are a different situation from the norm. The winner has to stay for the interview after the match. It would be unfair to expect the loser to sit there and watch that. Let's not put that onus on the losers.

But I'm with Kyle as far as acting like you've been there before.

don

Yes, but I am not just referring to the Australian. You see this at every tournament. In the old days, even the hot-headed Pancho Gonzales would not have done it. Today, it is all about winning. Win and the jackal journalists praise you to heaven - lose and the talk about retirement - look at Roger.

[DougEng]

I think you have to remember the matches we are seeing from the Australian are a different situation from the norm. The winner has to stay for the interview after the match. It would be unfair to expect the loser to sit there and watch that. Let's not put that onus on the losers.

But I'm with Kyle as far as acting like you've been there before.

don

Agree. Today's players actually have more obligations than yesterday's. Both players have pressroom interviews (and more!) and often exhibition, appearances and other services to sponsors, community or charity. I think they actually do more than yesterday's so hanging on the court for the busy pro doesn't work. Think how busy their (top 10-15 ranked players) schedules are especially during a major.

[gzhpcu]

Agree. Today's players actually have more obligations than yesterday's. Both players have pressroom interviews (and more!) and often exhibition, appearances and other services to sponsors, community or charity. I think they actually do more than yesterday's so hanging on the court for the busy pro doesn't work. Think how busy their (top 10-15 ranked players) schedules are especially during a major.

But Doug, it is just a question of a couple of minutes: wait for the opponent, leave together, and at the exit the interview with the winner takes place. All of the above is not impacted...

[GeoffWilliams]

Long time ago that it was a gentleman's game. Along with equipment and technique, the blue collar nature of this game has evolved to include an underlying hatred of loss and your opponent.

[gzhpcu]

If I remember correctly, though, they still have that tradition in Britain (at least on center court)...

[stotty]

If I remember correctly, though, they still have that tradition in Britain (at least on center court)...

They do indeed, Phil. Britain is still a land of tradition...traditions died hard here. Men have to turn and bow towards those in the royal box; women turn and curtsy. Even the most foul mouthed Americans have had to do it over the years. It does 'em good, however...teaches 'em respect.

Wimbledon has always had and still does have a strict dress code. But in 1991 Agassi threatened to break the dress code rules, and the tabloids were in a frenzy that he would on court in multi coloured clothing. But in the end he lost his nerve and walked on court in COMPLETE white, not even a coloured emblem. He turned and bowed towards the box and when he did he got applause like he never had in his life. Broke him good we did...and he was glad of it...or so it looked.

Connors snubbed the centenary parade of champions at Wimbledon in 1977 and is the only ever player to snub royalty at Wimbledon...who were present in numbers. He chose to knock up on an outside court instead. I cannot tell you how badly that went down and how welcome his defeat to Borg in the final that year went down with the British public.

At Wimbledon they never bear a grudge. They invited Connors back for the millennium parade. He never showed up. McEnroe was invited, and he did show up. The reception he got for doing so was rapturous. I can't tell you how good he felt about that. He comes back every year for the full two weeks these days and does BBC commentary stints. He loves Wimbledon and Wimbledon loves him.

Bitter man that Connors. He only grew up last year.

Players these days are better mannered and more respectful...they are just short on tradition and etiquette.

[worldsbesttenniscoach]

I agree with Kyle that the winner of a match should keep emotions in check. Rather than go crazy with joy, the winner should run to the net, shake hands & show respect for the opponent with whom s/he just dueled.

[hockeyscout]

Jimmy

Bitter man that Connors. He only grew up last year. Players these days are better mannered and more respectful...they are just short on tradition and etiquette.

Perhaps Jimmy was a bit turned off by the family spending $74.5 million in 2012-13, going over budget by $3.8 million. Guess he wasn't so well off as a kid, and resented such pompous waste. Jimmy probably questioned whether or not the royals put in enough effort to earn their -- admittedly really lavish -- income, and treated them accordingly. It's his right.