Lucky net cord: "sorry" or "get on with it?"

[Russeljones]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...dition-phony-apology-wave-wimbledon/12123275/

Interesting article on how tennis players view the tradition of offering an apology after a lucky net cord.

Where do you guys stand?

Personally, I think it isn't necessary to say sorry every time. If you see that the opponent had the upper hand in the rally, I guess it's only right to acknowledge your good fortune. I think the only other sport where I see such apologies is snooker.

 

[Noleberic123]

I always apologise whether I was in advantage in that point or not. Lucky net cord is a lucky net cord

 

[Supertegwyn]

"I don't do it if the guy's being an (expletive)" said 41-year-old doubles specialist Daniel Nestor of Canada.

Holy **** Daniel Nestor is old!

OT: I always do it whatever the situation; I feel like the point was given to me through luck and not my own skill and I feel odd about that. I don't get annoyed when my opponent fails to apologise however.

 

[MichaelNadal]

It's rude if you don't do it. It really doesn't take much effort to do the hand gesture lol.

 

[Noleberic123]

It's rude if you don't do it. It really doesn't take much effort to do the hand gesture lol.

Do you still play tennis Michael?

 

[reaper]

I understand the apology if you hit a "dead" net cord that gives the opponent no chance. I don't understand it when a player just skims the tape and the opponent still has their chance to win the rally.

 

[Tennis sensation]

I always apologize if I win the point but not when the ball hits the top of the net, lobs and gives the opponent a sitter FH.

 

[Rubens]

Full-blown lawnmower fist pump.

Kidding. Apology of course.

 

[Magnetite]

I don't think it really matters. Maybe if you are out of the point and it luckily hits the net cord for a winner.

I almost think it's an insult to apologize. It's so fake most of the time. Your opponent wins the point from a net cord, and is often happy, maybe a fist pump, and then they apologize?

It's all a bit ridiculous. I don't care either way. I personally just put up my hand for a second, just so spectators don't think I'm an a-hole.

 

[MichaelNadal]

Do you still play tennis Michael?

I really haven't much since 2012 :/ I plan to start back soon.

 

[swizzy]

it is part of the game.. luck surfaces in many other situations.. i make the goofy hand gesture often to my opponent as they have turned around and have returned to the baseline. 50% of the time they don't see it

 

[Noleberic123]

I really haven't much since 2012 :/ I plan to start back soon.

Were you any good back in the day? :lol:

 

[Russeljones]

Some honest answers here
Thanks for that!

 

[tycooper]

It's not an apology per se, just an acknowledgement of luck

For what it's worth, I view it as an acknowledgement of your luck, just like clapping for your opponent's great shot is an acknowledgement of their skill. In both cases, you are just conveying to your opponent that you understand the game well enough to tell the difference between the two.

 

[THE FIGHTER]

should i then apologize if the opponent hits an unlucky let cord? opponent goes for a winner, but it catches the top of the tape and ball lands on his side.

if you think about it, a centimeter higher and it could have been a completely different outcome, much like any situation where a point is inadvertently won because of a net cord. however, i dont think apologizing from either party works in this scenario, although the similarities are present.
odd

 

[sbengte]

Full-blown lawnmower fist pump.

Totally. If Nadal is on the opposite side of the net, of course

 

[JoshT]

I always apologize after a net cord.

I think it's the right thing to do, and I try not to let it bother me when i'm playing someone that doesn't apologize, but it does. I can't help it.

I always considered it good tennis etiquette.

 

[THE FIGHTER]

I always apologize after a net cord.

I think it's the right thing to do, and I try not to let it bother me when i'm playing someone that doesn't apologize, but it does. I can't help it.

I always considered it good tennis etiquette.

i like to apologize for aces. mental mind games

 

[raphMODE]

I apologize more by habbit than wondering if I must or mustn't (regarding if I would have lost the point or not otherway).
–
If it's against me, I really don't care if my opponent apologize or not : I understand if he doesn't.
–

 

[Dedans Penthouse]

I always apologize after a net cord.

I think it's the right thing to do, and I try not to let it bother me when i'm playing someone that doesn't apologize, but it does. I can't help it.

I always considered it good tennis etiquette.

