Tuesday 30 January 2018

'THE FUN METER'

One day I would love to see some type of device fitted to either the headband or cap of a tennis professional with some way of finding out from that player just how much they are in fact enjoying their tennis match.
Let's call it 'the fun meter'.
Many other sports including cricket have players wired up as commentators fire off questions in between overs or balls, so to speak, as they fish for information that they can elaborate on. Personally I think it's a great concept in sport. The public love to hear what is going on from someone in the heat of battle as it brings them closer to their heroes and gives them an insight into tactics etc.
So what of my idea of the 'fun meter' ?
Simple, I would love to hear from a professional tennis player who has been out on court after say three hours in 35 degrees with scores locked at 4 games all in the fifth set. I would love to get an insight into just how much 'fun' a wired up player is having in that situation.
Tennis is one of those sports where you don't get a lot of laughs from a player particularly when the scores are close though you may see a smile or two from a player who comfortably leads a match and that of course may just be stating the obvious.
So how much fun is tennis ?
Roger Federer would be having a ball, literally, because he is way too old to still be winning Grand Slams, yet he still wins them. So what of the rest ?
Let's look at the Gael Monfils/ Novak Djokovic match, sorry, farce I should say in Round 2 of the Aussie Open this year. Now by all reports the temperature on Rod Laver Arena reached 69 degrees due to 'radiated heat from the stands' as one report stated.
How much fun do you reckon those two had ? 
Bucket loads ??
Would love to have seen a 'fun meter' dialogue from Monfils that day, he had a fat time, just look at the highlights from that match, sorry the lowlights from that farce.
So why did the roof close for the final ?
Anyone who plays tennis knows that indoor conditions are a whole lot different from outdoor conditions. Cilic could be seen warming up getting used to the conditions outside as he thought the match would be played outside. Let's face it the match started at 7.30 pm. 
Why would you close the roof at that hour ? 
And the roof couldn't be closed for the Monfils/Djokovic match in the heat of the day which happened to be a whole lot hotter than the conditions for the final at night ??
Work that one out.
Cilic played ALL of his matches outdoors prior to the final which then turned into a completely different playing environment for him.
I believe it took a set for him to adjust, hence the one sided opening set score. 
Anyhow back to the 'fun meter'. Roger is having the time of his life. Night matches, cool of the evening, 6 out of 7 matches this year in Melbourne. Does he deserve it ? Absolutely, though read the following from Tennis Australia in regards to the Monfils/ Djokovic match;

The Australian Open’s official Twitter account said the match was not halted because play “needed to be consistent with the outside courts so some don’t get an unfair advantage”.
( Courtesy of News.com.au )

UNFAIR ADVANTAGE ???? DID TENNIS AUSTRALIA REALLY SAY THAT ??????

Hmmmm so Roger Federer did not get looked after more than any other player at this year's Australian Open and received no 'unfair advantages' including the final which turned into an indoor final for heat issues that apparently have never been seen before in Grand Slam history for a night match ??
The 'Fun Meter' is alive and well, Roger Federer owns it.........

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