The energy and entertainment our Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Stefanos Tsitsipas have brought to tennis via this year's Australian Open, is undeniable, albeit problematic for the traditional conservative mob that want to treat the tennis arena as a library rather than what it is: a bloody sports arena!
Chant "Opa!" for Kyrgios, Kokkinakis and Tsitsipas for heaven's sake people, not the silly "Siuuu". That sounds more like booing than cheering.
But the numbers don't lie. ratings, viewership and new audiences are all the new fruits of a new era of tennis and all thanks to the passion and energy that these lads bring to the game. The formerly Anglo conservative audience atmosphere is changing because Nick, Thanasi and Stefanos have injected something into the game that could partly be traced to their Greek heritage: Mediterranean flair, passion, exuberance... and an honest expression of feelings and emotions! No fake politeness here.
Time to embrace new culture and personality into the game as Kyrgios rightly suggested during a presser recently, and realise that the crowd, the market and the sport don't want robots - they want real people with their own diverse personalities and identity.
With Tsitsipas playing today against Medvedev at the Australian Open semi-final at the Rod Laver Arena 7:30 PM (AEST) pm and the special K's Kyrgios and Kokkinakis playing against Aussies Ebden and Purcell at 8.45PM (AEST) in the same arena, Greek City Times would like to ask fans to reconsider the chants they're using to encourage the boys:
Chant "Opa!" for Kyrgios, Kokkinakis and Tsitsipas for heaven's sake people, not the silly "Siuuu". That sounds more like booing than cheering!
Besides, "Opa" is Greek!
