John Isner Wasn’t Pleased By The US Open Crowd Support For Monfils

Tsk. Oh, John.

Maybe it’s you.

*smh*

(Also, has the cocky Southern frat boy considered that fans come from all over the world for the tournament, and are not just us NYC-ers? Perhaps by that hour he was playing in front of a bunch of Frenchmen. Fernando Gonzalez’ Chilean fans used to travel with him wherever he went. JMDP’s Argentinian fans went to Wimbledon to take him to lunch. This happens.)

August 30th, 2013 at 10:51 am

I thought I was in Serbia a few years ago at IW watching one pf Novak’s matches. I was told their is a large Serbian community in LA who make the trip every year to support Djokovich. There probably was a loud French contingency at the match last night, but I think most of the fans just wanted to see more than 3 sets.

August 30th, 2013 at 11:22 am

He almost went there… but John is too smart to pull out the almighty RACE CARD!

August 30th, 2013 at 11:26 am

“Do you see the similarities mate?”

August 30th, 2013 at 11:27 am

Maybe if John weren’t literally the most boring professional tennis player in history…

August 30th, 2013 at 12:07 pm

LOL, Eric, pretty much!

August 30th, 2013 at 12:26 pm

@Eric: I lol’d! :-)

August 30th, 2013 at 12:39 pm

Hmph. Yep, I knew it.

https://twitter.com/JohnIsner/status/373338485882880000

Toughen up, Johnny boy.

@Eric – there is also this.

August 30th, 2013 at 1:08 pm

M,

wow. So John’s just gone from being “meh” to “gross” in my books. Put his interview and tweet together; I think we all know what he’s saying.

August 30th, 2013 at 1:52 pm

This is really flying over my head. Is Isner being racist? Is that what “I could say something else” is implying?

August 30th, 2013 at 1:58 pm

Again, don’t take him out of context. This is what he said:

“You know, I played a similar match when I played Tommy Haas in Paris. I had about five people cheering for me, and those were the five people in my box. So the French people were cheering for the German there (laughter). I could say something else, but I’m not going to.”

It’s not racism.

August 30th, 2013 at 2:10 pm

^^^ BTW, it was the writer of this article that took Izzy out of context.

He IS boring though.

August 30th, 2013 at 2:11 pm

I don’t know what else he could say there either, but ok. That makes more sense.

August 30th, 2013 at 2:15 pm

This raises a good point. About a year ago, the media put pressure on the tournaments not to post full transcripts because they wanted exclusive rights to them to increase readership. Their argument was why should they send journos to tournaments if people could just read the transcripts themselves.

Tournaments caved under pressure for about a year but have more recently started to go back to posting transcripts in a timely fashion.

I like to read the articles and see the transcripts also.

Media often take players out of context for various reasons.

August 30th, 2013 at 2:16 pm

Is that why I haven’t been able to find full transcripts all year?????

That blank space is for all the explicitives I’m throwing at the media.

August 30th, 2013 at 2:18 pm

NO WAY is Big John a racist based on this. Come on now let’s get real on that one!

Being called a racist is a huge accusation and ALL big John said re La Monf is positive things.

His beef- IF at all- is with the crowd, a American crowd.

IMHO i think he could be thinking- at worst is-:

These guys are quick to support others than their own, whereas elsewhere they would always back their guy regardless of the other guy.

That’s it.

Big John is over reacting to this entire episode but I can kind of see what he feels iffy about.

He’s a nice guy though: so let’s not accuse him with something that is way,way inappropriate and uncalled for.

August 30th, 2013 at 2:19 pm

I mean I wouldn’t call it racist (a la Hewitt’s infamous remark Ty quoted), per se, but Isner’s saying that the crowd was rooting for Monfils instead of him because they’re not real Americans like his god-fearin’ white southern buddies. (“#godscountry,” really? Really??) Although, ironically, the “crowd wanted to see more tennis” explanation is obviously right if they started supporting Monf in the third set.

August 30th, 2013 at 2:19 pm

Usually John has an incredibly boring game, but the highlight reel looked entertaining enough.

August 30th, 2013 at 2:21 pm

@Ben – in an attempt to break it down, Johnny boy is being

1) Provincial. I’m an admitted NYC-er, but I also endeavor to be, as someone at another event complimented me on last night, “una persona del mundo”.

You’re a Southern boy who doesn’t particularly care for NYC? Too bad. You’re also representing your country at an international event that happens to be held here because it’s an international city. Plus, you’re supposed to be a *professional*. Suck it up.

