I played competitive tennis as a kid and
in college, but now play a racquet sport called platform tennis. I’d rather
play sports than watch them on television, but when I do watch tennis, I prefer
to see doubles rather than singles.
But over ninety percent of the
television coverage of tennis shows singles. I guess I don’t enjoy watching two
players on the baseline hitting balls back and forth. I like the strategy of
doubles and the net play. The irony is that most people who play tennis, play
doubles, yet the coverage favors singles. About the only time doubles is shown
on television is when the Bryan Brothers or Williams Sisters are playing.
I’ve concluded that this fits in with
our culture of the celebrity. The networks feed the desire to see the
individual triumph rather than the teamwork of doubles. Personally, I think the
teamwork aspect of doubles adds to the excitement and interest, but I appear to
be in the minority.
What do you think?
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