Aussie Jordan Thompson slams new rule, calls Aus Open ‘wokest tournament ever’

Aussie Jordan Thompson has slammed the Australian Open as the “wokest tournament ever” over a controversial new rule.

Australian Jordan Thompson during round one of the Australian Open 2024. Picture: David Caird

Aussie Jordan Thompson has slammed the Australian Open as the “wokest tournament ever” over a new rule that allows crowd members to enter the arena between games.

Under a new rule introduced this year fans are given more freedom to come and go as they please.

But it got in the way of Thompson’s rhythm as he prepared to serve while sitting 3-1 up in the second set, as fans continued to walk into Court 3 on Monday.

“You’re kidding me, really? Oh my god,” he said. “This is the wokest tournament ever.”

After defeating fellow Aussie Aleksandar Vukic 3-6 7-6 6-2 3-6 6-4, Thompson admitted he made the remark in the “heat of the battle” and “probably shouldn’t have said it”.

He told reporters there were “a few things” that concerned him, but he didn’t want to go into it.

During further questioning, Thompson said he “had no idea” about the rule change.

“How many years which have we been playing tennis, and then all of a sudden they spring on us that they can come in between not even a sit-down. So it just disrupts everyone’s rhythm,” he said.

“I mean, if someone is walking at the back and you are throwing the ball toss up, it’s impossible to see it because you have a moving person behind it.”

Aussie Jordan Thompson has slammed the Aus Open as the ‘wokest tournament ever’ over a new rule that allows crowd members to enter the arena between games. Picture: David Caird

The 29-year-old compared the act to barging into someone’s office during a meeting.

“We are out there working, that’s our job, we’re tennis players. We don’t come in and storm into an office while someone is in a meeting,” he said.

“Like someone is just barging through the door, making a nuisance. Even though it doesn’t seem that way, but it is. It’s very off-putting.”

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic also gave a serve to Open organisers about the new rule.

“I did not know about that new policy or new rule,” he said on Sunday.

“Look, I mean, I understand the motive behind it is to enhance and improve the experience for fans, right? We do play for fans. We want fans to have a great, thrilling experience of being out on the court.

“It’s hard, I must say. I understand that and I support it to some extent, but at the same time all my career, all my life I’ve been used to some kind of atmosphere. When that changes, it kind of messes up, distracts you a bit.

“Today we lost quite a bit of time when they were letting people in to come to their seats, even though it was not a changeover. My opponent would wait for them to sit down. It dragged a lot.

“I don’t know if it’s really the best rule, but I do understand from a tournament and fan perspective it’s probably better because they don’t want to wait. They want to come out and enjoy every single point.

“I’m kind of divided between the two in a way.”

Russian star Daniil Medvedev said he wasn’t a fan either and suggested longer changeover times were the answer.

Russia's Daniil Medvedev said the new rule was getting on his nerves as well. Picture: William West / AFP

“It for sure bothers me a little bit. I think the thing is that on slams it’s only one-minute changeover, so for sure 500 people will not enter,” he said in his post-match press conference.

“I always said this. I think the changeover should be bigger. I don’t see why. I mean, because we still stay there because we are used to 1:30 on ATP tour. Today is, like, 32 degrees. Sit down.

“It’s 40 seconds. You drink a sip of water. You’re not going to stand up. Today me and Terence, we took like 30 extra seconds all the time. So I think it should be just 1:30. Everyone can sit down. The advertisement on TV can be 30 seconds longer, I think. They win some money. The only thing that maybe it makes the matches longer.”

– with Chantelle Francis at Melbourne Park

Originally published as Aussie Jordan Thompson slams new rule, calls Aus Open ‘wokest tournament ever’