Tennis Random, Random (On Court)

[Deuce]

Having seen it now, I agree it should have been a default. It didn't take an unusual or unexpected bounce in the direction of the ballperson - Brooksby threw it right toward him. Momentary lapse of 'spacial awareness'? Perhaps - he didn't seem to be deliberately targeting the ballperson. But it was reckless negligence.
Just as Kyrgios should not have been permitted to play in Miami after his post-match racquet throw in Indian Wells came close to hitting a ballkid, Brooksby should have been defaulted here for this.

I have no problem with players throwing - or smashing - their racquets. Anyone who plays the game knows that anger and frustration can build up, and needs to be released. But when racquets are thrown, or balls are hit, in the direction of human beings, that crosses the line.

(The ballperson in the Brooksby incident is a man who looks to be in his 40s. I would have loved to see him throw the racquet right back at Brooksby.)

[Deuce]

From a current article about the Miami Open on the WTA website:
"Earlier this month, Leylah Fernandez won her first WTA title, in Monterrey, Mexico. She’s only 19 herself, but the Canadian has already achieved a Grand Slam singles final (the 2021 US Open) and is ranked No.22."

Monterrey a few weeks ago was Leylah's SECOND WTA title, of course - with the first one being... MONTERREY, one year ago.
How could the author not know this? It's not like her first title was a little known tournament in the middle of nowhere - it was the same tournament he references, one year earlier.

Megan - I TOLD YOU TO TAKE THE JOB, DAMNIT!!!

The Leylah error is buried in the middle of this article...
https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2548927/ ... uff-s-rise

.

[meganfernandez]

Regarding Brooksby, players should stop throwing rackets. You lose control of it when it leaves your hand. Smash it, maybe. Throw, toss, fling, chuck, launch, hurl - no. Brooksby didn't even seem to check on or apologize to the ballperson. Walked over and got the racket and that was it.

[dmforever]

Default, plain and simple. It should not be up to the chair umpire to see what kind of contact the racket made. That's not the point. If they made this a hard and fast rule, the umpire could just say it's the rule and they wouldn't have to worry about interpretation.

Does anyone know what the actual rule is?

And the dude didn't even apologize, as Megan said. And, the ball person even picked up his racket and handed it to him. F*%&^ that.

Kevin

[ti-amie]

Brooksby should've been defaulted. Tumaini is a credentialed reporter and covers the tennis beat. Tennis reporters always tow the company line.

[meganfernandez]

Did someone post this one yet of Jordan Thompson terrorizing a ball girl today?




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Deuce]

As I said - throwing a racquet or hitting a ball in the direction of another human being - be it a ball person, an official, a fan, or an opponent - should be an immediate default - no questions asked.

[ponchi101]

If. You. Hit. ANYBODY. on. court. with. ANYTHING: YOU GET DEFAULTED.
Ben is right. When you start handing out suspended suspensions, you no longer have any control.

[mmmm8]

Brooksby should've been defaulted. Tumaini is a credentialed reporter and covers the tennis beat. Tennis reporters always tow the company line.

Hmmm? Tumaini is saying he should've been defaulted, so... not the company line

(I'd also disagree with the statement in principle)

[ti-amie]

I was referring to the part about him being a young player etc, etc. That seemed like a caveat to me.

[mmmm8]

I was referring to the part about him being a young player etc, etc. That seemed like a caveat to me.

I thought he was making the same point Ben was - if Zverev gets away with it, then younger players will emulate

[dmforever]

Do ball people have a union? I know they aren't paid, so I guess not, but they really should just all not show up at the Miami Open tomorrow. All of them. Just call in sick. What would happen? I guess they'd get fired.

Kevin

[ptmcmahon]

Yeah they wouldn't get a free front row seat to the matches... although the job hazards are making that seem not as great lately.

[ti-amie]

[meganfernandez]

He has played 2 tournaments this year and been fined at both. Let's see about Miami.