2) Entitled. If you are the #1 American player – which to me is by itself a depressing stat considering his abysmal return of serve – you aren’t automatically guaranteed crowd support just because you show up. You *earn* your support with your court performance, just like everybody else.

(How is this one even hard?)

3) (just plain old) Stupid. If you haven’t played tennis long enough to know that nobody comes out to Queens – at night – fighting their jet lag if they’ve come from overseas to see the Slam – just to see a popular player straight-setted, then you haven’t played tennis long enough.

And you especially haven’t played it long enough to shoot your mouth off like that. The crowd wanted more tennis! (Say it with me – how is this one even hard?)

4) (yes, probably a little bit) Racist, b/c that’s just how I think he is (based on what I’ve observed of him to date, both from far away and up rather close and personal – perhaps even more than I preferred – in Miami).

And what to me is most racist about the assumptions underlying his whining, if anything, is that there would be a bunch of people of color in the stands – who speak whatever language (has he noticed Le Monf isn’t even American?) – cheering Le Monf and booing him? Okay. #whateverdude

However, I don’t like having discussions on boards about who and what “is” or “isn’t” racist, since I’ve run into way more than my share of people who think

a) acts can’t be “racist” unless they’re covered in hoods and burning crosses and anything and everything else should just be “let slide” (these are people that usually aren’t sufficiently enlightened to understand semi-advanced concepts like colorism and institutional racism, so I have better things to do than to try to disabuse them of their antiquated notions) and

b) that being CALLED racist is actually worse than DOING something racist, which … o_O. I can’t be bothered trying to explain to those people, so I usually let Jay Smooth break that part down.

I do hope that helps.

August 30th, 2013 at 2:24 pm

Here’s a blog on the practise of delaying transcripts…

http://anygivensurface.wordpress.com/2011/05/25/the-stolen-word-controlling-the-transcripts/

“Fans also like to make their own judgements when it comes to controversial quotes. I, for one, have gone to a presser many times when a favourite has been slaughtered by the media. I’ve often found that journalists have sensationalized the comment to get more views. By reading the transcript myself, I can make my own judgement. I know other fans feel the same way.”

The article above is a perfect example.

#Context
#Sensationalism

August 30th, 2013 at 2:38 pm

Hawkeye, I can’t tell you how depressing it is to learn this. What’s the point of a full interview if the public can’t see it? Why not just ask a juicy question and leave? I’m very disappointed in everyone who was involved in letting this happen.

M, I don’t know. I don’t see anything racist here. I agree that John is acting entitled by thinking he just has to show up. To me that seems like the biggest thing here and John is being a baby.

August 30th, 2013 at 3:16 pm

John was visibly surprised when the crowd started chanting “Monfils! Monfils! Monfils!” Understandable. He’s the no.1 American male tennis player but got less support from the crowd than Monfils, a foreigner, in NY, USA. He’s obviously upset about it.
But I don’t think the crowd was anti Isner or pro Monfils. They just wanted a longer match, more entertainment. And sure Monfils is much more entertaining than Isner.

August 30th, 2013 at 3:33 pm

Yep. Just the perfect storm. Night match after dull one sided matches with engaging Monfils. Fans weren’t unpatriotic. They were just looking for an exciting match and they appreciated LaMonf’s antics.

That said, it was still a bizarre situation and overall Isner handled it pretty well at the end. Was careful not to incite the crowd a la Nole post match SARS incident. Nole has grown a lot since then too of course.

August 30th, 2013 at 5:26 pm

i am scratching my head over john’s complaints. he was interviewed a few weeks ago when he fell out of the top 20. apparently that was the first time since the rankings system started that no American man was in the top 20.

the interviewer wanted to know how john felt about being out of the top 20 and what it meant for American mens tennis. john essentially said that he doesn’t focus on that. he plays the game but doesn’t worry about whether an american is in the top 20 or whether he should be the face/saviour (not exact vernacular) of american men’s tennis.

and then he’s surprised when american’s don’t cheer for him?

August 30th, 2013 at 6:35 pm

BTW..that tweet with @godscountry makes me cringe.

August 30th, 2013 at 6:37 pm

Andrea yes I saw the same interview and thought the same. Can’t have it both ways. Also his tweet won’t get him any extra crowd support in NYC.

It’s like he was guarded in his on court interview but couldn’t help himself afterwards.

August 30th, 2013 at 7:20 pm

It was all so good at the on court pressor, Darren Cahill was full of praise for the fact that he took the high road, but then he had to chide the crowd for not buying America in his off the court pressor, and now his tweet makes him look like a jerk. Unless he’s wearing blinders he has to know this sort of thing happens in courts around the world. You pit a French or German player against Roger Federer in France or Germany and 9 out of 10 times they support Roger. Last night was probably a one off. but if he keeps pouting about it he will lose fans. How do young men become fully grown with their heads stuck in “Mayberry”?

