Tennis has had its fair share of controversies over the years. In a competitive individual sport where players are under constant pressure to perform, it’s no surprise that controversies are part of the game.
2021 has been no different. It is generally the actors who are at the center of these controversies. If some players kept their place, there were also other polarizing figures. Some of these controversies might even have a valid premise, but as Daniel Medvedev once said, “A bad surface is a bad surface.”
Here’s a look at the five most controversial issues in the world of tennis in 2021:
#5 Australia makes vaccines mandatory for 2022
This could be a controversy for 2022, but it takes shape in 2021. The Australian Open was clear that all players must be double vaccinated to participate in the 2022 tournament.
“It was made very clear when the Prime Minister announced several weeks ago that in order to compete in the Australian Open and come to Victoria you had to be fully vaccinated,” tournament director Craig Tiley said.
Almost immediately after this announcement was made, it was met with condemnation and applause. Some tennis players believed the decision was fair, while others considered it a violation of their individual rights.
Nick Kyrgios has answers about both sides of the spectrum. Novak Djokovic’s future in the tournament is still continues to be surrounded by doubts. It seems likely that there will be no shortage of controversy ahead of kick-off on January 17.
#4 Stephanos Tsitsipas and his extended toilet breaks
Stefanos Tsitsipas has aroused the ire of the tennis world this season thanks to his toilet breaks during matches, considered too long by many of his opponents.
Even the otherwise jovial and gentle Andy Murray lashed out at the Greek after taking two long breaks at the US Open in their first round match. Murray felt the move was intended to stifle his momentum, while Alexander Zverev has even suggested that he receive coaching during the break.
Tsitsipas, however, continued to defend himself, saying that none of this was intentional and that he was acting well within the rules of the game.
“I took my bathroom break like a normal athlete. (I) might have taken a little longer than the other athletes. But if there’s a rule that says there’s a specific time you’re allowed to take, then I would probably try to follow it,” Tsitsipas said after his US Open match against Carlos Alcaraz.
This issue has created so much controversy that the ATP, in fact. has announced rules to prevent players from abusing this system.
#3 Nick Kyrgios’ tantrum over towels
One of the changes the pandemic has brought to tennis is that ball boys are no longer allowed to hand towels to players. This security measure means that the players themselves must walk to the box where the towels are kept to use them.
After his first-round loss at the US Open to Robert Bautista Agut, a furious Nick Kyrgios threw a tantrum because he must have taken “too many steps” to where the towels were kept. The Australian believes he should be able to keep his towel wherever he wants (closer to him).
“I feel like if I want my towel on the field, if it doesn’t disrupt Bautista Agut’s vision, if he doesn’t see the towel, I don’t see anything wrong with having my towel on the side or on the ground. And that’s just absurd to me,” Nick Kyrgios said after his defeat.
Kyrgios received an infraction during the match for taking too much time between shots, prompting this reaction from the vivacious character.
#2 Abuse allegations against Alexander Zverev
Olga Sharypova took the tennis world by storm when she came forward with domestic violence allegations against Alexander Zverev. The first allegation came in 2020, but a second, longer article came out in August with more damning evidence.
At the time of publication of the article, the ATP made no official statement, but in October it was announced that there would be an investigation into this matter.
“The allegations against Alexander Zverev are serious and we have a responsibility to respond to them. We hope that our investigation will allow us to establish the facts and determine appropriate follow-up measures,” said Masimmo Calvelli, CEO of the ATP.
Zverev, for his part, welcomed the ATP decision and continues to deny the allegations.
WTA No. 1 defends Peng Shuai
But nothing that happened this year can eclipse the Peng Shuai saga. Chinese player Peng Shuai made sexual abuse allegations against a prominent national politician on social media and disappeared shortly after.
She resurfaced after a widespread outrage on social media. The WTA, however, reiterated its demand for a free and fair investigation and considered that the Chinese authorities had failed in their task.
In a courageous and unprecedented move, the organization announced the cancellation of all events in China and Hong Kong next year.
The move was welcomed by players and fans around the world. who praised the WTA for speaking truth to power and not compromising on their ethical stance.
