Rafael Nadal in the 2013 US Open. He goes on to win the title.
Serena Williams in the 2012 US Open. She goes on to win the title.
These are the tennis "champions" of our era. This is what they wear, this is how they behave on court, this is what sports aficionados admire (if they didn't, these characters would never be able to play the way they do).
Watching tennis is still a pleasure. There is something mesmerizing about that tiny ball making it back and forth across the court.
But now, not only do we have to put up with the aggressive, and often frightening, behavior of the players, there is a new trend where the players accompany their strokes with loud grunts.
Perhaps the grunts are understandable. Tennis has become a game of muscles, not of finesse. The athletes have become body builders maneuvering themselves around the court. Any smaller-built competitor is already at a disadvantage, not because of lack of talent, but because of his body size.
Nadal (left) with the leaner Djokovic in the 2013 US Open. Nadal won the championship
This is how it played out between Rafael Nadal, the current champion, and Novak Djokovic, who played him in the finals. Djokovic is a much leaner player, at least in muscle mass, and it was visible in his the force of his strokes. His precise and graceful style was over-powered by the forceful shots of Nadal.
And I wont even go into the transvestite-looking Serena Williams. The photograph at the top says it all.
I miss those days when court tantrums were defined by McEnroe. Now we have heavily grunting, testosterone-spiked players, who may actually attack the judges and their opponents.
Thus is our era eradicating civility, even in the most civil of sports.
Left: John McEnroe argues with the umpire during his semi-final match against Jimmy Connors
in 1980 at Wimbledon. McEnroe won the match.
Right: Serena Williams argues with tournament referee (right) in 2009 at the US Open during her match with Kim Clijsters. Williams lost the match.
[Notice the petrified look of the female grand slam supervisor Donna Kelso].
John McEnroe arguing with an umpire at Wimbeldon in 1980:
- Notice the safe height at which the judge is positioned.
- Notice McEnroe's unobtrusive tennis clothes
- Notice how the judge brushes off McEnroe, even reprimanding him
- Notice how McEnroe, since he cannot get close enough to act out his tantrum, resolves to arguing his point rather than attacking the judge
Serena Williams arguing with referee at the US Open in 2009:
- Notice how close Williams gets to the referee, frightening the female line judge who looks petrified at Williams' aggression and violent posture.
- The referee looks cautious and conciliatory (notice his outreached hand, as if to say that the decision is beyond his control: i.e. it is correct).
- Notice how there is nothing protecting the referee from a potential violent physical attack by Williams. In an age of more aggressive playing, safety measures are actually removed from the tennis court, compared to 1980.
- Notice Williams' pumped up, muscular physique against the tall and lean referee. She could throw him down with one swoop of her tennis racket.
- Her non-conforming attire, black and menacing, adds to her aggressive attitude.
1930s tennis outfits for men and women
Elegant and white
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Posted By: Kidist P. Asrat
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