Can't stand players who smash racquets

[wfudeac]

Watching Safin vs. Robredo now, I can't stand when players smash their racquets. Considering all the tennis fans around the world who are lucky enough to afford one good racquet, and some players are perfectly fine with smashing a few during a match. Instead of smashing it, why not give it to someone in the stands? I would be a great PR move at least!

 

[Ronaldo]

Play dubs with a guy who smashes his racquet on his forehead. Finally his scalp gave way

 

[Andres]

. Instead of smashing it, why not give it to someone in the stands?

Aha... so when you're angry and furious, instead of smashing it or kick something, you approach quietly to the crowd and give out your racquet?

If you can stay calm during that stretch, then you can still use the same racquet and you don't need to give it away

 

[wfudeac]

Yeah but my thinking is that it could still give you an outlet, but you wouldn't be destroying a racquet that some kid would love to have. I didn't get to see the match where Andy Roddick lost, but I thought it was really cool how he gave his racquet away after he lost...Could you see Safin doing that after a loss? Me neither.

 

[safin_protege]

What if the player was still mad and smashed the kid he was giving it to?

Anyway, players must vent in some way. Some do it in more calm ways than others, so I don't think that you should blame someone for their temperament, something which one cannot always control.

 

[PistolPete]

I have no problems with smashing raquets. Once it's smashed the player should give it to someone in the crowd who looks like they want it. Although that may give away the paintjobs on the racquets and Wilson wouldn't like that.

 

[Prince_of_Tennis]

Haha you would probably hate me. I'll take pictures of mine and post em wooo. One time I was playing my friend who I always beat but he is pretty decent. There is always pressure on me to win because I'm the better one. He beat me in close game I was hella out of it and it was still close. I kicked my racket over a 30 foot fence lol. Thats the last time I ever abused a racket. I learned my lesson when I couldn't walk for about 2 weeks.

 

[West Coast Ace]

I have no problems with smashing raquets. Once it's smashed the player should give it to someone in the crowd who looks like they want it. Although that may give away the paintjobs on the racquets and Wilson wouldn't like that.

I tend to agree - while not a great thing to do, it does show they care. Safin is a millionaire many times over - he's not playing for the cash. Shows he's into the match and at least cares.

 

[Feña14]

People always complain about the lack of emotion in the game today, well when the players show emotion why do they boo?

I love it!

 

[Andy Hewitt]

I love it, but God does it ever make me want to do it myself.....

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

I like emotion on court. No problem with racket smashing,hey,it's their racket. Emotion > robots (eventhough calmness is better for yourgame)

 

[gifted_shotmaker]

They have the privelage to smash racquets. I like watching the talent that Safin has for smashing racquets. You could say he pumps himself up by smashing racquets. If you guys are poor players like me, you are not using your head by smashing your frames. If I had the standing of Safin, I would smash racquets too, but not right now. I think if you are a pro/rich, it is perfectly fine for you to smash racquets.

 

[gifted_shotmaker]

They have the privelage to smash racquets. I like watching the talent that Safin has for smashing racquets. You could say he pumps himself up by smashing racquets. If you guys are poor players like me, you are not using your head by smashing your frames. If I had the standing of Safin, I would smash racquets too, but not right now. I think if you are a pro/rich, it is perfectly fine for you to smash racquets.

By poor I mean lacking in money. I feel if you are rich or get the racquets for free, smash all the racquets you feel. If you are poor or don't get racquets for free, what's the point?

 

[Ronaldo]

gifted, just remember, "today
I smash rackets for tomorrow we die." Well tomorrow just a day early

 

[DashaandSafin]

Simply put...who cares? Why do you care if other people are smashing thier racquets? Are they your racquets? Do you have racquet needy children and they need racquets that the pros are just tossing away? Smashing racquets a la Marat Safin shows emotion and that they care...at least we know that they are not tanking the match.

 

[PistolPete]

Simply put...who cares? Why do you care if other people are smashing thier racquets? Are they your racquets? Do you have racquet needy children and they need racquets that the pros are just tossing away? Smashing racquets a la Marat Safin shows emotion and that they care...at least we know that they are not tanking the match.

Obviously you care one way or another.

 

[DashaandSafin]

No...the whole post just said i dont care.

 

[Datacipher]

temperament, something which one cannot always control.

Here's where you're woefully mistaken. You can and should control it. Almost every competitive player including many of the calmer ones on tour feel the same way at at times and have wanted or have smashed their racquets as kids. The difference? Their coaches/parents or they themselves realized this was unacceptable behavior and penalized them. I have known parents who have taken away their kids racquets (temporarily) if they engage in this kind of venting. You know what? It works. Racquet smashers need to grow up. Safin needed a good spanking, now he needs a few slaps in the face.