August 30th, 2013 at 7:36 pm

Didn’t anyone ever considered that, perhaps the majority of fans are not from the US
, like may be on vacation or Or perhaps they are nonresidents living in United States.
Anyone that lives in New York City or has been in New York City knows that there is a distinct possibility that the majority of the fans very well may be people from outside of United States

August 30th, 2013 at 8:14 pm

White, male privilege is a helluv a drug. Poor BIG John is strung OUT!!! LOL! He’ll be OK.

August 30th, 2013 at 9:23 pm

4) (yes, probably a little bit) Racist, b/c that’s just how I think he is (based on what I’ve observed of him to date, both from far away and up rather close and personal – perhaps even more than I preferred – in Miami).

And what to me is most racist about the assumptions underlying his whining, if anything, is that there would be a bunch of people of color in the stands – who speak whatever language (has he noticed Le Monf isn’t even American?) – cheering Le Monf and booing him? Okay. #whateverdude
_________________________________________________
So… I see you have met him. LOL! The more you get to know him, the less you like him. He is just an all around jerk. At least Roddick was a likable jerk. And that tweet just says it all really.

August 30th, 2013 at 9:37 pm

That must be a little frustrating for Isner who would have normally expected the home crowd to root out for him all the way. But it was Monfils who was the centre of attention and he garnered the crowd support with his antics. Players like Monfils give that extra energy to the crowd to get invigorated and mobilise behind them. May be, Isner has to learn a trick or two from Monfils as how to enliven the crowd and stand behind him.

August 31st, 2013 at 1:42 am

There is no law that people have to support their home player. Personally I never do that. Because I’m not interested in those people. There are just some players who are quite popular, Monfils and Haas are two of them. Too bad for Isner, but his game is quite boring I have to say.

August 31st, 2013 at 11:21 am

Well now he can go home and enjoy his southern comfort. Bye bye John.

August 31st, 2013 at 7:40 pm

“Was careful not to incite the crowd a la Nole post match SARS incident. Nole has grown a lot since then too of course.”

Yes, this was a smart thing. You do not want to make a New York tennis crowd mad! Djoko learned that the hard way!

I thought the crowd appreciate the sportsmanship of Monfils when Isner’s serve was in but was called out. He didn’t have any more challenges left, but Monfils offered to give it to him. Isner did decline, but the crowd gave Monfils a stsnding ovation. Then they cheered him on as he played some great shots to win that third set. They did want to see more tennis and were also appreciative of how entertaining and fun Monfils made the match.

I don’t have a problem with it at all. It shows that the fans are fair enough to cheer for a guy who is enjoyable to watch, who is making a good effort and competing well. That’s what it’s all about. Isner just needs to get over it.

September 1st, 2013 at 12:20 am

You folks that do not see the problem of John not getting crowd support from the US fans……shame on you!!! Trust me on this…..if you were an American and fighting to win and the crowd was cheering on a German, Frenchman etc……you would be crushed just like Isner. I thought their behavior was horrible. Whether you like Isner or not…..he is a US citizen…..end of story.

September 1st, 2013 at 1:08 am

I’m glad the German beat him in the next round; John doesn’t wear well.

September 1st, 2013 at 5:49 am

It seems I’m late to the party, but I’m surprised by the comments on this page.

For one, John always seemed to me to have the best temperament of any of the American players.

Two, the racism brigade is very quick to judge him based upon their interpretation of what Isner is thinking. That is simply low, and the automatic assumption of guilt is disappointing.

Three, it is obvious that the French crowd is one of the most biased and obnoxious crowds in the world. It’s part of playing in the French Open, I understand that. Yet they will do their utmost to ‘support’ their players, including chanting and crowd-waves in order to break the rhythm of players from other countries, as well as often booing them when they have the ‘audacity’ to check line marks. So when a player like Isner doesn’t get crowd support, and the crowd then supports a French player, one can understand his frustration.

Why is the French Open the only major tournament not to have hawk-eye?

[Does anyone still remember Monfils vs. Roddick at the French some years back? They decided they were going to continue the match in the dark, because Monfils wanted to keep playing.]

Since when is missing your home-town considered racist again? Do people here believe that New York City is the epitome of decency and fairness?

All of these vitriolic comments for having an opinion. Would people be raising an eyebrow at Isner if he played Gasquet instead?

September 4th, 2013 at 2:19 pm