Are there serious fans who don't root against a player?

[ffw2]

I find it hard to believe that anyone is entirely objective about it.

And that goes for all ages, I've found.

Kids through elders: They all want someone to lose.

Problem?

 

[TripleATeam]

I don't root against a player, unless they are directly playing my guy. And even then I applaud it when they play well.

 

[ffw2]

I don't root against a player, unless they are directly playing my guy.

Exactly.

So if you're invested in it, you're pulling for L's.

And in other matches that indirectly impact "your guy" (e.g., a tournament draw), you'd be rooting against certain players.

 

[TripleATeam]

Exactly.

So if you're invested in it, you're pulling for L's.

And in other matches that indirectly impact "your guy" (e.g., a tournament draw), you'd be rooting against certain players.

Nope. I want him to play the harder opponents and beat them because I get to watch better tennis. The only time I root for someone to lose is indirectly, when I'm rooting for my favorite to win the match - it's just me wanting my favorite to beat the guy across the net.

 

[ffw2]

Nope. I want him to play the harder opponents and beat them because I get to watch better tennis. The only time I root for someone to lose is indirectly, when I'm rooting for my favorite to win the match - it's just me wanting my favorite to beat the guy across the net.

Don't you do the informal tennis match betting thing on here? Presumably you're trying not to lose that.

But also, at what point did Djokovic become "your guy"?

Was your fandom always as idealized as you claim?

 

[TripleATeam]

Don't you do the informal tennis match betting thing on here? Presumably you're trying not to lose that.

But also, at what point did Djokovic become "your guy"?

Was your fandom always as idealized as you claim?

Around 2007 Canada, before that he wasn't really on my radar and I was too young to know much else beyond Federer and Nadal. And yes, I match bet. It'd be nice not to lose, but it's just a game in the end. Plus, I bet on who's going to win a match, not who's losing it. Either way, I wouldn't say that's the same thing.

If I understand what you're asking here, it's "Doesn't everyone who roots for Player 1 wish that Players 2-64 lose, so that Player 1 can play against weaker competition?"

I don't. I want Djokovic to win by beating the strongest players possible. If he can't, he didn't deserve to win anyway. I watch tennis to watch the greatest quality matches possible. Perhaps I wasn't always this way, but I don't think we can all claim to be proud of who we were as literal children. I was certainly no angel, but I think what matters is how you act in the here and now.

 

[James P]

I generally root for players. As a general, but not all-encompassing, rule I do tend to root for the younger lads over the old men. It can come across as anti-Big 3 or anti-veteran player, but I'm pretty ambivalent especially of the Big 3.

 

[ffw2]

And yes, I match bet. It'd be nice not to lose, but it's just a game in the end.

Every form of sports betting is premised on uberfans. If they were content with mere victories for their favorite/favorites, they wouldn't feel compelled to up the ante in that way.

If I understand what you're asking here, it's "Doesn't everyone who roots for Player 1 wish that Players 2-64 lose, so that Player 1 can play against weaker competition?"

No.

Rooting against a player (or team for that matter) would not simply be a matter of making things easier for another player or team. For example, it could be a matter of principle. Or simple dislike.

 

[TripleATeam]

Every form of sports betting is premised on uberfans. If they were content with mere victories for their favorite/favorites, they wouldn't feel compelled to up the ante in that way.

Don't presume to understand me. I just like playing games against other people. I'm willing to pseudo-bet on MLB games too, but I don't watch those or look at their stats either. Games are fun.

Rooting against a player (or team for that matter) would not simply be a matter of making things easier for another player or team. For example, it could be a matter of principle. Or simple dislike.

Even for that, my answer is no. I only root against a player when they're directly playing my favorite, because I want my favorite to win that match.

 

[R. Schweikart]

I find it hard to believe that anyone is entirely objective about it.

And that goes for all ages, I've found.

Kids through elders: They all want someone to lose.

Problem?

I have always rooted against McEnroe, Connors, Hingis, Serena (post-2003), Kyrgios, Osaka (post-FO 21).
Watching them lose gave and gives me at least as much satisfaction as seeing my faves (Lendl, Graf, Henin, Federer, Raducanu) win.

 

[ffw2]

I have always rooted against McEnroe, Connors, Hingis, Serena (post-2003), Kyrgios, Osaka (post-FO 21).
Watching them lose gave and gives me at least as much satisfaction as seeing my faves (Lendl, Graf, Henin, Federer, Raducanu) win.

Suspect this is essentially the norm here.

 

[TennisLurker]

I'm not a fan of any of the big 3. I root against all of them when they face a younger player that might be slam champion material (as long as that younger player isn't boring, I want the big 3 to destroy Zverev or Berrettini)
And when the big 3 play each other, I want the one that has been winning most lately to lose.
So I wanted Djokovic to beat Federer in 2007 or 2008, and in 2019 I wanted Federer to beat Djokovic.

I do feel a lot of admiration and respect for them. Federer in particular I think is the best tennis player ever. Biggest offensive game, fantastic ball striker, and can do things that in the 2000s made me feel like CIA had given him a racket made with alien technology.

 

[R. Schweikart]

I'm not a fan of any of the big 3. I root against all of them when they face a younger player that might be slam champion material (as long as that younger player isn't boring, I want the big 3 to destroy Zverev or Berrettini)
And when the big 3 play each other, I want the one that has been winning most lately to lose.
So I wanted Djokovic to beat Federer in 2007 or 2008, and in 2019 I wanted Federer to beat Djokovic.

