Andre Agassi Calls for End to Net Cord Apologies in Tennis

Andre Agassi has called for an end to the long-standing tennis tradition of apologizing for lucky net cord winners. The eight-time Grand Slam champion made the comments during the Wimbledon semifinal between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, where Djokovic raised his hand in apology after a net cord winner.

During the match, Djokovic's shot clipped the top of the net and dropped on Sinner's side for a winner. As expected, Djokovic raised his hand in apology. However, Agassi, watching from the BBC commentary box, questioned whether the tradition still makes sense.

Agassi argued that players should stop apologizing for lucky net cord winners because it is unnecessary and one-sided. He pointed out that players only apologize when the ball lands in their favor, but not when it falls back on their own side. Agassi believes the custom has become more of a habit than a genuine expression of regret.

Agassi is not the only player who feels the tradition deserves another look. Several current and former professionals, including Bob Bryan, Simona Halep, and Steve Johnson, have also questioned the net cord apology. While some players, like Daniil Medvedev, have criticized others for not apologizing, the debate highlights a deeper issue in tennis etiquette.

Agassi's comments also reflected his long history of questioning tennis traditions. Early in his career, he openly challenged Wimbledon's strict rules, including its famous all-white dress code. He even skipped the tournament from 1988 to 1990 because he disagreed with several of its traditions.

Former doubles world No. 1 Bob Bryan once said players are "never sorry" after winning a point from the net cord because they are actually happy to get the lucky break. Former Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova compared the gesture to everyday politeness, saying it is similar to someone asking, "How are you?" without expecting a detailed answer.

Simona Halep has also admitted that she finds the tradition uncomfortable, saying she was taught as a kid that you have to say sorry, but she doesn't really think it's fair. Former American player Steve Johnson shared a similar opinion, saying he only apologizes when playing close friends. Otherwise, he believes lucky net cords are simply part of the sport.

The debate highlights a deeper issue in tennis etiquette and whether the tradition of apologizing for lucky net cord winners is still relevant in modern tennis.