The new rule that has Australian Open players divided — and has nothing to do with actual tennis

MELBOURNE, Australia — Tennis has long been a game associated with decorum and well-behaved fans. “Quiet please,” is the name of the game, at least during gameplay.

But under a rule introduced for this year's Australian Open, fans are now allowed to leave their seats as well as enter and exit the courts at Melbourne Park between matches, not just at changeovers.

Opinions are divided on the tour. Australian world number 47 Jordan Thompson, at his home Grand Slam, was unimpressed during his first round match when fans started moving and talking during the sometimes very brief breaks.

After asking the chair umpire to do something about the noise and movement, Thompson was informed of the new rules, to which he responded: “You're kidding me. Really? Oh my God, it's is the most woke tournament of all time.”

Later, in his press conference after what turned out to be a five-set victory, Thompson clarified that he had used the wrong word “in the heat of the moment” and “probably wouldn't have had to say it”, but argued that the new rule was not a good one.

“How many years [we have] I was playing tennis, and then all of a sudden they jump on us saying [the fans] can intervene between [games]not even one session?” he said. “So it disrupts everyone's rhythm.”

Asked about Thompson's comments, two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka agreed, saying tennis seems to “keep making rules that don't make any sense.”

“As if we were trying to [shorten] “At the time of change, we wait for people to sit down,” she said. “Sure, we can try to play with people moving, but it’s distracting.”

But not all players are fazed by these changes. For some, like former Texas Christian University (TCU) All-American Cameron Norrie, it reminds him of the rowdy atmosphere he faced every week at college tennis tournaments.

“It doesn’t really bother me,” he said after his victory. “Playing in college, you could yell in the middle of the point and there were crazy rules in my conference that we played in. I was pretty used to it.”

The British number one added that he understood the long wait times fans sometimes face.

“I think when I was a fan and I had to wait for the change of ends, I was like, 'Wow, this is ridiculous,' I was playing long two-man matches,” he said. “You must wait.

“I think as a fan I would prefer it to be allowed to let people in. But there's a fine line: maybe he has too much or not. For me, it doesn't bother me too much.”

World number 11 Casper Ruud and Brisbane international champion Grigor Dimitrov are also not bothered.

“Tennis is a game that hasn’t changed too many things, too many rules for too many years,” Ruud said. “So something like that shouldn’t be a problem, I think.”

“Personally, I don't [mind the new rule]”, Dimitrov said. “The only thing that matters to me is that no one moves behind the players. That's the only thing. I understand, sometimes the matches can be long and people are queuing and all that, but you have to adapt.”

One of Thompson's compatriots, Max Purcell, didn't notice the crowd but said he had a problem with something else in the stadium during his first-round victory Tuesday.

“No [the new rule is] very good,” said the Australian. “The only thing that annoyed me was the security guards at the entrances who wore fluorescent yellow.

“[My opponent was] throwing balls on serve. I'm like, 'What the hell are you doing?' I can't see the ball. [Put the security guards in] any other color, please.”