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Pro Tennis Returns But Something Is Missing
3 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
The WTA resumed play this week in Kentucky and Prague with some compelling results, namely Serena Williams losing to Shelby Rogers in three sets.
Simona Halep won in Prague and Jenn Brady stood victorious in Lexington, having beaten Jill Teichmann of Switzerland. Halep bested Elise Mertens. Both trophy presentations featured both champions wearing masks.
Brady defeated Coco Gauff in the semis 62 64. Brady was very impressive in January and February. The 25 year old is now ranked 49 in the world. She made semis in Dubai and quarters in Brisbane, both from qualifying.
Brady clearly changed her diet and training regimen over the off season and looks considerably fitter and stronger. And the results prove it
Players now are traveling to New York to play the Cincy Open and US Open over the following weeks.
But something is missing. The tennis has been high quality and entertaining but the lifeblood of the sport, the heartbeat of the sport are absent – the fans.
The lack of atmosphere at these pro tournaments is a grim reality of the world we live in today. Oe sport – the NHL had their star goaltender walk out of the team’s bubble in the middle of the playoffs, citing an urge to be with his family and that the playoff games lacked excitement due to the void of any fans watching the games. The veteran hockey player said the games felt like meaningless exhibition games.
How this empty hollow atmospheric feeling pervades on Cincy Open and US Open remains to be seen. So many players have said fan support is so important for their performance but now that source of energy and inspiration has vanished.
Tennis players are on their own now and I predict this factor will result in several curious and strange results. Which of course we all will want to watch, to see how this major change in the sport will impact this strange era of a mystery virus.
Tennis is pure and it’s always entertaining theater to see how a yellow tennis ball reacts to two players racquets trying to manipulate it to their favorable fortunes, regardless of the level of the competitors.
The sport we love is entering a new era, a new dimension it has never experienced before. And here at tennis-prose.com we will be observing it closely. Stay tuned…
JohnnyTD · August 19, 2020 at 1:47 am
Now it will turn out if it’s really the hate of the crowd that drives Djoko on at the US Open… Imho crowd or the lack of it make no big difference, Djoko is too good on the surface. I hope Tsitsi or Thiem will be worthy opponents in this tourney.
Scoop Malinowski · August 19, 2020 at 10:36 am
Djokovic should win this title, Thiem and Tsitsipas are the two big threats. Or if a young gun suddenly explodes like Sinner or Moutet or Felix or Shap or Opelka. The players are all very excited about playing Cincy and US Open. We could see some dazzling tennis in front of empty seats.
Scoop Malinowski · August 19, 2020 at 10:37 am
Hope USTA does not put fake faces in the crowd like other sports are doing, it looks ridiculously fake and absurd. Maybe they should hold the final on the practice courts for the heck of it )