The way which ballkids are treated on both tours is nothing short of disgraceful.

TimHenmanATG

TimHenmanATG

Hall of Fame
Players continually bark orders at them, regularly humiliate them in a very public venue, and use them as an outlet for their angst and frustration (which reeks of creepy and predatory behaviour, imho).

Pre-COVID, they were also expected to handle a player's sweat- and saliva-ridden towel with alacrity.

I wonder how the players' behaviour would change if the ''ballkids'' were all adult 6'4'' powerlifters... :unsure:
 
Last edited:
clayqueen

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
TimHenmanATG said:
Players Djokovic continually barks orders at them, regularly humiliate them in a very public venue, and use them as an outlet for his angst and frustration (which reeks of creepy and predatory behaviour, imho).

Pre-COVID, they were also expected to handle a player's sweat- and saliva-ridden towels with alacrity.

I wonder hows the players' behaviour would change if the ''ballkids'' were all 6'4'' powerlifters... :unsure:
Click to expand...
 
ollinger

ollinger

G.O.A.T.
There's a few thoughtful players like Thiem and Alcaraz who flip the extra balls back to the kids on high bounces so they don't have to bend down constantly, but most essentially drop them behind and let them roll to the kids. I think Iga also gives the kids a nice high bounce. This business of picking over 4 balls each time you serve is ridiculous and should be eliminated; you get 2 balls to serve, deal with it. And give the kids those little nets to pick up balls, as they do at some of the Scandinavian tournaments.
 
Underdog

Underdog

Professional
Backspin1183 said:
Nadal kissed and made up with the ball girl. Did Djokovic do this?
Click to expand...
The video doesn’t show, but I guess not. I agree Nadal os nicer than Djokovic. I just think that accidentally hitting a ball of a return of serve into the ballboy isn’t that big of a deal. Completely different from when he randomly hit the line judge, for example.
Like I said, I do think Djokovic has been bossy and maybe even mean to ballkids in some cases, but not this one.
 
Mainad

Mainad

Bionic Poster
The-booes-began-after-Daniil-Medvedev-snatched-a-towel-away-from-the-ball-boy-2034866.jpg
 
GhostOfNKDM

GhostOfNKDM

Hall of Fame
One could flip the question on its head and ask - "Is it possible to create an environment where athletes perform under extreme pressure and physical stress without exposing others to danger in some form?"

Unless all people other than the players themselves are removed from the court, their safety can't be guaranteed.
 
Last edited:
Mustard

Mustard

Bionic Poster
Fabresque said:
Zip it excuse brigade, your boys been making Carlos Bernardes’ life a living hell but it’s ok because Nadal is humblito.
Click to expand...
Do you even know the context of what happened? It was at 2015 Rio with Nadal vs. Cuevas, and Bernardes laughed at Rafa when Rafa said that he had his shorts on back to front and wanted to leave the court to change them the right way round. Nadal then had to put a towel round his middle and change it round.

84f50c63546b604bf421188d05681d83.gif
84f50c63546b604bf421188d05681d83.gif
 
D

Deleted member 791948

Guest
TimHenmanATG said:
Players continually bark orders at them, regularly humiliate them in a very public venue, and use them as an outlet for their angst and frustration (which reeks of creepy and predatory behaviour, imho).

Pre-COVID, they were also expected to handle a player's sweat- and saliva-ridden towel with alacrity.

I wonder how the players' behaviour would change if the ''ballkids'' were all adult 6'4'' powerlifters... :unsure:
Click to expand...
I agree, very well-said! (y)
Plus the ball kids are often collateral damage when players are smashing racquets, given the trauma of witnessing violence in such close proximity.
 
Fabresque

Fabresque

Legend
Mustard said:
Do you even know the context of what happened? It was at 2015 Rio with Nadal vs. Cuevas, and Bernardes laughed at Rafa when Rafa said that he had his shorts on back to front and wanted to leave the court to change them the right way round. Nadal then had to put a towel round his middle and change it round.

84f50c63546b604bf421188d05681d83.gif
84f50c63546b604bf421188d05681d83.gif
Click to expand...
That’s on Rafa for not dressing himself properly. He’s a grown man LMFAOOOO. Carlos is laughing because it’s actually hilarious.
 
clayqueen

clayqueen

Talk Tennis Guru
Fabresque said:
That’s on Rafa for not dressing himself properly. He’s a grown man LMFAOOOO. Carlos is laughing because it’s actually hilarious.
Click to expand...
But disciplinary action was taken against Bernardes as he was suspended from calling Rafa's matches for 10 months.
 
J

jindra

Hall of Fame
Born_to_slice said:
Are you people aware that no one is forced to be a ball kid? Kids actually cherish the opportunity to do it. They would laugh at TTW's justice warriors writing nonsense in this thread.
Click to expand...

You think the kids' parents volunteered them to be abused by millionaire athletes?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bud
DSH

DSH

Talk Tennis Guru
Joker is the agent of chaos, luckily, the Dark Knight stopped him in time at Roland Garros after misfortune a year earlier.
:cool:
 
S

sureshs

Bionic Poster
At the tournaments I have volunteered at, ball kids are treated very well. They are given uniforms, food and water and participate in fun activities.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top