MELBOURNE: Novak Djokovic said on Friday that tennis needs to be 鈥渕ore fun鈥� and suggested dancers should be brought on court during breaks.
The Serbian veteran said while the sport had a proud history and tradition, it had been slow in keeping pace with a new generation that does not have 鈥渁 great attention span.鈥�
He was commenting after admitting he got 鈥渉ot-headed鈥� with elements of the crowd during his Australian Open third-round win against 26th seed Tomas Machac.
Some light mid-match entertainment might also help fans and players relax, he said.
鈥淚 think that we should try to look to connect more with the younger people,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 want to see a little bit more entertainment.
鈥淔or example, why wouldn鈥檛 we consider doing something between the sets like the Super Bowl or, I don鈥檛 know, the NBA?
鈥淲hen there is a timeout, they have, you know, dancers come in and this and that. I wouldn鈥檛 have a problem with that.
鈥淣ice dancers, there for a few minutes more break so I can relax my nerves and think about something else.
鈥淚 feel like it would bring more fun elements and entertainment to tennis, that we know has been quite traditional and maybe conservative in some things.鈥�
Djokovic, who is bidding for a record 25th Grand Slam title in Melbourne, said he respected the traditions of Wimbledon too much to suggest it should occur at the All England Club.
But he was open to new concepts being introduced elsewhere.
鈥淲ith Wimbledon I wouldn鈥檛 change much. I would keep it as it is because it鈥檚 so unique, all white and strawberries and cream and everything about it is just so elegant and classy,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut all the others, US Open, I mean, in USA, you guys know very well what entertainment is about.
鈥淪o I鈥檓 up for it, just like maybe gradual changes.
鈥淒ancers first.鈥