Djokovic/Delic Match causes chair throwing rumble

[jgalt]

sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus09/news/story?id=3853489

Its pretty sad that the Bosnians and Serbs havent got to a point where they can put aside their differences for just a tennis match. Ill never be able to understand hating a group of people so much that you want to fight them after a game (exclusion: Cuse, obvi).

[The Stig]

It's also sad considering how classy Djokovic and Delic were about the match. They both asked their supporters to behave and were very friendly towards each other in the match, but some people just wouldn't listen. Shame.

[HealyHoya]

Tennis hooliganism? That's a first.

[hifigator]

Jan 25, 2009 0:21:35 GMT -5 HealyHoya said:

Tennis hooliganism? That's a first.

Maybe so, but give it time. I was watching Baghdatis' match, and I swear it sounded like a soccer game. Constant unintelligable "singing" between every point and it never stopped between games. I would have been quite pi$$ed if I had been seated anywhere near those overzealous clowns. Maybe I am just a purist in this regard, but I don't think that nonsense has any business at a tennis match ... along the same lines as our relentless baseball heckling having no place at a golf tournament. Although it would be kind of funny to rag on some of those pompous Europeans, like Colin Montgomerie.

[The Stig]

I actually like it when a crowd really gets into it at a tennis match, as long as they stay quiet during points. Nothing beats a US Open match under the lights on a hot night with a charismatic American player playing a 5 set match with a rowdy crowd urging him on. Like this, from the 1991 US Open:

And yes, I have played a tennis match with a loud crowd. I've never had more fun on a tennis court.

[hifigator]

I guess the American in me appreciates the loud cheer of the crowd after a hard faught point, but falls short of appreciation for some choreographed song. Ironically, to the casual ear it ends up sounding like a monotonous droning murmur that won't go away.

[AustinHoya03]

No city supports its Grand Slam event like Melbourne, and the Australian Open has had great, vocal crowds for many years now. Personally, I think it makes the event unique and fun.

In other Australian Open news, Federer slammed Djokovic for retiring against Roddick yesterday.

sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis/aus09/news/story?id=3863682

I watched the first two sets of Andy's match against Djokovic before falling asleep, and he looked good. I still think he'll lose to Federer, but he's playing better tennis than usual. There's been some very good tennis in the men's draw over the past few days -- Tsonga, Federer, and Nadal are all playing well. Looking forward to seeing how everything shakes out.