McEnroe "There should be no pre match warm up in Tennis"

[fedtastic]

Heard him say this on the BBC radio today. His argument is that Boxing doesn't have pre match warm up in the ring and boxing is a more physical game. He said players should warm up in the locker room or the gym and be ready to serve straight away once they are on court. I kinda like this idea. I hate pre match warm ups.

 

[r2473]

get used to the court and conditions.

 

[GodNovak]

Heard him say this on the BBC radio today. His argument is that Boxing doesn't have pre match warm up in the ring and boxing is a more physical game. He said players should warm up in the locker room or the gym and be ready to serve straight away once they are on court. I kinda like this idea. I hate pre match warm ups.

I think everything on TV deserves an opening (however boring it is), plus they often show some statistics and stuff during the pre match warm up, which I think can't really hurt.

 

[Legend of Borg]

Time to stop talking, Mac.

 

[Xizel]

It's not like they can warm up boxing each other...

 

[Mustard]

John McEnroe seems to come up with these crazy ideas every year. Not long ago, he wanted to give players just 1 service delivery for each point. He wanted to introduce fifth set tiebreaks at Wimbledon after the Isner-Mahut epic etc.

 

[6-2/6-4/6-0]

I think McEnroe has adopted a theory that he can stay relevant by throwing out hair-brained ideas every year and creating a stir to keep people talking about him. It guarantees that he'll be asked back the next year because of all the discussion about his dumb idea from the previous year...

 

[BevelDevil]

Its kinda hard to warm up for tennis in a locker room. And early in a tournament there won't be enough practice courts available.

 

[jesenk]

He says the same things over and over. I want to push something sharp into my brain every time he references his famous phrases: "Chalk Flew Up! Of course it's titanium pigment these days," "You cannot be serious!" etc. Which is about five times a day.

 

[TennisDawg]

I think he has a good point for the pros, anyway. These guys are already stretched out, warm and loosened up. They could just get into the match right away. The warmup is just a formality from the old days.
Even so, I don't see what would be gained from eliminating this short warm-up, it takes all of 5 minutes for this formality.

 

[Backbored]

He’s comparing boxing to tennis, when boxing is held under the same conditions ie an indoor building to the many surfaces tennis is played on. Not to mention the weather.

 

[tennis_balla]

Its kinda hard to warm up for tennis in a locker room. And early in a tournament there won't be enough practice courts available.

There are always practice courts available at the pro level. They warm up for 30min before their match. How long before depends on their routine. Then do some stretching, a few other warm up exercises if they wish or whatever their pre-match ritual includes as everyone is different.

 

[skip1969]

this.

John McEnroe seems to come up with these crazy ideas every year. Not long ago, he wanted to give players just 1 service delivery for each point. He wanted to introduce fifth set tiebreaks at Wimbledon after the Isner-Mahut epic etc.

for sure this.

I think McEnroe has adopted a theory that he can stay relevant by throwing out hair-brained ideas every year and creating a stir to keep people talking about him. It guarantees that he'll be asked back the next year because of all the discussion about his dumb idea from the previous year...

and definitely this.

Time to stop talking, Mac.

backbored is right, why compare tennis to boxing, of all sports? should tennis be played only indoors like most boxing matches? maybe the pros should play shirtless too, and try keeping a hold of their racquets with big, fat gloves on.

MOE-ron.

 

[BeHappy]

Well if they get rid of the warm up the first 15 minutes of the match will be terrible.

 

[TheF1Bob]

John McEnroe needs to shut the hell up, I'm fed up with the crap he keeps spewing year after year after F'n year.

 

[sureshs]

Yes those 5 minutes create such a delay in a 3 hour match.

 

[3fees]

Heard him say this on the BBC radio today. His argument is that Boxing doesn't have pre match warm up in the ring and boxing is a more physical game. He said players should warm up in the locker room or the gym and be ready to serve straight away once they are on court. I kinda like this idea. I hate pre match warm ups.

He was just commentating,,most commentators are equal too- foot faults,double faults, mis hits,,ect,,Most pro's from what I have heard warm up before the match either at other similar tennis courts or extra courts on site for at least an hour-then rest-then on too the tournment court,,he did this as well,, He was just jawing.

Cheers
3fees

 

[monique s]

I think McEnroe has adopted a theory that he can stay relevant by throwing out hair-brained ideas every year and creating a stir to keep people talking about him. It guarantees that he'll be asked back the next year because of all the discussion about his dumb idea from the previous year...

JMac has a big annoying mouth that should just shut up when tennis players are playing..he is a moron--likes to talk about himself and everything under the sun but the match he is supposed to analyze.Ban those idiots commies.They are all alke---bias towards their favorites too.

 

[Lucy Brown]

Nobody here will ever get paid to talk for 3 hours on Tv so settle down folks.

 

[akv89]

It would make sense if the players can come straight out of their practice court/lockers and play while they're still warm. But they don't, and they cool down a little in the time that they don't. They need those couple minutes of hitting the ball to elevate their heart rate and get the feel back in their hands.

