Canadian tennis player Denis Shapovalov has expressed his views on trash talk in tennis, saying he has no problem with it, echoing Jessica Pegula’s recent comments.
Shapovalov joins other tennis players who have expressed their opinions on the matter. Last month, Frances Tiafoe suggested that trash talk might attract more fans, especially among younger audiences.
“Besides keeping some tradition at Wimbledon, let’s start changing things to get younger fans playing,” Tiafoe said.
Shapovalov responded to a fan’s question about trash talk in tennis on Instagram, saying: “Why not? But I can’t imagine tennis players trying to trash talk.”
Meanwhile, Pegula and Coco Gauff also shared their views on the subject, suggesting that adding a little trash talk could make the sport more appealing to fans. “It would add more types of fans and not make it as traditional,” Pegula said.
“There could be more jokes here and there.
“As long as you don’t take it personally. You see in basketball, guys compete against each other and then they go out for drinks. I think it would make the sport interesting. I think it’s something that would bring more fans in.
Almost every other sport has them. In college tennis, they talk a lot,” Gauff added.
