"If that can affect you at 5%, we're in trouble": Stefanos Tsitsipas joins girlfriend Paula Badosa in party court hate due to concentration reasons

The 2024 Australian Open features several implementations to enhance the fan experience, but Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas is not fond of the new bar created adjacent to Court 6.

The courtside bar, dubbed "the party court", can hold up to 400 spectators who are allowed to move around during matches. Furthermore, music is played, although at a lower volume. Nonetheless, this new establishment has not been welcomed by some players, including last year's runner-up.

The World No.7 played on Court 6 alongside his younger brother Petros in their first round doubles match at the event. Although he understood the concept of trying to enhance fan experience, he was firmly against any method that would interfere with player concentration.

"Yes, it would be a new change towards the direction that modernizes tennis and makes it more sort of entertainment style, let's call it, but you don't know until you're a tennis player, when you're trying to zone in, get in the zone, it's difficult when you see movement and when you see stuff happening around you," said Tsitsipas. "You know, there is a tiny little yellow ball flying around, and it requires your concentration sometimes over 100%. If that can affect you at 5%, we're in trouble. So I don't know what the science behind it is. I would like for people to sort of do experiments and try and see how much it affects concentration.

"I'm not a huge fan of it. That's why Wimbledon is one of my favorite tournaments, because there is silence and you can just concentrate and focus on your game. I have had a similar experience at the US Open. So not a fan. Hopefully one day. But for now, not quite there."