 

[Bobby Jr]

Sometime in the future McEnroe will tell us he actually invented the tie-break but someone else stole the idea and pitched it first.

 

[Rjtennis]

Mac says a lot of things.

 

[Bartelby]

The warm up adds to the drama apart from its benefits to the players.

 

[kishnabe]

He better off telling Nadal and Djokovic to stop wasting time.

 

[TeamNadal]

I agree with Mac, because players can warm up in the locker room. And I know they will need to get their strokes in rhythm early, but that's ok, its best of 5 sets so do it in the first game/set

I also agree with Mac that Rafa has the best volleys of all top 10 players. He said this yesterday, and on 2 other occasions in the last couple of years too.

 

[Bartelby]

Nadal almost never volleys to attack so he never hits difficult ones.

 

[SwankPeRFection]

Heard him say this on the BBC radio today. His argument is that Boxing doesn't have pre match warm up in the ring and boxing is a more physical game. He said players should warm up in the locker room or the gym and be ready to serve straight away once they are on court. I kinda like this idea. I hate pre match warm ups.

So, you drive to the courts, walk on, and just start playing like no issues? Gimme a break. What I don't like is having to hit with anyone on the opposing team during league if both teams have already been there for 30 minutes prior warming up. That, I can understand. We should get rid of that because all it does is give your oponents a chance to test and see what your weaknesses are if they choose to. I can't tell you how many people I've played that try to do that and when I see this happening I don't even bother hitting balls back. I ask them if they're ready because they are obviously trying to dictate shots and test the waters. They usually very quickly get defensive on this. Of course you do... cuz I just called you on your ****.

 

[TeamNadal]

Nadal almost never volleys to attack so he never hits difficult ones.

I think the problem is that Federer misses easy volleys

 

[hedera]

Sometimes Mac reminds me of Niki Lauda doing F1 coverage. They both say some crazy stuff. Lauda retracts his crap by the end of the week, while Mac changes his opinion every week.

 

[DNShade]

Hey you guys -- Mac isn't the only one who says this. TONS of former pros - and even guys on tour now -- say exactly the same thing.

This isn't some nutty idea of JMac. It's been talked about -- a lot.

The players are always warmed up before coming out and "warming up". They play on a court within a short time of walking out. So it's not like they would be just cold walking out.

It's an idea -- I personally don't care one way or the other. But to say that it's just some drivel that Mac is making up. Well then you need to get a better read on what is actually going on in the tennis world and what is being considered and talked about at a very real level.

 

[ninman]

Here's an idea that Mcenroe may not have thought of because he's from America, and we all know how intelligent Americans are. Why not simply ENFORCE THE 20 SECONDS PER POINT RULE!

That would save a good 30 minutes per match, depending on how many points it is. I mean FFS the Australian Open final would have been 90 MINUTES SHORTER if they had just stuck to that one stupid rule.

 

[DNShade]

Oh -- and I've heard JMac and TONS of others (Americans even!) talk about the non-enforcement of the time between points rule.

So you can stop shouting about that now you super intelligent non-American...

 

[Bobby Jr]

There's a good reason why they don't practice on another court then come out and play straight away.... because when most matches are played is dictated by when the preceding match ends. If they didn't have an on-court warm-up they would still have to go out, find a court (which will all be in use in the first week of a tournament), warm-up and then come back, get changed and come out on court. It would likely save no time at all.

The way they currently do it they hit an hour or so earlier, and then do cardio/stretching/relaxing/massage in a room nearby so can be ready to roll within minutes of a match ending. They then come out and hit for 5 minutes - less time than it takes for a stadium to be seated or people to go for their between match bathroom/food break - which allows the spectators, organisers, TV stations etc to do a preview segment etc.

McEnroe clearly hasn't thought it through very well at all.

 

[ninman]

Oh -- and I've heard JMac and TONS of others (Americans even!) talk about the non-enforcement of the time between points rule.

So you can stop shouting about that now you super intelligent non-American...

Lol, the American comment was just a bit of light hearted ribbing, I don't think Americans are stupid, quite the opposite. I am super intelligent though .

The point is people keep coming up with all these crazy ideas to make the game "faster" when the solution is right there in front of them, just enforce the time rules and the game will speed up dramatically.

Also stop players drinking after 1-0 and 6 points in a tie breaker, that is NOT a change of ends, they should NOT be allowed to stop for a drink.

A major clamp down on CURRENT time rules would make the world of difference.

Sorry I'm not shouting, just emphasising, the only that needs to change here is enforcement, no additional rules are required.

 

[ninman]

There's a good reason why they don't practice on another court then come out and play straight away.... because when most matches are played is dictated by when the preceding match ends. If they didn't have an on-court warm-up they would still have to go out, find a court (which will all be in use in the first week of a tournament), warm-up and then come back, get changed and come out on court. It would likely save no time at all.

