Players may become ‘machines’ under stricter misconduct sanctions-Becker

Tennis – ATP 500 – Hamburg European Open – Am Rothenbaum, Hamburg, Germany – September 22, 2020 Former tennis player Boris Becker in the stands during the first round REUTERS/Cathrin Mueller

April 14 (Reuters) – Former world number one Boris Becker hopes players do not turn into emotionless “computers and machines” following the ATP’s warning that there will be stricter punishment for on-court misconduct in the wake of a spate of angry outbursts.

Alexander Zverev was thrown out of a tournament in Acapulco in February after smashing his racket against the umpire’s chair during an expletive-laden tirade, while Nick Kyrgios was fined for his outbursts at Indian Wells and Miami last month. read more

Becker, who had many angry outbursts during his career, said the sport needed players to show emotion on court.

“I’m quite happy that we were allowed to play and ultimately go berserk under the exclusion of the social media and the microphones, so to speak,” the 54-year-old, who won six Grand Slam singles titles, told Eurosport Germany.

“It’s more difficult for the players today. Everything is extremely transparent, too transparent for my taste. And then the question is, how does the tennis authority deal with it?

“Tennis is also an entertainment sport. I don’t want to see computers and machines on the court either. Emotions are good, a bit of blood, sweat and tears, that stimulates, that was already the case with us. But everything has a limit.”

The ATP said it was also reviewing its guidelines to clamp down on repeat offenders after coming under fire for being “soft” on incidents of misconduct. read more

While some players have called out their fellow professionals over their behaviour, Becker said everyone has to “look in the mirror.

“We’re all not perfect, everyone freaks out sometimes and you just don’t do that,” he added. “I also call the tennis players team mates, so you really shouldn’t comment publicly on other people’s misconduct. I think it’s wrong.”

World number seven Casper Ruud and seven-time major champion Mats Wilander said reckless behaviour on court had to stop.

“… it kind of brings attention to the sport just in a negative way,” Norwegian Ruud told Eurosport as part of the ‘Ruud Talk’ series. “They do get big fines, but for some of these players (it) doesn’t seem like it matters.”

Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; Editing by Peter Rutherford and Ken Ferris

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