Are you a cheerer or a shusher?

Challenger · Aug 12, 2007

I've always wondered why tennis is so strict on the crowd cheering during points. Almost all the other big time sports actually encourage the fans to yell...not be quiet. Most of the time, players even have to endure constant jeering and insults as well.

Personally, I'm not sure if I would like that myself. I enjoy hearing the ball being swatted by the racquet, and most of that will be lost with constant fan cheering. On the other hand, it would bring a lot more excitement and intensity to matches, and fans would have a greater feel of interactivity and involvement.

So what do you guys think? More yelling, or keep it quiet?

Also, even though it's frowned upon, fans still can't help their "Ooh"s and "Aah"s during droppahs, lobs, and dead run plays. I hate it when people try to shush them during the point...it's even more annoying than the people cheering themselves.

punch · Aug 12, 2007

I believe on Versus network on that World Team Tennis fans are encouraged to cheer during points (mostly because the opposing team is from a different city) but it was interesting to watch the first time I saw it

Challenger · Aug 12, 2007

punch said:
I believe on Versus network on that World Team Tennis fans are encouraged to cheer during points (mostly because the opposing team is from a different city) but it was interesting to watch the first time I saw it

Just curious, even with the cheering, could you still hear the ball strikes and all that?

Forehand Forever · Aug 12, 2007

I'm a cheerer. I wish you could cheer more though. For tennis though, it would probably get to the point where people were doing the A-Rod approach and yelling stuff out as the players were about to hit the ball.

angharad · Aug 12, 2007

Forehand Forever said:
For tennis though, it would probably get to the point where people were doing the A-Rod approach and yelling stuff out as the players were about to hit the ball.

It's already gotten to that point some of the time. The J-Block is particularly bad during the US Open when an opponent goes to serve, or calling "Out!" or "Fault!" on good shots. It's ridiculous.

Challenger · Aug 12, 2007

Forehand Forever said:
I'm a cheerer. I wish you could cheer more though. For tennis though, it would probably get to the point where people were doing the A-Rod approach and yelling stuff out as the players were about to hit the ball.

That's what's so fun about the idea though. =)

In baseball, football, basketball, whatever...there's always the hecklers in the crowd, and I think that just adds an extra dimension to the game. People rave about tennis players because of their focus and mental concentration, but really, without the fans getting all over you, it's no where compared to players of other sports.

Can you imagine the pressure an NFL kicker feels when he's trying to kick a game-winner, or a basketball player trying to hit a free throw, or a batter facing 2 outs and full count in the 9th inning with the crowd going bananas?

keithchircop · Aug 13, 2007

Goran vs Rafter Wimbledon 2001 had as much cheering as a basketball game. So did Connors vs Krickstein and Connors vs Haarhuis at US Open 1991. The wild cheering of the crowds make those matches my favourite ever.

lethalfang · Aug 13, 2007

Probably for the same purpose as the no coaching rule: matches should be decided solely by the players. No player deserves a home-court advantage.

darkhorse · Aug 13, 2007

I have no problem with cheering wildly after a point, but during a point is just wrong. I never bought the "Players need to concentrate" argument, but the game is dependent on vocal calls by linesmen, so fans could affect either player adversely.

SB · Aug 13, 2007

It's very difficult when you can't hear the ball come off the other racquet. Try it sometime ... you don't realize how much your sense of hearing plays into your tennis game until you play in a noisy environment.

Vision84 · Aug 13, 2007

Players should cheer in between points like they currently do. If they did during a point it would be more distracting than other sports. Tennis is like golf but less extreme in that you need silence during your shots. First of all the courts are small and not big like a football field and second the players need to hear the ball off the racket.

Anyone remember the incident with Rusedski and Roddick a while back with the call from a fan?

saram · Aug 13, 2007

I think when Marcos had his run at the AO last year, and how the crowd was rowdy and yet quiet at the right moments would be perfect all year long. Davis Cup just rocks for that rowdiness...

finky · Aug 13, 2007

The whole drama of tennis is the intensity of the silence during the point, folowed by a wild eruption of noise when the rally is over. It is utterly unique and makes tennis great .

And as for heckling, there's plenty at the US Open as I recall.

krz · Aug 13, 2007

i don't mind it except for those damn oooohhh's and aahhhhh's during long points, or when someone gets a ball they shouldn't, or the droppers, lobs.

Mr.Federer · Aug 13, 2007

Challenger said:
That's what's so fun about the idea though. =)

In baseball, football, basketball, whatever...there's always the hecklers in the crowd, and I think that just adds an extra dimension to the game. People rave about tennis players because of their focus and mental concentration, but really, without the fans getting all over you, it's no where compared to players of other sports.

Can you imagine the pressure an NFL kicker feels when he's trying to kick a game-winner, or a basketball player trying to hit a free throw, or a batter facing 2 outs and full count in the 9th inning with the crowd going bananas?

But unlike basketball, baseball, football and hockey or any team sport, tennis don't have a home crowd unless it's davis cup. It's a tournament, and if there are hecklers that are irritating the best players, they won't show up next year, as easy as that. And then the people from that city will be mad, pissed, dissapointed. Enjoy the tennis, cheer when it's the time and everything will be fine.

tennispro11 · Aug 13, 2007

saram said:
I think when Marcos had his run at the AO last year, and how the crowd was rowdy and yet quiet at the right moments would be perfect all year long. Davis Cup just rocks for that rowdiness...

That adds to the drama when the crowd cheers after a good shot and gets really quiet afterward. Or when the crowd starts to get all riled up during a very good rally. I enjoy hearing the ooohhhs and aaahhhs. It makes for more enjoyable watching when the crowd is really into the match.

Are you a cheerer or a shusher?

Challenger

Semi-Pro

punch

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Challenger

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Forehand Forever

Professional

angharad

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Challenger

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keithchircop

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lethalfang

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darkhorse

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SB

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Vision84

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saram

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finky

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krz

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Mr.Federer

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tennispro11

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