Well put Josh, it is good etiquette.

On the other hand, letting it bother you (and fester) isn't going to help you. You can lightly make mention of it and do so in a sporting manner by "congratulating" your opponent by saying "clean living!" and do so with a smile and a wink. You're taking the high road by keeping it light and playful and if he/she doesn't get it then chalk it up to the fact that you're just dealing with a stick-in-the-mud type at which point just go on about your business - they're a stiff.

Don't let some stiff get into your head just because they have a different sporting value system than yours and because they didn't respond the way YOU wanted them to. By doing that you're letting your own sporting 'value system' work against you; getting (mentally) shot with your own gun.

 

[JoshT]

Well put Josh, it is good etiquette.

On the other hand, letting it bother you (and fester) isn't going to help you. You can lightly make mention of it and do so in a sporting manner by "congratulating" your opponent by saying "clean living!" and do so with a smile and a wink. You're taking the high road by keeping it light and playful and if he/she doesn't get it then chalk it up to the fact that you're just dealing with a stick-in-the-mud type at which point just go on about your business - they're a stiff.

Don't let some stiff get into your head just because they have a different sporting value system than yours and because they didn't respond the way YOU wanted them to. By doing that you're letting your own sporting 'value system' work against you; getting (mentally) shot with your own gun.

I know, i'm working on my mental side of the game. I'm no Nadal. lol

 

[Noleberic123]

I know, i'm working on my mental side of the game. I'm no Nadal. lol

my mental side, is the weakest aspect of my game as well

 

[dh003i]

I know, i'm working on my mental side of the game. I'm no Nadal. lol

Good thing, otherwise your knees would be killing you and you wouldn't be able to play for half of the year ;-P

In all seriousness, I'd take mental midget and healthy painless knees any day over mental giant with bad knees.

 

[JoshT]

I'm a confidence player, always have been. I need a couple of good games, a good warmup, then i'm set for the match.
If it starts off bad i'm trying to work on the mental aspect to "win ugly", but that's the hardest thing to do in tennis I think.

 

[dh003i]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...dition-phony-apology-wave-wimbledon/12123275/

Interesting article on how tennis players view the tradition of offering an apology after a lucky net cord.

Where do you guys stand?

Personally, I think it isn't necessary to say sorry every time. If you see that the opponent had the upper hand in the rally, I guess it's only right to acknowledge your good fortune. I think the only other sport where I see such apologies is snooker.

I like Sharapova's explanation for her apology: she's sorry she didn't end the point with an outright winner.

 

[hrstrat57]

For what it's worth, I view it as an acknowledgement of your luck, just like clapping for your opponent's great shot is an acknowledgement of their skill. In both cases, you are just conveying to your opponent that you understand the game well enough to tell the difference between the two.

Well said......

 

[dh003i]

I think an acknowledgement of relief -- that your shot made it over the net and you won the point -- would both be more honest yet also acknowledge the element of luck.

 

[Russeljones]

Most of you guys give no reactions to the article itself.

 

[Chico]

Ridiculous article. Typical for US cowboy Gung-ho media. No, everybody should be vamosing and lawnmowering on each opponent's UE all the time instead :roll:

Players should apologize. They show respect to the game and to their opponent that way.

 

[Mr.Lob]

I don't think it really matters. Maybe if you are out of the point and it luckily hits the net cord for a winner.

I almost think it's an insult to apologize. It's so fake most of the time. Your opponent wins the point from a net cord, and is often happy, maybe a fist pump, and then they apologize?

It's all a bit ridiculous. I don't care either way. I personally just put up my hand for a second, just so spectators don't think I'm an a-hole.

Agree. Does Tiger wave to opponent's and apologize for a tee shot that hits a tree and bounces back into the fairway? The fakeness of it all ranks up there with the flop in world cup soccer. Just "get on with it." The ball is going where you hit it after all.

 

[Russeljones]

Ridiculous article. Typical for US cowboy Gung-ho media. No, everybody should be vamosing and lawnmowering on each opponent's UE all the time instead :roll:

Players should apologize. They show respect to the game and to their opponent that way.

I am not surprised you condone hypocrisy. Your double standards are apparent every day here.

