Things ATP players do and have done that drive me nuts

[Luxilon Borg]

Having watched over 3000 tennis matches on tv and in person, certain things drive me nuts.

First, at the top of the list, is going for the towel after EVERY point, even after a double fault or ace.

Then:

-Players who don't wear bands and use their forearms or hands to wipe away sweat. A la Sampras, or Mac. Disgusting.

-Players having a sandwich, a nap, then deciding to challenge. CHALLENGE IMMEDIATELY!

-Looking at the box after every point, like a WTA player.

-Sloppy handshakes. You lost. Be a man.

Honorary mentions on the women's side to Sharapova and Bartoli for their ridiculous song and dance between points.

 

[britbox]

Having watched over 3000 tennis matches on tv and in person, certain things drive me nuts.

First, at the top of the list, is going for the towel after EVERY point, even after a double fault or ace.

Then:

-Players who don't wear bands and use their forearms or hands to wipe away sweat. A la Sampras, or Mac. Disgusting.

-Players having a sandwich, a nap, then deciding to challenge. CHALLENGE IMMEDIATELY!

-Looking at the box after every point, like a WTA player.

-Sloppy handshakes. You lost. Be a man.

Honorary mentions on the women's side to Sharapova and Bartoli for their ridiculous song and dance between points.

:clap I share some of those annoyances.

 

[Mastoor]

-Players who don't wear bands and use their forearms or hands to wipe away sweat. A la Sampras, or Mac. Disgusting.

I am opposite re this. Where I come from and that is tennis mecca and the very centre of the universe, when you wear a headband they ask you if you are concern that your brain can evaporate without it. I hate when players have bandanas.

But I think you remember Mac wronglyc, there are many pictures of him with a head band around his bushy hair.

 

[nehmeth]

-Players who don't wear bands and use their forearms or hands to wipe away sweat. A la Sampras, or Mac. Disgusting.

But I think you remember Mac wronglyc, there are many pictures of him with a head band around his bushy hair.

Correct Mastoor. And I am pretty sure he still wears them when he plays.

Still does:

 

[Mastoor]

^ exactly nehmeth

Now about hings that I don't like about atp rules.

First of all I don't understand why some players are allowed to pick their behind. Not that that is some ethnic thing, it just isn't.

Second thing is, why the same players who pick their behind before every service, also regularly spend more than 30 seconds getting ready to serve and they practically never get warned. I mean they sometimes don't bother even getting to the service line 15 seconds after the previous point was called but they just keep toweling, no? Why would they bother if no ref on this planet would warn them about breaking ATP or ITF rules on practically every serve.

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

that shake of the stick every time Sampras went to serve..

he would shake the stick twice..EVERY FRIGGIN TIME ..Gaaaaaaaahh.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Having watched over 3000 tennis matches on tv and in person, certain things drive me nuts.

First, at the top of the list, is going for the towel after EVERY point, even after a double fault or ace.

Then:

-Players who don't wear bands and use their forearms or hands to wipe away sweat. A la Sampras, or Mac. Disgusting.

-Players having a sandwich, a nap, then deciding to challenge. CHALLENGE IMMEDIATELY!

-Looking at the box after every point, like a WTA player.

-Sloppy handshakes. You lost. Be a man.

Honorary mentions on the women's side to Sharapova and Bartoli for their ridiculous song and dance between points.

:clap I share some of those annoyances.

Thanks!

 

[Luxilon Borg]

-Players who don't wear bands and use their forearms or hands to wipe away sweat. A la Sampras, or Mac. Disgusting.

I am opposite re this. Where I come from and that is tennis mecca and the very centre of the universe, when you wear a headband they ask you if you are concern that your brain can evaporate without it. I dislike when players have bandanas.

But I think you remember Mac wronglyc, there are many pictures of him with a head band around his bushy hair.

Mac never wore a headband after 1981. He wore no WRISTBANDS. using his forearm to continually wipe sweat away. Drove me nuts.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

that shake of the stick every time Sampras went to serve..

he would shake the stick twice..EVERY FRIGGIN TIME ..Gaaaaaaaahh.

With the tongue hanging out the side of the mouth too.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

-Players who don't wear bands and use their forearms or hands to wipe away sweat. A la Sampras, or Mac. Disgusting.

But I think you remember Mac wronglyc, there are many pictures of him with a head band around his bushy hair.

Correct Mastoor. And I am pretty sure he still wears them when he plays.