I do feel a lot of admiration and respect for them. Federer in particular I think is the best tennis player ever. Biggest offensive game, fantastic ball striker, and can do things that in the 2000s made me feel like CIA had given him a racket made with alien technology.

CIA are too dumb for that.
The most overrated intelligence service in the history of mankind.

 

[Permitlady]

I root against people for the same reason Federer crying video has millions of views.

 

[Lleytonstation]

I find it hard to believe that anyone is entirely objective about it.

And that goes for all ages, I've found.

Kids through elders: They all want someone to lose.

Problem?

Everyone roots against someone. Everyone. To what extent and for what reason differs.

But let us not pretend like we come here for just tennis, tennis fans are fanatics. The emotional connection and dopamine we get from rooting is what we desire and why we come back.

We care, that is why we are invested. If you don't care, then you better hope the tennis is spectacular... And that rarely happens anymore.

 

[Arak]

I have always rooted against McEnroe, Connors, Hingis, Serena (post-2003), Kyrgios, Osaka (post-FO 21).
Watching them lose gave and gives me at least as much satisfaction as seeing my faves (Lendl, Graf, Henin, Federer, Raducanu) win.

That is very petty. I commend you for admitting it. It takes a lot of courage
Kidding aside, I think it’s the norm. Anyone pretending otherwise must be some alien from another planet, or just lying. I confess that I take pleasure in seeing certain players losing too.

 

[Lleytonstation]

That is very petty. I commend you for admitting it. It takes a lot of courage
Kidding aside, I think it’s the norm. Anyone pretending otherwise must be some alien from another planet, or just lying. I confess that I take pleasure in seeing certain players losing too.

First off, I am offended at your alien jab.

Secondly, I love the matches where going in I don't really care or have someone who I am rooting for and then something changes that. I get more invested and the match has more meaning and is more enjoyable.

 

[Arak]

First off, I am offended at your alien jab.

Secondly, I love the matches where going in I don't really care or have someone who I am rooting for and then something changes that. I get more invested and the match has more meaning and is more enjoyable.

Oops, sorry for the unintentional offence, esteemed visitor from outer space

I definitely start watching some matches, not having any favourite in particular. But I do systematically root against certain players that I will not name. It does happen sometimes, though rarely, that I switch to rooting for them because of something the opponent did that offended me.

 

[socallefty]

I usually go into a match rooting for the player who I think is better and deserves to win. Sometimes as the match progresses, they are so equally matched that it is hard to say that one is better than the other. Those are the true classics where I end up not supporting anyone and just want to see who plays better at the end - 2008W final, 2012AO final, 2013FO semi, 2017AO final, 2018W semi, 2019W final are all examples of that.

Other times, I start off supporting a player because I think they are better at the start of a match and then they suck so bad that within 30 mins, I think their opponent is better and deserves to win - 2008FO final, 2012W final, 2020FO final, 2021USO final are examples of that.

I have supported Djokovic a lot since 2011 because I think he has been the best player in the last decade. But, I don’t like many things about his behavior and worldview and it is hard for me to call myself his ‘fan’ even though I support him in almost all his matches because of his superior game. The guy is a di*k who is a GOAT tennis player.

Is it really alien to think that the player who you think is better deserves to win the match?

 

[Dolgopolov85]

I almost always root FOR a player, rarely against. I do that against business in sports like cricket or football where I usually root against the English team. But not in tennis.

 

[Bartelby]

I stopped rooting for or against a player and, unsurprisingly, I can only really watch the highlights reel now.

Although tennis is one of the less boring sports, you do have to make some commitment to endure the long stretches of boredom.

 

[pcft369]

I find it hard to believe that anyone is entirely objective about it.

And that goes for all ages, I've found.

Kids through elders: They all want someone to lose.

Problem?

This is pretty much the definition of competitive sports. But younger generations have been incorrectly taught that everyone is a winner

 

[Gary Duane]

I can honestly say that in any match, even if I want player A to win over player B, if it's competitive I never wish for a player to fail, play bad, fall apart, choke. I never wish for an injury or anything unfortunate to happen. So I think I root more FOR a player than against a player. Even if a player I am not rooting for is winning, the moment something bad happens to that player that might make make him lose for what I think is the wrong reason, I feel bad about it, and if it's an injury I'm horrified. I don't wish that on anyone. Ever.

 

[D.Nalby12]

I have rooted against Nadal in each every match he has played in last 12 years. It's fun for me.

 

[El_Yotamo]

I'm not afraid to admit that I'll often root against someone whose ideology or behavior (on and/or off the court) I strongly disagree with. It can get problematic since recently there have been some cases where both players fit that bill and I have to choose the one which I dislike less. However for the most part I like to take a more positive approach when possible and either root for someone I like or just watch a hopefully high quality tennis match (these have been so rare recently smh) without any necessary preference

 

[aldeayeah]

I'm a simple man, I just want two things: to see good tennis, and for Zverev and Tsitsipas to lose as often and early as possible.

 

[ffw2]

Everyone roots against someone. Everyone. To what extent and for what reason differs.

But let us not pretend like we come here for just tennis, tennis fans are fanatics. The emotional connection and dopamine we get from rooting is what we desire and why we come back.

We care, that is why we are invested. If you don't care, then you better hope the tennis is spectacular... And that rarely happens anymore.

Most definitely.

No one's impartial. Just a fact of life.

 

[ffw2]

This is pretty much the definition of competitive sports. But younger generations have been incorrectly taught that everyone is a winner

It's an interesting question as to whether the impetus is more generational, or more cultural.