THE NFL USTA

With all the overkill hype surrounding the US OPEN this year, its appearance is à la Sunday Night Football, replete with Vegas-style smoky conflagrations or whatever the fck the rising jets of smoke are that line the passageway when the players come out onto the court. Plus, plus, plus, the bulky testosterone levels exhibited by the American players, beating their chests, fingers to their ears, and the I am going to kick your ass facial gestures look as if they are ready to tackle their opponent.

 What is going on? Give me Wimbledon, where there is some credence of tennis etiquette left for all the world to see and be reminded that manners are soaked in a belief system that echoes respect.

Sure, the antics of getting the crowd hyped may have started with McEnroe or Connors, but the finger to the ear? Really?  That appears to be straight out of the NFL. Was it Djok who first learned of this exploitative cue and began utilizing these NFL-like theatrics?  Alcaraz following? I wonder.

I was watching the Foe v Shelton match with a friend from the EU who commented when one player was shouting and fist-pumping to the crowd, “We don’t have this in Europe.”

For the most part, I believe that is probably true (with the aforementioned exceptions); long gone are the days of Roger Federer’s grace and decorum.

Maybe next year the Open will have a half-time show.

Stay True World

MGH