End the knock-up?

A sound idea in my opinion - if nothing else it removes another opportunity for delay and - can I say this in the intended environment of goodwill to all me on 606vs? - psyching out.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jonathanoverend/2011/12/tennis_knock-up.html

Is it the case that at the moment the stated start time is the time players come on court and then the knock-up starts? If so, simply change it to the time the match will actually start, like any other sporting event. If the players want to knock up they can either come on to court early or do it on a practice court.

The only problem might be when players don't know when their match is going to start, waiting for another match to finish, but I'm sure players could cope with that.

I am against the idea. It's part of the build up to a match and allows young and new players who have never played on a court to get a feel of it.

If they really want to speed up the game, there are many other options I can think off!!!

Tenez wrote:I am against the idea. It's part of the build up to a match and allows young and new players who have never played on a court to get a feel of it.

If they really want to speed up the game, there are many other options I can think off!!!

That sounds intriguing. Anything you'd like to share with the forum?

bogbrush wrote:

Tenez wrote:I am against the idea. It's part of the build up to a match and allows young and new players who have never played on a court to get a feel of it.

If they really want to speed up the game, there are many other options I can think off!!!

That sounds intriguing. Anything you'd like to share with the forum?

No, I think its fine if he keeps it to himself.

amritia3ee wrote:No, I think its fine if he keeps it to himself.

Take it easy, Amrit. No one died, it is just the game of Tennis to paraphrase Becker.

But LF, it's war out there, to paraphrase Connors

JuliusHMarx wrote:But LF, it's war out there, to paraphrase Connors

With balls, racquets, lines, Tennis gods, fans, weather, bit of heat, rain and wind perhaps, a tea and biscuits break after the matches are over.

Qureshi got married, congrats.

No incendiaries, guns or bullets on the courts yet, we should leave that to the Arab Spring.

As Bilbo would say, 'Once you step outside the door, it is an adventure...'.

When at a tennis event, I like it.

It's a signal for me to stop stuffing my face and looking around and get myself to my seat.

erictheblueuk wrote:When at a tennis event, I like it.
It's a signal for me to stop stuffing my face and looking around and get myself to my seat.

Actually you're right. On the TV it's a pain but live it's great.

from the linked Overend article

So the lights are dancing, the speakers juddering, graphics, lasers, spots, intros... then... what happens?

Everything falls flat. It's time for the tennis knock-up - that most unfathomable waste of time.


The argument in favour of the knock-up says players need to get a 'feel' for the ball, the strings and court.

This is understandable; they may look a bit average if they don't get their five minutes of forehand pampering. Egos will take a hit.


I say cut all that rubbish at the beginning and keep the warm up. Who wants the playing field leveled to average? Maybe the average player but certainly not the audience. Who's stupid idea was this?..

Jonathan overend is the stupidest tennis writer in the universe.why are we wasting time on his articles

I dont agree, I think he makes some good points at times. But like all of us, he sometimes has worse days.

coolpixel wrote:Jonathan overend is the stupidest tennis writer in the universe.why are we wasting time on his articles

He is a wum!

lydian wrote:I dont agree, I think he makes some good points at times. But like all of us, he sometimes has worse days.

You mean he sometimes has good days! like a broken clock it's still right twice a day.

Tell you what should be stopped - changing over Umpire-side after the 1st game of the set.

Agree. But perhaps reduce it to a minute as athletes, usually are allowed some kind of pre-match warm up

I like to see players come and out and do a mini practice session, provides a nice build up environment, especially during slam finals. Having said that they could shorten the allocated time.