By Scoop Malinowski
The commissioner of the WNBA Cathy Englebert said “The one thing I know about sports – you need rivalry. That’s what makes people watch.”
Englebert would know. The Caitlin Clark rivalry vs. all the jealous and angry black WNBA players is a major reason why TV ratings, ticket sales and revenues have about tripled this season. Right now, Caitlin Clark was the black WNBA players may actually be the most intriguing rivalry in all of sports.
Tennis doesn’t have any rivalries that even compare to Clark vs the WNBA. Not even close. Carlos vs Sinner is good but it lacks any grudge and fireworks.
Djokovic vs Nadal? That’s been over for about two years now. Rafa can’t keep up with Novak anymore, not even on clay.
Novak vs Carlos is a decent rivalry action-wise but it lacks that layer of tension and edge which gets people buzzing and tuning in.
It’s been a while since tennis had a real grudge rivalry – Federer vs. Djokovic. Maria vs Serena was never really a rivalry because Serena won almost every time.
If tennis could somehow encourage more rivalries with authentic bad blood to develop, tennis revenues would explode like they did this year in the WNBA.
For this to happen, tennis would need to let players be themselves and not be afraid to get attacked by the media if they show a little “toxic masculinity” or macho bravado. Players should be able to say what they really think about their peers and rivals, such as Marcelo Rios saying Pete Sampras’ backhand was “shit.” And Djokovic telling Somdev Devvarman he could beat Nadal and to exploit his weak backhand.
Surely what players say off the record about other players is different than what they say to the media.
Yes, it’s understandable that all top players have sponsors and want to maintain near perfect images, like Roger Federer, who profited enormously with his gentleman image. But the sport also needs some villains like Marcelo Rios and Nick Kyrgios and Fabio Fognini, to balance the presentation.
If only somehow tennis could snap a finger and suddenly generate a few rivalries which the WNBA has managed to do this year, which has resulted in a massive windfall of profits and promotion.
Carlos Alcaraz · Jannik Sinner · Novak Djokovic
catherine · October 5, 2024 at 9:06 am
Court v King – that was a real rivalry – game, lifestyle, personalities.Margaret won most in head to head.
Scoop Malinowski · October 5, 2024 at 3:07 pm
Catherine I totally missed that one but it continues to burn to this day, like Seles vs Graf. No love lost there either. It’s almost as if Seles suspects it was an inside job. Not expecting to see them do any documentaries together about their bitter rivalry. Do you think Court and King will ever collab on a documentary like Chrissie and Martina? )
catherine · October 6, 2024 at 9:03 am
I think Margaret and BJ have come to some kind of peaceable compromise – as many rivals do it their later years. But nil chance of any kind of looking back. Chris and Martina are friends – BJ and Margaret are not – just old rivals and now old aquaintances.
Scoop Malinowski · October 6, 2024 at 9:33 am
But Chris and Martina were not always this chummy as now, if I recall correctly, were a little bitchy to each other during the height of the rivalry.