111. NOTE TO SELF!

Due to a doubles focus of late, it’s been a while since my player and I were at a Futures, singles event but this week we find ourselves at an ITF W35 tournament in chilly Luxembourg, trying to get some matches and earn some valuable ranking points.

I had forgotten how tough they are, and I don’t just mean on the court. Off the court too they are pretty brutal. More often than not they are held in back of beyond places, with basic accommodation and average courts. But add to that, this particular week, the presence of a men’s tournament at the same time and it’s total carnage – speaking entirely from a female point of view of course!

This week there are 3 match courts and 2 practice courts. The practice courts are sandwiched in between 2 of the match courts, separated by flimsy netting. The third match court is in a separate hall. Each singles draw comprises 32 players so at the start of the week there were 64 singles players trying to get time on court, as well as those players who were in the qualifying competition and the doubles. So close to 100 players all asking for time to practice on 2 courts – it has been madness.

At junior competitions it can be nice to have the boys and girls at the same tournament. It’s typically more sociable and the court usage is largely managed and monitored by the tournament officials. In the adult game however, when the tournament venue is hosting both men and women, the atmosphere is sometimes somewhat different. This week has been a case in point. The men have had little regard and respect for the women on the courts, during practice and during matches. The men at this tournament have blatantly been walking across the back of the match courts when rallies are in progress; they have walked onto practice courts before their allotted time and warmed up with little consideration to the players trying to practice on the court; they have refused to finish their practice on time and have been intimidating to female players who have come on the court at their allotted time. It’s been challenging to say the least. Thankfully however, now that the first couple of days have past and players have lost and left, the courts have become less busy and the atmosphere less tense.

The presence of both men and women at a tournament not only results in an over demand for court time, but also a match schedule that is chockablock. Matches have been starting early at 9am, and some courts have had 8 matches scheduled one after the other, resulting in late nights for those players scheduled to be on last. The noise from the matches has been intense too; almost deafening at times. Now I know that there are some female players who are not quiet when they play but the men this week……oh my lord! This week, not only were they grunting louder than I have ever heard (remember we are in an indoor centre/shed with no sound insulation), but they were also arguing, swearing, and throwing racquets (yes I know some women are known to do this but it is quite rare and hasn’t happened here). How can a player on an adjacent match court be expected to maintain their focus when all this disruption is going on within only a few meters? This is supposed to be a game played by ‘professional individuals’ so it would certainly be nice if some of the noisy players would show some respect for their fellow athletes both on and off the court! At the higher level events (the Challengers, WTA/ATP events and the Grand Slams), the behaviour of the players is much better, so maybe this is a ‘Futures’ issue? Maybe the players at the tournaments at this level are younger and less experienced – who’s to say!

So players and support teams, be prepared! If you don’t mind the stress and tension that comes from being at a tournament which is hosting both men and women then that’s fine. But if you do, then remember to check the tournament calendars (men and women) before you commit to an event.

#realitytennis

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