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  • "Tennis loves to shoot itself in the foot" - Nicole Gibbs echoes Frances Tiafoe's opinion about fan movement during matches
Nicole Gibbs supports Frances Tiafoe's comments

"Tennis loves to shoot itself in the foot" - Nicole Gibbs echoes Frances Tiafoe's opinion about fan movement during matches

Former American tennis player Nicole Gibbs has backed Frances Tiafoe's comments on allowing fans to move and talk during tennis matches. She believes that some of the rules of tennis need to evolve and are detrimental to the sport's popularity.

Tennis has stringent rules for fans, who cannot move around or cheer when a point is underway. However, some fans believe these rules are outdated, and they should be allowed to cheer.

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American tennis star Tiafoe weighed in on the debate, stating that fans should be allowed to come and go, move, and speak during matches. He believes a change is required to bring younger audiences to the stadiums.

As a hardcore basketball fan, the American stated that watching a basketball game where fans aren't allowed to speak is unimaginable.

“I think fans should be able to come and go and move around and speak during matches. Imagine going to a basketball game and not saying anything. Apart from retaining some tradition at Wimbledon.. outside that, let's start changing things to bring younger fans to the game," the 25-year-old told Forbes magazine.
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Frances Tiafoe: “I think fans should be able to come & go & move around & speak during matches. Imagine going to a basketball game & not saying anything. Apart from retaining some tradition at Wimbledon..outside that, let's start changing things to bring younger fans to the game”

Gibbs backed Tiafoe's take and shared her own comments via social media.

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"This. Duh. Tennis loves to shoot itself in the foot with dumb, non-evolving rules. Maybe make an exception at Wimbledon cause “quiet please” is fully the vibe there," she wrote.
This. Duh. Tennis loves to shoot itself in the foot with dumb, non-evolving rules. Maybe make an exception at Wimbledon cause “quiet please” is fully the vibe there 🤣 twitter.com/thetennislette…
Frances Tiafoe: “I think fans should be able to come & go & move around & speak during matches. Imagine going to a basketball game & not saying anything. Apart from retaining some tradition at Wimbledon..outside that, let's start changing things to bring younger fans to the game”

She also commented on the absurdity of being told to "shut up" at a sporting event.

"Like imagine paying to go to a sporting event to be told to shut up," she added.
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Like imagine paying to go to a sporting event to be told to shut up 🤣🤣🤣

“Sorry, mom. Sorry, dad.” - Frances Tiafoe jokingly apologized to parents for listening to advice from LeBron James and Stephen Curry

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Frances Tiafoe on advice from basketball stars

Frances Tiafoe jokingly apologized to his parents for not taking their advice, but listening to the same advice from basketball stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry.

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In a press-conference at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Tiafoe said that his parents always told him to stay consistent and make the necessary sacrifices to excel. Tiafoe ignored his parents, but when he heard the same advice from basketball stars, he was all ears.

"It's funny, your parents tell you the same s**t all the time, but when you hear it from Steph Curry or you hear it from LeBron, it's a little different," said the American.
"I'm sorry. Sorry, mom. Sorry, dad. It's a little different hearing it from them. When they tell me that, yeah, I think it's time to make some sacrifice," he added.

Frances Tiafoe will open his 2023 Miami Open campaign in the second round on March 24 against the winner of the Yosuke Watanuki vs Benoit Paire clash.

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Edited by
Arshit Garg
 
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