MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) 鈥 Things are somewhat out of control at the Australian Open this year, and that's got only a little to do with the results on the courts.
Yes, there were some upsets, including in the women's semifinals Thursday night. It also was the first time since 1990 that three teenagers beat top-10 men's seeds at a Grand Slam tennis tournament. The loser of one of those matches, Daniil Medvedev, got fined $76,000 for behaving badly. Last year's women's runner-up exited in the first round.
Ho, hum. The real fuss is happening elsewhere. The rowdy fans, for one thing, continuing a recent increase in loud and unruly folks in the stands at Grand Slam tennis tournaments, whether calling out during points or between points, or booing lustily (which drew an animated and vocal rebuke from after she defeated an Australian player), or that an adjacent match was moved to a different venue.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been like that for a couple of years. ... Sometimes I think it鈥檚 disrespectful,鈥 said Pat Rafter, a retired Australian player who won two U.S. Open titles and reached the No. 1 ranking in the late 1990s. 鈥淪ometimes, I think it鈥檚 just part of the game, the transition of this generation, and that鈥檚 what they want. This is the Australian Open.鈥
Also drawing attention: Some folks involved in television coverage at Melbourne Park, whether those whose interviewing skills were lampooned on social media 鈥 and described as " 鈥 by Ben Shelton, the American who reached the men's semifinals 鈥 or the during an on-air appearance before eventually apologizing days later after the 24-time Grand Slam champion demanded it.
So what is going on, exactly? Why is everyone so angry at what long has been known as the Happy Slam?
It's hard to pinpoint one reason. And, in truth, it could just be coincidental, rather than a reflection of Australian society or any sort of trend in modern-day tennis.
Then again, maybe it's just a reflection of the post-pandemic world, where a lot of people are still adjusting after being cooped up and unable to attend sporting events 鈥 or go much of anywhere, actually 鈥 for a while.
Or perhaps it's an increasing willingness on the part of the athletes and give as good as they get, something on his way to Friday's men's semifinals.
It also might stem from attempts by tennis leaders to, as Rafter noted, attract new fans and, especially, younger fans.
That's seen in various ways, from allowing while play is in progress 鈥 something unheard of for decade upon decade 鈥 to permitting coaching during contests and making it part of the spectacle or trying to meet kids where they are by posting feeds on YouTube of made to look like a video game.
Could be working: As the event heads to Sunday's conclusion, 10 of the first 12 days had record attendance, including more than 97,000 on site on Jan. 17, the highest one-day number in tournament history.
鈥淚t's fun in Australia. It鈥檚 a place where you see people coming from all over the world, which creates a great atmosphere. Sometimes, I think ... it can go a little bit over the line. There are traditions in tennis that are important that make tennis unique,鈥 said Patrick McEnroe, an ex-player and former captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team.
鈥淵ou have to move with the times,鈥 McEnroe continued, 鈥渂ut I think there鈥檚 something about the quiet that happens in a great tennis match that鈥檚 unique.鈥
This whole phenomenon is not unique to Melbourne Park, though.
Unusual scenes have been playing out in the stands at Roland Garros, Flushing Meadows and 鈥 gasp! 鈥 even the All England Club.
During the 2022 Wimbledon final, Nick Kyrgios got into a back-and-forth with one particularly bothersome spectator, . Crowds have been notoriously rambunctious for a while, especially when the drinks flow at night, including the jeering that drowned out the trophy ceremony when in the 2018 women's final.
Last year, French Open organizers after one player, Belgian David Goffin, complained about having gum spat at him.
鈥淚t鈥檚 becoming soccer,鈥 Goffin said. "Soon there鈥檒l be smoke bombs, hooligans and fights in the stands. I think it鈥檚 getting ridiculous.鈥
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Howard Fendrich has been the AP鈥檚 tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: . More AP tennis:
