By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday January 8, 2021
Advertising signage can be one of the more difficult obstacles for tennis players to deal with. On Friday in Abu Dhabi we saw again why it can be so tricky. Watch as Kirsten Flipkens falls awkwardly over the signage after going up to retrieve a high-bouncing ball off the racquet of Sofia Kenin.
Unfortunately for Flipkens, who was playing extremely well against Kenin and leading by a set, her left ankle was damaged so badly that she was not able to continue the match.
In an era of reduced revenues and reduced playing opportunities due to coronavirus, we certainly understand the need to monetize as much of the physical terrain of a tennis court as possible. But we have to ask the question here: with this sort of incident occurring more and more frequently on tour, as baseliners make their livings closer and closer to the back fence, we wonder if a more creative solution might be put into play?
Why not scrap these silly boxes and put more patches on the players' apparel kits? How about a few holograms on the court between points? A sponsor’s name on the side of the score bug (we think Healthpoint would likely prefer that to what they’re getting from this box)?
“It’s not something you like to see obviously. I just hope she has a speedy recovery and gets ready for Australia,” Kenin said after the match. The American wasn't horrified by the sign placement and saw the incident as a freak accident. A freak accident, maybe, but one that could have been avoided.
Kenin was asked if she felt it was time for the tours to get rid of this type of signage. “I didn’t have a problem with those obviously,” she said. “This is obviously the first time happening, like to the players, so I think maybe not to get rid of it, but just to push it a little more back just for safety.”
Kenin added: “WTA and everyone are trying to keep us as safe as possible. This was just like an unfortunate incident that happened. You obviously don’t see that happening in all matches—today was really just unfortunate.”
It’s not the first time this has happened, and it won’t be the last. Thanasi Kokkinakis suffered a long-term injury in 2018 when this happened at Monte-Carlo.
Perhaps it is time for the powers to be to think of another, more creative and efficient way to have their sponsors interact with fans. It would be welcome by all parties, as long as the money continues to flow.