Would you rather...

Would you rather watch your favorite player practice and be as close as you wanted (i.e., courtside, or right behind him in the stands), or watch him play a match but be really high up in the stands ("high" is subjective, but let's consider the upper decks of a stadium like IW or Arther Ashe).

For practice, it would be the same duration as a match, and they'd likely play a practice set against a top 20 player. For the match, let's say it's an early match in a Grand Slam, and it's not against another top 20 player.

(edit: I don't know if I can add a poll after already making the thread. My bad)
 
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SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
Practice match.

Normally I would say the actual match, but you don't see anything from up there unless you take your binoculars with you.
 

merwy

G.O.A.T.
Definitely practice match. The reason I want to see someone play live is to witness the tennis (skill, technique, movement, everything) from up close. If I purely want to follow the match, I don't think you can do better than simply watching it on TV.
 

spirit95

Professional
Being up high in the stands is still way way better than TV, it depends what angle you're sitting at relative to the court.
 

spinovic

Hall of Fame
Watching them practice is pretty cool.

My answer would depend on the match. If it was a match against Donald Young, for instance, I would choose practice. But, if it was a big final against another great player, I would take the match.
 

TheMusicLover

G.O.A.T.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI

Sorry guys, I'll take the real match. :lol:
Me too.
At least the real match is ... REAL.

But it may well be (also) caused by my dislike of tons of fanbois/girlz not even bothering to show up for the real matches at tournaments, which I actually consider as a clear token that these people quite often don't really care for the sport.
Not to mention a feeling of contempt towards all those hardworking, very talented, NON-Top Dogs. As if they're only there for ornamental reasons. Expendable characters...
This fuelled by my experience in Rotterdam a couple of years ago, where I witnessed an awesome match between Dimitrov and Raonic - in a near to EMPTY center court.
Yeah, Fed was out training somewhere... :rolleyes:
 
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Bender

G.O.A.T.
Practice, no contest (for me).

Especially if it's a Nadal practice. Those things are more fun than his matches half the time.
 
D

Deleted member 21996

Guest
depends... If nadal is involved as sparring partner\opponent i rather be away...
 

jg153040

G.O.A.T.
Would you rather watch your favorite player practice and be as close as you wanted (i.e., courtside, or right behind him in the stands), or watch him play a match but be really high up in the stands ("high" is subjective, but let's consider the upper decks of a stadium like IW or Arther Ashe).

For practice, it would be the same duration as a match, and they'd likely play a practice set against a top 20 player. For the match, let's say it's an early match in a Grand Slam, and it's not against another top 20 player.

(edit: I don't know if I can add a poll after already making the thread. My bad)

How about you, what would you rather see and why?
 

Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
Me too.
At least the real match is ... REAL.

But it may well be (also) caused by my dislike of tons of fanbois/girlz not even bothering to show up for the real matches at tournaments, which I actually consider as a clear token that these people quite often don't really care for the sport.
Not to mention a feeling of contempt towards all those hardworking, very talented, NON-Top Dogs. As if they're only there for ornamental reasons. Expendable characters...
This fuelled by my experience in Rotterdam a couple of years ago, where I witnessed an awesome match between Dimitrov and Raonic - in a near to EMPTY center court.
Yeah, Fed was out training somewhere... :rolleyes:

To be brutally honest, if I knew that was my only shot at meeting or seeing Federer in my life I might go to the practice too. I think it'd be a tough call. The question being about your favourite in both cases of course.

In the case of Federer I'd watch him play a match before I'd watch him practice easily, but I might watch him practice over a match between probably anybody else if I knew that was my only chance to be that close to him in my life. Maybe get a hat signed or something like that. Does that revoke my tennis fan card? I don't think so.

I won't get into a big explanation about me watching a ton of matches that don't involve any of the top players because I want to see what you have to say first.


I feel like you won't agree, but I had to respond. :)
 

SpinToWin

Talk Tennis Guru
Me too.
At least the real match is ... REAL.

But it may well be (also) caused by my dislike of tons of fanbois/girlz not even bothering to show up for the real matches at tournaments, which I actually consider as a clear token that these people quite often don't really care for the sport.
Not to mention a feeling of contempt towards all those hardworking, very talented, NON-Top Dogs. As if they're only there for ornamental reasons. Expendable characters...
This fuelled by my experience in Rotterdam a couple of years ago, where I witnessed an awesome match between Dimitrov and Raonic - in a near to EMPTY center court.
Yeah, Fed was out training somewhere... :rolleyes:

Keep in mind that you will be way at the top of a huge arena… It's that part which puts me off, because you really don't see much from up there. If I could be just behind and/or to the side of Roger I could see and learn much more than if I have the view of people in an airplane, despite it only being a practice (match).

I would definitely prefer a match if I have a a good spot to see it from, no matter how much more money that costs.
 

xan

Hall of Fame
To be brutally honest, if I knew that was my only shot at meeting or seeing Federer in my life I might go to the practice too. I think it'd be a tough call. The question being about your favourite in both cases of course.
I had a chance,or rather opportunity, of watching djokovic during davis cup which was in my town but i honestly didnt care much for it.
Not enough to wait from 8am for 2pm practice session.
 
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