Fans disgusted at ‘horrible’ new tennis rule

Tennis fans have said a new rule announced during Wimbledon is “unhygienic” and only benefits “entitled” players.

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas uses a towel during a break in play against Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori during their men's second round singles tennis match on the fourth day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Tennis chiefs at Wimbledon 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, reportsThe Sun.

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.

Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas uses a towel during a break in play against Finland's Emil Ruusuvuori during their men's second round singles tennis match at the Wimbledon Championships on July 4, 2024. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Tennis reporter Jon Wertheim wrote on social media this morning: “Notice to prospective ballkids…From the APT Tour recent meetings: ‘Boardd 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, in China, former world no. 7 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 no. 1 and Great Britain’s Billie Jean King Cup captain Anne Keothavong added of the incident: “I can’t stand this”.

Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov towels off on July 1, 2024. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Alexei Popyrin of Australia goes full towel at Wimbledon 2024. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Seeing the ATP’s intention to change the rule back, one fan wrote on social media: “Horrible. Unhygienic”.

“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”.

A third moaned: “Entitlement, much. Players can retrieve their own sweaty towels”.

And another added: “Get your own damn towels…”.

The rule will commence on the ATP Tour next week, at events in Hamburg, Newport in the US, Gstaad in Switzerland and Bastad in Sweden.

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 singles 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 no. 1 Jannik Sinner is also set to be in the field.

This article appeared in The Sun and is reproduced with permission.