Unlike the entertainment industry, professional tennis has managed to stay refreshingly above the political fray. However, at the first grand slam of the year, the Australian Open, which ended Sunday, several reporters sought to infect the sport with their ideological agenda.
Reporters looking to stir up trouble in the press room were goading American players, particularly those with foreign-sounding last names. Instead of asking them about their match, they were baiting athletes to share their thoughts on “everything that’s been happening in the United States in the past year.” It was a thinly veiled invitation to trash Donald Trump in front of an international media audience.
Most players were savvy enough not to step into the trap. Taylor Fritz, the incredibly hard-working and focused American competitor, saw the question for what it was: a big fat pull into politics and an unwelcome distraction. “I feel like whatever I say here is gonna get put into a headline, and it’s gonna get taken out of context, so I would really rather not do something that is going to cause a big distraction for me in the middle of the tournament.”
When asked how it felt to play “under the American flag right now,” 24-year-old Amanda Anisimova showed wisdom beyond her years, answering: “I was born in America, so I’m always proud to represent my country.”
Learner Tien, an up-and-coming American athlete, impressively played his way into the quarterfinal. Instead of inquiring about his loss to Alexander Zverev in the post-match news conference, a different reporter asked, “In the context of everything that’s been happening at the moment with Trump and ICE, what does your heritage mean to you and how important are immigrants to American sport today?”
Smartly, the American replied, “Um, sorry, I don’t really want to talk about that right now.”
Sports stories are meant to inspire, not divide. Former South African President Nelson Mandela said: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does.
In the end, success on the professional tennis court is about mastering the ability to focus on your game, fitness and strategy. Coaches, fitness trainers, nutritionists and mental coaches are all hired to help the athlete block out distractions and think only about their game.
Tennis may be an individual sport, but representing one’s country, not just at the Olympics, is always on an athlete’s mind. Bringing home a trophy inspires younger players and fans to reach for more — as an individual and as an American.
Too many reporters were looking for athletes to join them in using sports to divide rather than unite, and to denigrate America. Most tennis players were too savvy to fall victim to their cheap provocation.
Beth Herman is a visiting fellow at the Independent Women’s Education Freedom Center/InsideSources