The way they currently do it they hit an hour or so earlier, and then do cardio/stretching/relaxing/massage in a room nearby so can be ready to roll within minutes of a match ending. They then come out and hit for 5 minutes - less time than it takes for a stadium to be seated or people to go for their between match bathroom/food break - which allows the spectators, organisers, TV stations etc to do a preview segment etc.

McEnroe clearly hasn't thought it through very well at all.

I think the last intelligent thought John had died of loneliness to be honest.

 

[Sentinel]

Yes those 5 minutes create such a delay in a 3 hour match.

Is that much time his serve routine has come to, between each point :twisted:

 

[VPhuc tennis fan]

Mac afraid of missing the re-runs of some old movies/talk-shows?
What's 5 minutes over 3 hr game?
I agree with other posters who suggested that enforcing some rules already in place would save more time.
Re-runs?=)

 

[bjk]

Hey you guys -- Mac isn't the only one who says this. TONS of former pros - and even guys on tour now -- say exactly the same thing.

This isn't some nutty idea of JMac. It's been talked about -- a lot.

The players are always warmed up before coming out and "warming up". They play on a court within a short time of walking out. So it's not like they would be just cold walking out.

It's an idea -- I personally don't care one way or the other. But to say that it's just some drivel that Mac is making up. Well then you need to get a better read on what is actually going on in the tennis world and what is being considered and talked about at a very real level.

Tennis channel used to run a program with player interviews, and they would be asked what they wanted to change about the sport. I remember Malisse saying, get rid of warmup.

It's actually not unimportant. If you're waiting half-hour for one match to finish and another to start, that's a serious delay in the action for a fan.

 

[anubis]

Nobody here will ever get paid to talk for 3 hours on Tv so settle down folks.

^^^ this.

The crazy stuff he comes up with is his "shtick". Everyone in entertainment has one. Why do you think rock stars dress in crazy gear and get their photos taken while drunk at a night club? It's their image. This is simply JMac's. Yes, it sounds batty as hell sometimes, but he's a tennis genius. No genius has their head on straight anyway.

 

[tennytive]

Get rid of the announcers pre match interviews

The announcers should not be allowed to speak until the first serve is played.

This would cut 15 minutes from each TV broadcast that most people don't pay attention to anyway. Most of the time they just interview themselves… who cares?

I like Mac, but he thinks out loud too much, if you call that thinking.

 

[Gonzalito17]

Mac makes a good point but I always like the warmup it's very short and nice to see the players practicing and getting ready for battle. I would miss the warmup if they followed Mac's idea. It would seem weird if the players came out, put their bags down, grabbed one stick and went out and started the match. I like the warmups, you are kinda in awe of the players. It's nice to see the warmup and hear the intros. The calm before the storm.

 

[Devilito]

Totally idiotic comparison by Mac. Boxers use focus pads and are able to warm up the same moves they will use in a fight while in the locker room. MMA Fighters do the same thing. Boxing, kicking grappling, takedowns etc. The only way it would be comparable is if every single tennis player gets their own tennis court 30 minutes right before a match to perform a warm-up. This is impossible so they need the court time before a match so they don’t injure themselves starting play. You can’t warm up tennis strokes just by running in place and doing some resistance band work. The only real big thing in tennis that they can start doing right away is to do away with lets on serves.

 

[marc45]

mcenroe is incredibly overrated...never warmed up to him...most tennis announcers are bad...btw, did anybody ever see mcenroe's talk show?...the worst host in the history of the medium, which is saying alot

 

[ASH1485]

Today wozniacki and paszek had to warm up 3 times during their match that kept suspended for the rain ... that would drive Mac really angry i think

 

[srinrajesh]

if the warm up;s existed even in mac's days from 70's onwards.. they shud only increase the time now so that the players are ready to go from the start

 

[6-1 6-3 6-0]

If anything, the pre-match warm-up should be made longer. Players don't get enough opportunities to adapt to the conditions first, leading to the same players (such as Federer) getting a quick start when their opponent has not yet got into a rhythm. A longer pre-match warm-up (say, half an hour) would give both players the opportunity to start off the match cleanly.

 

[VPhuc tennis fan]

If anything, the pre-match warm-up should be made longer. Players don't get enough opportunities to adapt to the conditions first, leading to the same players (such as Federer) getting a quick start when their opponent has not yet got into a rhythm. A longer pre-match warm-up (say, half an hour) would give both players the opportunity to start off the match cleanly.

Seriously, 1/2 hour? Add to the 6-hr match that follows? Having that much time on your hand?
Between Mac no warm-up and you, 1/2 hour, I just don't know which one to choose?!!!

 

[game..set..match]

i actually wouldn't mind this idea. it always bothers me at rec when i have to warm up with the cretin across the net whom i'm trying to absolutely bludgeon. it completely ruins my mindset and mood....i hate playing nice when its time to compete. we can be nice when the match is over and done.