The fist pump is an integral part of tennis. Everyone loves to fist pump. Some players have it down to an art. It’s a way of showing that you’re fighting. It’s a way of letting your opponent know that you’re in it to win it. It’s a way to show that you’re still in the match. It’s also a way to intimidate your opponents.
What a fist pump is NOT is a way to say “Yes! He/She made an error! I won the point!” That’s just not good sportsmanship.
Some players are chronic offenders of the “Error Fist Pump.” Sure, it could be that they get caught up in the moment, one thing leads to another, and the next thing they know they’ve fist-pumped their opponent sending the ball into the first row. Especially if they’re getting mauled on the court and things finally start to go their way. That could be forgiven because they don’t do it often. It’s just been a really tough day at the office.
I will not say that EVERY player has not been guilty of this at some point in time. No one is a saint and sometimes when frustrated, you’re just happy you won the point. But then there are the players who abuse the fist pump. They fist pump everything; errors and winners. The only time there is not a fist pump in sight is when they’ve lost the point. After all, why would you go “come on” and fist pump the other player’s winner or your own error? That’s just… counter-productive.
The fist pump should be used sparingly. It should only come at a time when you’re making a comeback in a match. When you’ve finally held after going down 0-5. When you’ve won the set. When you’ve hit a ridiculous winner after a long, arduous point. You can even fist pump when you’ve won the match. However, do not fist pump every point that goes to your tally. Do not fist pump when your opponent makes an error.
Chronic offenders of this tend to be female. You don’t see it TOO much on the men’s side, but there are some who do so. Ana Ivanovic probably does more fist pumps in a match than someone like Roger Federer does in a tournament. Then it’s like “Ana, why are you pumping your fist? You’re winning the match.” Her fist pump gets to me because 1) it comes along with a high-pitched “ajde,” 2) a little twist is usually included (hence the name Fist-and-Twist), and 3) she does it after EVERY SINGLE POINT. Of course, that’s only the points she wins. She’s silent any other time. Her fist pumps wouldn’t be HALF as grating if she didn’t do it so often. It also doesn’t help that most of the time, it seems her fist pumps seem… forced. Maybe it’s because the vast majority of them are unnecessary.
Another victim of CFPS (chronic fist pump syndrome) is Petra Kvitova. As seen in her latest tournament victories, besides the bark/shriek thing she does, a fist pump after errors accompanies her game. It’s unnecessary and it’s not a way to win fans over. In fact, it detracts from her game.
In my mind, there is only ONE situation in which you can fist pump an opponent’s error. Mind you, this situation has actually happened on multiple occasions, so it is not an impossible scenario. Still, I think it’s the one and only time you probably won’t get slandered for it. Here it is:
The only time it is excusable to cheer an opponent’s error is if it was a 30-shot rally and you made 3-6 ridiculous gets to stay in the point. In other words, if you were simply the last one standing in the point after tenacious and laborious play, you can applaud yourself for being able to last longer.
That is the ONLY time I would excuse cheering errors. Otherwise, it’s not cool nor is it good sportsmanship. It doesn’t make anyone nominate you for player of the year.
That’s the end of this little rant. Remember, kids: fist pump responsibly.
