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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be appalled at the way the young tennis player dismissed her dad from the court

100 replies

springydaffs · 26/06/2011 12:33

Did anybody see it? She pointed at him and gestured for him to get off, like he was a stray dog.

I was absolutely appalled that she treated him this way and in public too. He meekly left. I would rather have a decent human being for a child than a brat tennis star. The Wimbledon presenters took it on the chin - regrettable but well, that's how it goes. No it doesn't imo.

OP posts:

DirtyMartini · 26/06/2011 14:48

Or, in short, I am firmly in the YABU camp this time!

londonartemis · 26/06/2011 15:00

I saw it on TV.
The dad had been annoying her, and she was the one playing the match, so she signalled to him to get lost...I don't think they are allowed to speak to coaches etc during match play, hence the sign language.
No worse than any teenager up and down the country getting p***d off with their parents. (The BBC commentators have probably had their own teenage daughters, which is why they found it funny.)

creighton · 26/06/2011 16:00

I did not see the incident but the little I know about tennis fathers/coaches is that some of them are overzealous to the point of violence with their daughters (never sons). I read a few years back that even Steffi Graf was hit by her father. If Marion Bartoli can take some control of her situation/matches, it is okay by me.

Original poster

springydaffs · 26/06/2011 23:36

No worse than any teenager up and down the country getting p***d off with their parents.

So we're all supposed to accept that teenagers behave appallingly and well that's ok they're just teenagers. er, no - I would've been dead if I did that to my dad and my children can't get away with stuff like that either, regardless if they're 4, 18 or 48.

Agreed that some coaches have been abusive to their children eg Stefi Graf's dad but from the way this young brat girl gestured to her father, she is not in that camp.

OP posts:

Maryz · 26/06/2011 23:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

A1980 · 27/06/2011 00:00

You have no idea what goes on behind closed doors. I bet her dad is a pushy helicopter dad from hell.

Sometimes it only makes it worse to have them around. Good on her for sending him off.

AnyFucker · 27/06/2011 00:06

I saw it as it happened

she was well within her rights to do what she did

yes, she was a bit bratty, but he was beng annoying and she was proably at the end of her tether with him

she got rid of him

there are many times I would like to just signal to someone to just fuck off out of it

her tennis match, her call, IMO, she isn't playing in the junior competition

Tanith · 27/06/2011 00:11

Not appalled, no. I don't see that she had any other option.

Now, if we were talking about the way that Victor Troicki ridiculed that unfortunate ball boy in the French Open...

PenguinArmy · 27/06/2011 03:31

If she had been an adult would you have been as outraged?

cloudydays · 27/06/2011 03:49

What a weird thing to get all bent out of shape about.

It's a parent / child relationship. It's their relationship. Maybe they've both apologised for being a bit OTT and now they're just celebrating her win. Sounds completely normal to me.

I watched the video expecting screaming or abusive language or obscene gestures. She waved her arm at her father, in an impatient manner. The horror.

Complaining to the BBC for showing it? You must be kidding.

Animation · 27/06/2011 07:32

He'll be pleased that she won - that's the main thing!

GwendolineMaryLacey · 27/06/2011 07:38

God springydaffs, you're the first person I've seen on MN in over 4 years who has said that about teenagers. I really thought I was the only person who thought that excusing them for bad behaviour just because they're teenagers was not on.

Didn't see the incident in question so can't comment on that.

slovenlydotcom · 27/06/2011 07:42

Tanith - I am with you on the Troicki thing, what a mean git he was.

I think she can get disqualified can't she if he coaches? Maybe she realised he was losing it and didn't want to forfeit the match because of it

AnyFucker · 27/06/2011 07:48

She is on court again today...OP, best you shield your eyes

Animation · 27/06/2011 07:55

Right - she's some feisty character!

Being all lady-like not going to win it for her.

LordSucre · 27/06/2011 07:56

have we found a link to the vid of it yet?

AnyFucker · 27/06/2011 08:11

it didn't do Sue Barker much good, did it ?

Pagwatch · 27/06/2011 08:31

Gwendoline
Do you go on teenager threads often?

I have been on them for five years or so and I don't hold with the idea of excusing teenagers poor behaviour and I am rarely on my own in that view.

I am very surprised you have never seen that expressed before.

As it goes though a parent should either be supportive on the touch lines or fuck off. I can't stand parents who yell negatively during games if any sort. Appallingly uncouth.

Original poster

springydaffs · 27/06/2011 08:31

Yes I would've been as appalled if she was an adult Penguin.

OP posts:

AnyFucker · 27/06/2011 08:32

great word... uncouth

VelveteenRabbit · 27/06/2011 08:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

begonyabampot · 27/06/2011 08:59

so what should she have done Springy? Let her dad get her disqualified or upset her so she lost her focus and possibly the game?

NestaVipers · 27/06/2011 09:02

She is an adult though. According to this she's 26.

Original poster

springydaffs · 27/06/2011 09:15

Please somebody post up a link - I certainly can't find it.

It wasn't what she did it was the way she did it. no matter that her dad was being a PITA, how she did it showed contempt. like he was a stray dog to be shooed away.

OP posts:

LaWeasel · 27/06/2011 09:16

Would you expect her to do nothing if she was an accountant and he turned up while she was dealing with the tax office?

It's her job and he was distracting her.

Also, and this always seems to surprise some people, some young people are completely justified in being arsey with their parents. Maybe he's one of those pushy sods and she'd had enough.

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