Tiafoe suggests bringing basketball culture to tennis

[Enceladus]

Source: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.fo...in-bringing-basketball-culture-to-tennis/amp/

Excerpt from the article:

But professional tennis has a distinct feel of professional basketball for the 25-year-old. He's made his love of basketball well known, often donning basketball jerseys for practices, attending NBA games and even participating in this year's NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in Salt Lake City. He hopes he can bring a bit of basketball culture to tennis, knowing it starts with the fans.

"I think fans should be able to come and go and move around and speak during matches," he says. "Imagine going to a basketball game and not saying anything." He concedes certain events should retain some of the tradition, such as Wimbledon, but "outside that, let's start to change things to bring younger fans to the game."

With Tiafoe's focus on the crowds comes interaction, his basketball-styled celebrations and his own desire to get energized. "I am getting pumped up and I want the crowd [to get pumped up]," he says. "They spent hard-earned money to watch entertainment. I'm just doing me, just being me. I'm going to do me and do what helps me play my best."

Where we see this intersection of tennis and basketball cultures most may be in New York City. Tiafoe says his favorite court to play on is Arthur Ashe Stadium, the main court at the U.S. Open. "There is nothing like Arthur Ashe at night," he says. "Arthur Ashe period, but Arthur Ashe at night. New York at night, everyone's drunk and the atmosphere, it is crazy."

 

[TheNachoMan]

He’s right. Tennis will be left behind once the 55+ generation dies off. Yong people don’t care about the “gentlemen” and “traditional” aspects of sport.

 

[chic]

All for it, some limitations on rowdiness still but no need for the starchiness unless it's part of the ambiance (a la Wimbledon and maybe like Newport.)

College matches are more fun to spectate at than pro tennis and the pro tour should adopt some of the norms from that level.

 

[Benf15harp3000]

Vomit

 

[ronalditop]

Bamos

 

[BeatlesFan]

Already a thread on this.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/ind...unger-fans-to-the-game”.746951/#post-17222414

 

[CHillTennis]

He’s right. Tennis will be left behind once the 55+ generation dies off. Yong people don’t care about the “gentlemen” and “traditional” aspects of sport.

It's not an age thing. The people who enjoy tennis are a MUCH different crowd from the people who enjoy the trash-talking elements basketball.

That's why "lame horse" is hated by like half of the tennis community.

Even though the the media claims that he is the most popular tennis player, after the Big 3.

 

[Benf15harp3000]

We already have Kyrgios dressing like an nba player. That should be enough.

 

[Tennfan123]

Covered yesterday.
Tiafoe is not known for his brains.