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 David Sammel discussed with tennishead various issues that emerged the last two weeks in Roland Garros regarding the current rules of the game. Read what he had to say...
About Grunting:Â tennishead: Do you think it is ever used to put off their opponent? Should umpires be more authoritative when it is clearly bordering on the ridiculous?
Dave Sammel: This is a tough subject and started nearly 20 years ago with Monica Seles. Grunting is a natural occurrence when hitting with pace, but there is no doubt that some players use it to show their aggression. Personally I think with Larcher de Brito and Sharapova it is about them finding aggression to overcome their own nerves, but they are also well aware that the intent behind the noise is a message to opponents and it does affect certain players when they are also tight. The issue is how loud is too loud? Grunting cannot be banned as it occurs naturally, so perhaps umpires can be given the power to issue yellow cards (warning) then penalty points if they deem it to be over the top. Is it sensible to give this extra subjective power to umpires? Should they have to consult with the referee before issuing a warning which will make each tournament consistent? At present my feeling is to let the locker room sort it out as unless the top players take it on why should the authorities because tough competitors will either tackle it or not bother as it has no affect on them. Â
About time penalty: tennishead: The rule is that you can only take 20 seconds in between points, on numerous occasions it has been highlighted that players take longer than this - should chair umpires intervene more when this is the case or do you think it is not really an issue? Do players often use this time do gain a mental edge? Why else would a player procrastinate in between points or even at the change of ends?
Dave Sammel: Matches have a rhythm and generally the time between points is part of this, with a good understanding between players of what is normal recovery. When a player deliberately breaks this code and is using it as a psychological weapon or to recover because they are struggling on fitness then it is up to the umpire to begin enforcing the rule. Personally I think from the moment a point ends to the second the next point starts 30 seconds is reasonable as preparation (arguably the ritual for the start of a point is the beginning) takes about 10 seconds (no longer), so 20 seconds recovery is sufficient. I think 30 seconds in total ought to be enforced strictly when longer clearly disturbs the flow of a match.
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About on-court coaching: tennishead: Do you think on-court coaching should be allowed in all events? Is there any unfairness involved in it? Does it take away the individual sport aspect?
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Dave Sammel: Bottom line coaching goes on all the time and cannot be stopped as different signals and ways of delivering messages will get around any rules. More on court coaching tournaments such as the TenniscoachUK playerplus tournament ought to be organised at junior level. At tour level the player allowed to call on his/her coach once per set does alleviate some of the coaching between points. However the game is healthy as it is and if there was a real desire to eliminate coaching at tour level a steward would be allocated to sit next to coach boxes and monitor signals and words. Personally I think it is working pretty well as it is and not a big issue in players minds. Players can win matches through coaching but overall it does not stop good players from making it. Â
About junior tennis: tennishead: On a more junior level, often at junior tournaments, the kids have to umpire their own matches and often there are a lot of controversial line calls, do you think some juniors get used to managing their own score and line-calls and then struggle to make it on the tour as they are then unable to make their own calls etc? Is this a major factor when developing as a player?
Dave Sammel: It is too expensive to umpire all junior matches. Dealing with cheating is part of the learning process but one thing that annoys me no end is referees who witness cheating and don't get involved. They ought assert their authority and overrule poor calls and issue warnings, penalty points and defaults for 3rd offences in a match that they witness. This will go a long way to eliminating a lot of cheating. One thing is definite it has no baring on whether a player makes it on tour or not!
tennishead: If there was one rule of the game that you could change what would it be and why?
Dave Sammel: Calling on a trainer, and more than one toilet break. You are either fit enough to play or not. The abuse of bringing on a trainer to gain extra rest or regroup mentally is extensive and literally a disgrace. The number of hurt shoulders treated followed by 130mph serves or leg injuries that miraculously are cured is laughable.
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