Towel syndrome

[chaz_233]

When did that trend of players drying/wiping their face after every single point start? What an annoying waste of time. I can understand if they are soaked in sweat but not if there is little to no action during the point. Why cover yourself in ban(d)anas and head/wristbands if you're not even gonna use them. Is that like a compulsory ritual similar to tinkering with your strings. I'd rather see them go for it a for an entire game without interruptions. And even playing oneself, why break the rhythm of things like that?

 

[kingdaddy41788]

I think it's a ritual...

 

[tennismike33]

It is very annoying!!!!

 

[Rpp]

I think it's a ritual...

It is maybe hot and humid in Miami...and maybe they just doesn't want to take a risk of losing one single point in the match because of sweating.

 

[jaggy]

Rusedski is the most annoying by far, imho

 

[latinking]

I think its more of an excuse to take a few extra seconds between points to gather themselves. In a way its good,always gives time for replays.I bet Aggasi would go nuts waiting for some of these guys. I know he complained about Nadal alot.

 

[lorenza]

I think its more of an excuse to take a few extra seconds between points to gather themselves. In a way its good,always gives time for replays.I bet Aggasi would go nuts waiting for some of these guys. I know he complained about Nadal alot.

yeah, but nadal is a special case. he takes forever, longer than almost anyone else.

 

[chaz_233]

Well, there's the towel thing, then there's on-purpose-delaying-thing, like Nadal: picking his butt, fixing his hair, eyebrows, make up; messing with his panties, bra, capris; then focusing on his facial expression so that he looks pretty on camera, then after all that maybe, start serving. But he's not normal.
Others of course have to do the ball bounce 10-15 times.
So there's plenty of time to mess around, no reason to play with towels all day.

 

[fgs]

don't you all have your own rituals between points?
tennis is a mental game to maybe 90%, so cooling down after each point and re-focussing is essential for the level the pros play.

 

[isuk@tennis]

nope i just go get the ball and throw it up and smack it to the other side no need in wasting time.
i wait for change over for rest

 

[drakulie]

It is maybe hot and humid in Miami...and maybe they just doesn't want to take a risk of losing one single point in the match because of sweating.

Being from Miami, I could tell you I do it as well. I have to wipe my face almost every point--especially when serving. Sometimes it feels like you are playing in a sauna. especially after it has been raining.

 

[Banger]

I dont have a problem with them using the towel but I do get annoyed with the way some of the players ask for the towel. Djokavic and Murray are the most notable ones, where they wave their hands in front of their faces. That is so freakin annoying everytime I see them do that. What happened to just pointing or saying "towel"?

 

[drakulie]

^^^ Safin does it as well.

 

[robertk29]

How about Roddick not even looking at the kids when he takes the towel..then he drops em on the ground..how about Murray barely touching his face with the towel between every point..that is beyond annoying..play tennis do this after every third game..the refs are wooooses.. afraid of the boy millionaires..

 

[fgs]

well, the rules have it that you can take some time between the points too. so some are toweling, some are picking their butts, others go stare at the wall, others are jumping around. everyone has his own rituals to get prepared for the next point. within the regular time between points there's no need to put yourself under pressure. some are overdoing it, i agree, but then you could ask for a rule change with the atp, wta and itf.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

they should have a towel rack on the side of the court that players can use themselves, or they can just carry a towel in their pocket. Ball kids should just fetch the balls.

 

[Tchocky]

Yes...it's a definite issue in today's game. I don't understand these players who only wear one wristband and don't even use them to wipe their sweat. I also don't understand players who wear watches when they are playing. Hello...there's a giant clock right on the court.

 

[JRstriker12]

Yes...it's a definite issue in today's game. I don't understand these players who only wear one wristband and don't even use them to wipe their sweat. I also don't understand players who wear watches when they are playing. Hello...there's a giant clock right on the court.

If Rolex paid me $$$ and gave me free watches, I'd wear one on the court too.

As for the wrist band, even though I use a towel, sometimes I just use the wrist band to keep the sweat from dripping down my arm onto my hand.

I do agree that the "fetch me a towel" thing is over done. Feel sort of sorry for those kids.

However, I'd happily be the towel boy for Serena if it meant basically getting to see that match from the court.

 

[Ripper]

I towel my face after, almost, every point... difference is I have to pick up of the floor myself :-(

 

[vokazu]

I miss the time when players don't use towel after every single point! It's really ridiculous.

 

[Hitman]

Rusedski was one of the pioneers of using the towel after every point. He would immediately point to it after the point.

 

[Arak]

Medvedev actually blows his nose with his towels. That’s just another inconvenience for the ball kids.

 

[MaverickTennis]

In Texas and FL, you can go through several wrist bands in a match, or one every game if you actually used it to wipe your brow.
It may be a delay tactic to think out the next point without looking like you're just standing there watching a wall like an idiot. Every point should be planned out whether it goes your way or not. Also a good way to take a breather, turning your back to your opponent to not show fatigue, a weakness.
It could also be to dry off your grip, which again in Texas is every single point even with a soaked wrist band. I'm sure the UK and Melbourne are just as hot and humid. Climates vary.