It’s not hard to maintain good manners in tennis and in life no matter the circumstances

Disdain and disrespect reign these days and our tennis players are not immune, particularly Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic. Is it really that hard to just be nice? The way we communicate is out of control, Lauren Wood writes.

Is this where we’re at?

Disdain and disrespect reign these days, online and off, with our tennis players seemingly not immune.

Over it.

Yes, you’ll say it’s a symptom of society. That that’s “just how kids are these days”.

But how did we get here?

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Rather than just brushing off a journalist from the high-paying Australian Open host broadcaster – just doing his job, mind you, no doubt at the direction of a superior – after practice, Bernard Tomic instead elected to sneer.

“Why do I have to talk to you?,” he questioned.

He doesn’t. That’s true. But – like many professional sportspeople – why couldn’t a “I’d rather not chat today, mate” or a “thanks but I’d rather not”, do?

Bernard Tomic has a frosty relationship with the media.

Manners and general politeness are free.

Nick Kyrgios also chose the path of contempt when addressing questions in his post-match press conference to do with Tomic’s comments on Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt.

He claimed he hadn’t seen the comments – the most explosive story in Australian tennis this week – then hit back at journalists doing their jobs with responses like “is there an echo in here?”.

There were eye rolls, exhales and slumping in the chair and then a blunt “sure” when asked whether he supported Hewitt as Davis Cup captain going forward.

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Oh, and a “this bloke does not stop” and a laugh when a News Corp journalist pressed him.

Having complained on court about his knee being “f---ed” for almost two hours, he then deemed questions about the injury “pointless” and wondered “why we’re talking about it”.

The attitude was palpable.

It’s not just the pair, either. This isn’t about bashing our own. Yes, it’s high-stress and there’s clear disappointment from players who have lost matches.

Nick Kyrgios was frustrated during his first round match.

Kyrgios was defeated by Milos Raonic.

If most “normal” folk behaved in that way in the workplace they probably wouldn’t last long before being shown the door.

Most of the top players don’t seem to find it difficult to treat questions with respect, giving their answers some thought no matter who it is that’s asking.

Sam Stosur was philosophical about her first round loss on Tuesday night, always looking on the bright side. She managed to find a smile, knew she’d worked hard, put in everything and that the sun would come up today.

The same seems to be going on online. We know the vitriol that is served up on social media these days, but the way we seem to think is OK to speak to other human beings these days – and the way we do it – is out of control.

It’s not hard to be nice.

Originally published as It’s not hard to maintain good manners in tennis and in life no matter the circumstances