Still does:

From 82 to 86 he never wore a headband or bandana. He did start wearing bandana in 87 when he started losing his hair to hide his hair line.

 

[Andrew William]

Of course, the usual, taking too long to serve is always tedious.

Players that rely on excessive grunting, screeching, keening and the like to bother their opponents and consequently, irritate us innocent bystanders.

Those who raise their hand apologetically when a ball hits the net and drops down on their adversary's side and then turn around and fist pump in delight.

Recipients of the serve who raise a hand to indicate they are not ready before each and EVERY serve.

Players asking the chair whether or not a ball was close to being out. That's what challenges are for!

Those are only 'some' of my pet peeves!

 

[Moxie]

-Players who don't wear bands and use their forearms or hands to wipe away sweat. A la Sampras, or Mac. Disgusting.

I am opposite re this. Where I come from and that is tennis mecca and the very centre of the universe, when you wear a headband they ask you if you are concern that your brain can evaporate without it. I dislike when players have bandanas.

But I think you remember Mac wronglyc, there are many pictures of him with a head band around his bushy hair.

Mac never wore a headband after 1981. He wore no WRISTBANDS. using his forearm to continually wipe sweat away. Drove me nuts.

At some point I realize that there is too much time in tennis to think about ticks, but I don't get this one, at all.

 

[Luxilon Borg]

Of course, the usual, taking too long to serve is always tedious.

Players that rely on excessive grunting, screeching, keening and the like to bother their opponents and consequently, irritate us innocent bystanders.

Those who raise their hand apologetically when a ball hits the net and drops down on their adversary's side and then turn around and fist pump in delight.

Recipients of the serve who raise a hand to indicate they are not ready before each and EVERY serve.

Players asking the chair whether or not a ball was close to being out. That's what challenges are for!

Those are only 'some' of my pet peeves!

I loved the Muster, Connors, and Nadal grunt..it echoes their effort level. But some of the others, it is a joke....Berloq comes to mind.

 

[Andrew William]

I almost forgot a really important one that gets on my nerves. Terrible challengers!

You know the culprits; they lift a hand to announce they wish to challenge a line call and the spectators get wild with anticipation and everyone is dumfounded when they see the ball land out by some several feet. Someone in the crowd jeers or laughs uncomfortably to break the awkward silence. Meanwhile the terrible challenger is leaning on his racket, taking in huge mouthfuls of oxygen and not even looking embarrassed in the least!

I sort of included a two for one there. Yes indeed, players who challenge after a particularly long rally to compose themselves is also irksome, though smart!

 

[Andrew William]

I loved the Muster, Connors, and Nadal grunt..it echoes their effort level. But some of the others, it is a joke....Berloq comes to mind.

I must agree. The Nadal soundtrack is a soothing lullaby when compared to Azarenka's wails of torment.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Any player who grunts after a backhand slice.

 

[Denis]

- swearing on court (Murray)
- only being able to show a negative emotion on court (Murray)
- taking to much time between points
- making your opponent wait for you all the time (Nadal, I hate those mindgames)
- toweling off (especially after receiving an ace)
- excessive grunting
- not being able to give the opponent or the umpire a decent handshake

 

[brokenshoelace]

- swearing on court (Everybody, we just blame Murray because we can understand him)
- only being able to show a negative emotion on court (No player ever. At least not a top player, and certainly not Murray, who is notorious for his "come on's")
- taking to much time between points (Nadal, Djokovic)
- making your opponent wait for you all the time (Nadal, I hate those mindgames)
- toweling off (Nadal and 95% of the tour)
- excessive grunting (Berloq, David Ferrer on occasions, and numerous female players who make their matches damn near unwatchable)
- not being able to give the opponent or the umpire a decent handshake

Fixed it for you

 

[Denis]

Meh... don't agree with the first two of your fixtures, the others are fine

Comparatively speaking IMO Murray has a much more negative attitude than other players. Can't stand the whining and can't stand the excessive swearing (although you can't understand it, you can tell when the others do it, and it happens less frequently).

 

[brokenshoelace]

Meh... don't agree with the first two of your fixtures, the others are fine

Comparatively speaking IMO Murray has a much more negative attitude than other players. Can't stand the whining and can't stand the excessive swearing (although you can't understand it, you can tell when the others do it, and it happens less frequently).

I think Murray generally shows more negative emotions than Nadal, Federer and even Djokovic, yes. But I would say overall, he's improved in that regard. The swearing, quite honestly, doesn't bother me. But I understand why it would rub people the wrong way.