 

[booson]

Ridiculous article. It seems to me that the author really couldn't come up with another more informative and useful topic but whatever.

 

[mightyrick]

These situations are different than other "luck" situations because these situations result in your opponent losing the point. Many of us are "lucky" when we can even get a ball back over the net.

However, I always sincerely apologize if I hit a netcord or framed ball that results in my opponent losing the point. Even more so if the point is especially critical. It certainly isn't skill against skill when these things happen.

Apologizing is a good way to let your opponent know that it wasn't your skill or his/her lack of skill that determined the outcome.

 

[Tennis_Fever]

I would argue that there are few things more frustrating in tennis then dominating a rally only to have your opponent's shot hit the net and fall over for a winner; especially when they are unapologetic! The exception here would be blatant hooking.

 

[dudeski]

I know, i'm working on my mental side of the game. I'm no Nadal. lol

By mental do you mean looking like this when you play?

 

[Noleberic123]

By mental do you mean looking like this when you play?

the Spanish bull indeed

 

[Chico]

By mental do you mean looking like this when you play?

Or doing this:

 

[Noleberic123]

@chico

Do you still play tennis mate? and I want your opinion on the OPs question

 

[Chico]

@chico

Do you still play tennis mate? and I want your opinion on the OPs question

Of course I do.

Also I already gave my opinion above:

Ridiculous article. Typical for US cowboy Gung-ho media. No, everybody should be vamosing and lawnmowering on each opponent's UE all the time instead :roll:

Players should apologize. They show respect to the game and to their opponent that way.

 

[Noleberic123]

Of course I do.

Also I already gave my opinion above:

oh my apologises chico. I didn't see that.

And we should play sometime, I will come to Canada!!

 

[Minion]

When i play doubles/mixed social at the club, then i will always yell c'mon!, or vamos! when myself or my partner gets a lucky net cord :twisted: - most people actually does it during social where i play, and everybody knows everybody so, it's ok, lightens things up a bit

But i will always briefly apologize when playing doubles/mixed league, or singles (whether social, tourney or league).

 

[Noleberic123]

When i play doubles/mixed social at the club, then i will always yell c'mon!, or vamos! when myself or my partner gets a lucky net cord :twisted: - most people actually does it during social where i play, and everybody knows everybody so, it's ok, lightens things up a bit

But i will always briefly apologize when playing doubles/mixed league, or singles (whether social, tourney or league).

I would be extremely ****ed off if my opponent yelled vamos or c'mon after a net cord

 

[underground]

I would do what Federer does normally, a quick flick of the hand and get on with it. If I was on the receiving end then I wouldn't bother looking for the apology so I can maintain the concentration.

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

. hypocrit stuff

 

[AtomicForehand]

It is not necessary to apologize for a net cord skimmer that barely interferes with the flight of the ball, but if your net cord turns out to be an outright winner or forces an error, you should apologize. That is the etiquette of the sport. Not doing so brands you as an ignorant boor with poor sportsmanship. Don't apologize if you don't want to, but the rest of us are definitely judging you.

 

[Down_the_line]

I'm one of the few people who don't see the need to apologize for a lucky net cord. It's not like you're trying to hit the net cord. It's just one of those things that happens. It's like in hockey, when the puck goes in the net off someone's skate, or even the ref. You don't apologize for it. You take the goal because lucky bounces are part of the game.

 

[The Green Mile]

Depends who I am playing, and if its a competitive match. If it's a fin match I would usually smile/laugh and say sorry. But if it's competitve I wont joke around..

 

[tipsa...don'tlikehim!]

Tomic just apologized when beating Falla, match point he hit the netcord and won the point.
The way I saw it, he certainly apologized because
1/ it was a match point
2/ he was playing in Colombia against Falla

 

[tacou]

Many of friends/family I've gotten into tennis simply don't get it. They think it's a competition and you are trying to win a point, no matter what.

I view it as, no matter how flat you are hitting, no one aims for the net cord. It is pure luck. I suppose a dumbfounded shrug is just as good, but an apology seems in order.

 

[firepanda]

I think it's great. It's nice to have a form of etiquette like that. I think they also do that when they hit the other player?