Handling the Media as a Tennis Player
Yeah, I know the Australian Open is still going on. I know Venus Williams was beat by Ana Ivanovic but so do you probably. And Novak Djokovic is in the process of dismantling David Ferrer. But I feel like all I’ve talked about is what the stars are doing on the court (or not doing).
So I thought a nice break of pace might be to look at how these stars act off the court - namely in the press conference following their wins or losses.
Media attention is pretty paramount in an athlete’s life - especially a professional athlete. I like to think I know a fair bit about the media, press conferences and all that goes with it considering I work in that profession.
It comes as no surprise that Roger Federer is just about the best you can have in front of the microphone. He fields questions like he fields Andy Roddick’s powerful serves.
Speaking of Roddick - he’s a bit of an unleashed beast in the reporters’ room. After losing in the 2008 Australian Open, Roddick played nasty in the following press conference.
One reporter pointed out that Roddick had been “sweating buckets” on the court. Roddick’s response? “Yeah, I have a sweating problem. It’s been a real problem in my personal life.”
To another who mentioned the match had slipped away from him, Roddick responded, “Is that a question? Or are you having a monologue here?”
Easy does it on the barbs there Roddick. Just because you played a piss-poor match doesn’t mean you have to be a piss-pot in the media room.
Maybe I’m a little tainted from my job or maybe I’m just old-school but I’m all about class. Win or lose, be classy.
And speaking of - Djokovic is really turning on the heat. He looks good - and he’s being classy right now…go Serbia, go.
Tags: Australian Open, David-Ferrer, media, Novak Djokovic, tennis, Venus-WilliamsRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Andy Roddick, Australian Open, Novak Djokovic, The Williams Sisters
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