rant about Matosevic

shoneeko

New User
I went to Indian Wells today, and late in the day, I saw Matosevic hitting with Tony Roche. It drew maybe 8 people at the most watching. I decided to stick around, hoping to get a picture and/or autograph with both, but mostly with Roche, being that he's a tennis legend. As they are walking off the court, I am the only one that approaches them to ask for an autograph. There is nobody else other than security guards for a 100 foot radius. Matosevic's response is "sorry, I am too busy, but Rochey has time for an autograph." Is it just me, or is this guy being an jerk? Maybe getting to his first ATP final is getting his ego out of proportion?
 

timmeh

Rookie
Sounds a bit disrespectful to Roche. Apart from that, I have no issues with the guy not wanting to sign an autograph. If he says he is too busy, i will take that on face value. Maybe he had some sort of sponsor event to get too?
 

joeri888

G.O.A.T.
I can understand your disappointment and this is exactly why I would probably never ask Federer, Hewitt, Roddick, Nalbandian or Karlovic for an autograph. Theyre heroes to me and I don't want them to fall of that cloud of mine.
 

Bacterio

Rookie
I remember reading some where that the pros feel weird giving autographs to adults because they're always wary of their intentions.

The article had a quote from someone saying that they will always give as much time as they can to children because they're going to grow up to be players and they want them to love the sport but that adults will show up with new caps and gear that the pro just feels like it's going to end up on e-bay.
 

treblings

Hall of Fame
Hahaha you should have clearly said....that's ok I'm here for Rochey! Aside from that the kid needs to learn how to dress - that outfit last night (Asics) has got to be the worst looking kaka -

you beat me to it:)that would have been the perfect answer.
 

treblings

Hall of Fame
I remember reading some where that the pros feel weird giving autographs to adults because they're always wary of their intentions.

The article had a quote from someone saying that they will always give as much time as they can to children because they're going to grow up to be players and they want them to love the sport but that adults will show up with new caps and gear that the pro just feels like it's going to end up on e-bay.

i´ve read that myself, and it seems like a valid point. on balance though, i think that pros should focus on pleasing their fans.
in matosevic case(who is he, btw?), who would buy his autograph anyway?
on a side note, i would never buy an autograph thru some auction site, because they are to easily faked.
 

St. Bernard

Rookie
I did some work at an ATP tournament this year and got to meet Matosevic first hand and was not pleased with the way he carried himself, it was the same thing which you spoke about - he refused to sign autographs for kids after training sessions, rude to drivers and volunteers, just overall a bad attitude.

It isn't the Final getting to his head, it's just the way he seems to be, I don't know him on a personal level, but I have met him, and was appalled with his behaviour. Even people with bad reputations such as Azarenka were better received than him among the group I was with.
 

aphex

Banned
I went to Indian Wells today, and late in the day, I saw Matosevic hitting with Tony Roche. It drew maybe 8 people at the most watching. I decided to stick around, hoping to get a picture and/or autograph with both, but mostly with Roche, being that he's a tennis legend. As they are walking off the court, I am the only one that approaches them to ask for an autograph. There is nobody else other than security guards for a 100 foot radius. Matosevic's response is "sorry, I am too busy, but Rochey has time for an autograph." Is it just me, or is this guy being an jerk? Maybe getting to his first ATP final is getting his ego out of proportion?

Due to the fact that you got upset and decided to start a thread about it on an internet forum, he clearly made the right decision.
 

Up&comer

Hall of Fame
I remember that he said he wouldn't sign autographs until he was in the top 100. That was disrespectful to Roche, though.
 

aphex

Banned
why is that? can´t follow your logic, could you explain

A person who gets upset over a tennis player's refusal to sign an autograph is obviously not very stable mentally.

Maybe the player diagnosed this when he was face to face with the autograph seeker.

(Even the act of asking for an autograph is kind of pathetic IMO)
 

DRII

G.O.A.T.
I remember that he said he wouldn't sign autographs until he was in the top 100. That was disrespectful to Roche, though.

Yes, this is correct. Recently when Mato... made his first final, the commentators were speaking about him; one said that Mato is a little unorthodox and has always refused to sign autographs until he makes it into the top 100.
 

DRII

G.O.A.T.
A person who gets upset over a tennis player's refusal to sign an autograph is obviously not very stable mentally.

Maybe the player diagnosed this when he was face to face with the autograph seeker.

(Even the act of asking for an autograph is kind of pathetic IMO)

Overly negative much?

