Question about the history of press conferences

[Vamos Rafa Nadal]

I have asked this question many times and have never been given a satisfactory answer: when did it become a requirement that players participate in the press conferences? I don't remember it being a requirement when I was a child and watched matches years ago. Sometimes players skip their press conference - are there penalties when they do so? I really just don't understand why the players have to do them. I understand the value of them for the media but it feels coercive towards the players, and some don't want to do them and I think that's o.k. But I would like to at least understand the history of them? When did they start? Did they used to be optional and if so when did that change?

 

[Lleytonstation]

I have asked this question many times and have never been given a satisfactory answer: when did it become a requirement that players participate in the press conferences? I don't remember it being a requirement when I was a child and watched matches years ago. Sometimes players skip their press conference - are there penalties when they do so? I really just don't understand why the players have to do them. I understand the value of them for the media but it feels coercive towards the players, and some don't want to do them and I think that's o.k. But I would like to at least understand the history of them? When did they start? Did they used to be optional and if so when did that change?

Probably when they started making millions for playing a game. With that millions (created by the media) comes certain obligations.

 

[BeatlesFan]

It was a requirement at least as early as 1977. And when Borg skipped his mandatory presser after losing the 1981 USO to Mac, it made huge news.

 

[Raul_SJ]

I really just don't understand why the players have to do them. I understand the value of them for the media

Billie Jean will explain it to you. She founded the WTA and had to literally knock on doors and beg the media to cover WTA matches. Without the media coverage the WTA would have failed. Now this ingrate refuses to give back to those that paved the way for her and refuses to do a 10 minute routine presser. Unbelievable.

 

[Bartelby]

The WTA, like the ATP is in effect a hoax. The players have very little real power in these associations.

And you're factually wrong as usual. Osaka is giving pressers, but one journalist is abusing his privileges.

Billie Jean will explain it to you. She founded the WTA and had to literally knock on doors and beg the media to cover WTA matches. Without the media coverage the WTA would have failed. Now this ingrate refuses to give back to those that paved the way for her and refuses to do a 10 minute routine presser. Unbelievable.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

I don't see how Osaka is refusing to give back. She is giving pressers again. In fact, at the one tournament she would not give a presser, she ended up withdrawing, thus only hurting herself as she was a non threat at RG.

 

[Raul_SJ]

I don't see how Osaka is refusing to give back. She is giving pressers again. In fact, at the one tournament she would not give a presser, she ended up withdrawing, thus only hurting herself as she was a non threat at RG.

She can't play well on clay. So what does she do? Lose weight, get fit and improve herself? No, she plays the victim card. A selfish phony.

She now says she has had a great awakening. She realizes she was ungrateful for everything she had. The Haiti earthquake has opened her eyes to what true human suffering is. The whiny malcontent finally gets it.

 

[ollinger]

The Haiti earthquake has opened her eyes to what true human suffering is. She finally gets it.

No, the real suffering is in the Hamptons as Hurricane Henri approaches; people in Bentleys scurry for higher ground

 

[travlerajm]

All this Osaka controversy would disappear if she would simply invest a few of her millions to hire an elite PR team to give her practice with mock pressers. She would get better at it.