Tennis chiefs approve ‘horrible’ new rule during Wimbledon with fans calling it ‘unhygienic’
TENNIS chiefs have approved a rule change allowing players to ask ball kids to hand them their sweaty towels during matches.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the sight of ball kids sprinting to players between points, with white towels in hand, was a common one.
But, as hygiene measures were tightened amid Covid measures, players were forced to go and get their own towels.
With tennis chiefs eager to decrease time between points, however, the rule is now set to revert back.
Tennis reporter Jon Wertheim wrote on social media this morning: “Notice to prospective ballkids…From the @atptour recent meetings:
‘Board approved a rule change to permit players to request and be handed towels between points, as was customary before the Covid-19 pandemic.
“All ATP tournaments must accommodate this provision. This rule change will take effect starting after Wimbledon.'”
During his 2018 Shenzhen Open semi-final, former world No7 Fernando Verdasco was criticised for appearing to berate a ball kid when he felt a towel was not delivered to him quickly enough.
At the time, Judy Murray suggested: “What about a rule that makes players get their own towels?”
While former British No1 and Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong added of the incident: “I can’t stand this.”
Seeing the ATP’s intention to change the rule back, one fan wrote on social media: “Horrible. Unhygienic.
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“Lots get harassed especially by players when they are losing taking it on the ball kids.”
While a second fumed: “That is a ridiculous change. Current system works just fine and ball kids should not have to do this.”
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How Sir David Attenborough made tennis balls yellow
DID you know Sir David Attenborough is one of the main reasons tennis is played with yellow balls?
It’s hard to imagine Wimbledon being played without the signature fluorescent balls.
However, the truth is that upon the inception of lawn tennis in the late 1800s players would normally use white or sometimes black balls.
That went on until fans started to buy colour televisions.
Attenborough worked as a controller for BBC Two in 1967 and it was up to him to transition viewers to colour from black and white.
The legendary presenter quickly realised that it is hard to notice the white ball when it travels over white lines and suggested tennis chiefs switch to the bright, yellow colour.
The International Tennis Federation approved what is now known as the “optic yellow” ball in 1972.
But it took Wimbledon another 14 years before they finally saw the light, eventually making the switch for the Championships in 1986.
A third moaned: “Entitlement, much. Players can retrieve their own sweaty towels.”
And another added: “Get your own damn towels…”
The rule will not come into effect this week at Wimbledon.
It will commence on the ATP Tour next week, at events in Hamburg, Newport, Gstaad and Bastad.
Rafael Nadal is set to play in the event at Bastad.
The Spaniard, 38, has not been in action since losing to Alexander Zverev in round one of Roland Garros.
Nadal has entered the single event of the ATP 250 tournament, while he is also down to play doubles with Casper Ruud as he prepares for the Paris Olympics.
World No1 Jannik Sinner is also set to be in the field.
What it's like to be a Wimbledon ball kid
By Alison Maloney
WHILE the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Andy Murray keep us entertained during this summer’s Championships, spare a thought for those unsung heroes that keep the tournament going.
Personal trainer Alex Crockford, now 33, served as a ball boy at Wimbledon in 2005 and 2006, and has lifted the lid to SunSport on what it’s really like.
“Standing still for hours is one of the toughest parts of being a ball boy,” he says.
“It’s quite strict and you don’t want to let your team down or feel like you’re doing a bad job.
“I remember one really hot day, I clearly hadn’t fuelled or hydrated myself appropriately.
“I did have a very faint moment, and started seeing blurry stars.
“There are six BBGs on the court and a captain, which was me, so I was standing to the left of the umpire chair and I was away from my water.
“I had to go outside of my position, get some water and re-balance myself before I could continue.”
Click here to read Alex’s ball boy story in full.