We all are aware of the whole autograph business scheme. But, most are probably just fans wanting to commemorate their experience at an event or actually really like the player and would like an autograph...
 

treblings

Hall of Fame
A person who gets upset over a tennis player's refusal to sign an autograph is obviously not very stable mentally.

Maybe the player diagnosed this when he was face to face with the autograph seeker.

(Even the act of asking for an autograph is kind of pathetic IMO)

that´s an interesting way to see things:) i´m still leaning more to the theory that matosevic was just a jerk on that particular occasion. why would he direct an unstable person to his coach for an autograph? but i wasn´t there so it´s just guessing.
 

aphex

Banned
Overly negative much?

We all are aware of the whole autograph business scheme. But, most are probably just fans wanting to commemorate their experience at an event or actually really like the player and would like an autograph...

I'm not aware of the scheme you're referring to...could you please elaborate?

I'm just saying that in MY eyes, asking for autographs is distasteful and somewhat pathetic...
 

DRII

G.O.A.T.
I'm not aware of the scheme you're referring to...could you please elaborate?

I'm just saying that in MY eyes, asking for autographs is distasteful and somewhat pathetic...

Alot of the people collecting autographs are doing so for dealers who end up selling the paraphernalia. Its a very large business worldwide.

Why do you consider asking for an autograph to be pathetic?
 

aphex

Banned
Alot of the people collecting autographs are doing so for dealers who end up selling the paraphernalia. Its a very large business worldwide.

Why do you consider asking for an autograph to be pathetic?

I havent put much thought into it...I just find it needy and uncool...maybe pathetic was too strong a word, maybe "kind of sad" describes it better...

However, I know I'm not in sync with the general population and the worldwide celebrity culture...

I would never take a photo from my phone/talk to/seek an autograph from a celebrity, even people whose talents I admire...
 

St. Bernard

Rookie
I know a lot of people have reservations about signing autographs because they don't like the fact that a lot of stuff re-surfaces on **** later on, but there are a majority of us who simply admire the player and want something to remember their stay at the tournament by.

I have autographs and photos of players the likes of the Bryans, Gasquet, Hewitt, Ivanovic, Young and Harrison - because they are some of my favourite players (and the photo with Ivanovic because...well, yeah). I think it's unfair to think that people are trying to make money from it.

But I can understand Matosevic's attitude, if it's something he will stick by until he hits the Top 100, you have to respect that.
 

MAXXply

Hall of Fame
Sounds disappointing since Aussies are, by and large, pretty relaxed about these things. I'd be willing to put it down to a personality defect. I've witnessed Berdych shoo a young girl away with nothing, and Stepanek breezilly chatting to fans who stopped him when he was spectating courtside.
 

aphex

Banned
Sounds disappointing since Aussies are, by and large, pretty relaxed about these things. I'd be willing to put it down to a personality defect. I've witnessed Berdych shoo a young girl away with nothing, and Stepanek breezilly chatting to fans who stopped him when he was spectating courtside.

Yeah, UTSA syndrome is a very serious hereditary condition that requires constant medical attention leading to various personality defects.

*UTSA=unwillingness to sign autographs
 

accidental

Hall of Fame
Having seen a few interviews with matosovic I always thought he came across as a very arrogant and self entitled sort of guy. Always seems to be complaining about something. Just a very negative kind of guy in general I think
 

tipsytime

New User
Having seen a few interviews with matosovic I always thought he came across as a very arrogant and self entitled sort of guy. Always seems to be complaining about something. Just a very negative kind of guy in general I think

i agree. i have not met him, but just from what i see on tv he seems to have a negative attitude. but he has learned this behavior as well. too many challenger level guys have this disposition on the court as well as off, and it rubs off on you if you're around it enough.

it seems for the most part atp level players are happier and nicer. not sure if they play better because of a better attitude, or if they have a better attitude because they are playing well, making money and have a better lifestyle and living standard.
 

Devilito

Hall of Fame
why would you want his autograph anyway? Might as well get an auto from one of those random security guards. At least you got Tony Roche. About 100000x the tennis player Matosevic will ever amount to
 

Shaolin

G.O.A.T.
Everyone reading this thread should hound him for an autograph if they see him at a tournament. Then if they actually get one, act disappointed and say "sorry I thought you were someone else."
 

Devilito

Hall of Fame
Everyone reading this thread should hound him for an autograph if they see him at a tournament. Then if they actually get one, act disappointed and say "sorry I thought you were someone else."

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