View: let's stop kids escorting players to tennis court

[Tranqville]

I alwyas cringe at kids walking with professional players on court. It almost always feel awkward. For players, it's unnecessary distraction as they focus before the match. For the kids, it's the spotlight they have not really deserved just yet. The kids walk on the court and then they are just kind of lost there, wandering about aimlessly as players start the match.

To me, it almost feels disrestful towards kids.

It's a ritual tournament organizers borrowed from football. In football, the purpose of involivng kids is to remind players to play fair. Clubs also earm money and future fans by selling merch to those kids. Tennis has no phisical confronation. Tennis also had much better behaving fans. Tennis has its own long-standing tradition of involvind kids in tennis matches - as ballboys/ballgirls. With iconic moments of Federer serving as ballboy in Basel home tournament, the one he would win 10 times as a pro. Being a ballboy is a challenging responsibility, so the credit and spotlight are fully deserved.

 

[The Green Mile]

"Unnecessary distraction", oh, those poor players lol... In actuality, these players aren't giving it a second thought, something so trivial and natural, like holding hands and walking to the court.

"just kind of lost there, wandering about aimlessly". In actuality, the umpire generally beckons them right after and takes the kid off the court in quick fashion, another nothing burger.

Local competition for kids to do something pretty cool in their eyes, something they won't forget. Big whoop.

 

[Tranqville]

In actuality, these players aren't giving it a second thought,

Exactly, these kids are not given a second thought: because they are not serving any meaningful purpose. That is exactly what I find disrespectful.

 

[Tranqville]

Local competition for kids to do something pretty cool in their eyes, something they won't forget. Big whoop.

Sorry, I did not understand your point, what competion are you talking about?

 

[junior74]

Looks a little awkward, I agree. Huge for the kids, of course.

On very few occasions it looks like players are able to actually talk to the kids and relax. Cilic was good at it. The gentle giant was smiling and joking.
I miss Cilic - good game, good guy.

 

[tex123]

Good god! Now we have a problem with kids walking with pro players?

 

[Tranqville]

Looks a little awkward, I agree. Huge for the kids, of course.

We take two random kids in and leave millions out. How is that impactful, in any way?

To become a ball boy, a kid has to train for years in tennis school/academy, get selected, then undergo 2 month of rigorous training. Then they actually have to work hard on court, keep their focus - so that they don't drop the ball or hinder the point play in other ways, as I saw happen many times.

Compare that to the kids who walk with the players, who did not have to do much, if at all. I think it teaches the kids the wrong lesson.

 

[Hypo Crisis]

Every kids dream is to walk with pro on court. Ask Federer how he fel as a ball kid. Those are all possible future superstars, persons that will cherish those moments for the rest of their lives.
As for players, I see nothing wrong with it.

 

[Benf15harp]

Kids are the worst. The end.

 

[Tranqville]

Every kids dream is to walk with pro on court. Ask Federer how he fel as a ball kid. Those are all possible future superstars, persons that will cherish those moments for the rest of their lives.
As for players, I see nothing wrong with it.

You are confusing being a ball boy and escorting players. Two competeley different experiences.

 

[MichaelNadal]

 

[Hypo Crisis]

You are confusing being a ball boy and escorting players. Two competeley different experiences.

I am not confused, you are confused forgetting how was it while you were kid.

 

[Djokodalerer31]

What makes it more awkward is the fact, that system assumes these kids respect and like each player equally, but what if they are secretly haters? They have to walk a player on court, they don't like and they just pretend to be because they are i nfront of camera and have to play nice! Haha

 

[thrust]

I alwyas cringe at kids walking with professional players on court. It almost always feel awkward. For players, it's unnecessary distraction as they focus before the match. For the kids, it's the spotlight they have not really deserved just yet. The kids walk on the court and then they are just kind of lost there, wandering about aimlessly as players start the match.

To me, it almost feels disrestful towards kids.

It's a ritual tournament organizers borrowed from football. In football, the purpose of involivng kids is to remind players to play fair. Clubs also earm money and future fans by selling merch to those kids. Tennis has no phisical confronation. Tennis also had much better behaving fans. Tennis has its own long-standing tradition of involvind kids in tennis matches - as ballboys/ballgirls. With iconic moments of Federer serving as ballboy in Basel home tournament, the one he would win 10 times as a pro. Being a ballboy is a challenging responsibility, so the credit and spotlight are fully deserved.

NONSENSE, I am sure the kids love escorting top players to the court. You sound like a grumpy old man-LOL!

 

[Mr.Lob]

Another example of tiny people being strong armed into slave labor.
No pay. No 401k. Ridiculous.

 

[SonnyT]

Let's the kids vote. Those who don't like it don't have to do it. Problem solved

 

[weakera]

Imagine complaining about this. Sad

 

[legcramp]

Let's have hot models escort the players to the court.

 

[ojo rojo]

They should walk on with some TTW members instead. Make it a raffle for the nerds

 

[Azure]

The kids are gonna be super proud and will look back at the moment fondly - i held Federer’s hand walking into the finals of Wimbledon…

 

[mtommer]

Exactly, these kids are not given a second thought: because they are not serving any meaningful purpose.

It isn't about serving a purpose. And for the kids chosen, it's a pretty big deal because most are in fact fans of the players. Put more simply, it's a nice thing to do that doesn't detract from anything. And no, it doesn't no matter how much you try to put forth otherwise.

 

[Olli Jokinen]

Yeah, let's not have kids have any cool experiences.

 

[soft_manatee]

imagine you get the notice that you're gonna get to walk on court with a pro player and then you get there and its like hurkacz lol

 

[Azure]

I find it so odd these days with these bizarre takes on practices which are perfectly reasonable.

 

[tennis3]

I alwyas cringe at kids walking with professional players on court.