Tennis Hooligans

I think nationalism is one of the things, if not the thing, that makes international competition so great. It's an appreciation and respect and love for your roots and your background and a badge to be worn proudly. In the tennis world, it is definitely prevelant, particularly down under in Melbourne. But tennis hooligans? I suppose the ingredients for this unprecedented flare up were there (Serb vs Croat, passionate fan base for each, Australia home to many Slavic immigrants), but tennis and it's fans have generally always been associated with well-mannered nobility (on-court antics of McEnroe, insane tirade by Jeff Tarango, and murderous tendancies by Gunther Partch or however you spell that insane German's name, aside). I'd call this a black eye for tennis, but it really seems as though tennis had nothing to do with it. Hopefully, this brawl can be categorized as nothing more than a stray bizarre incident. I don't expect repeat occurrences as there are in soccer because, by nature, a fan cannot join a following for one particular tennis player in a way that allows for sectarian groups of fans, mobilized for ulterior causes, the way a soccer team (or basketball or football, whatever) can. My point is that it's easier to slip into the collective and maintain anonymity (something essential to hooliganism) when hiding behind a team badge than it is to put yourself out there as the guys who run riot in the name of Ilia Bozoljac or Marin Cilic. At any rate, strange and unfortunate happenings down in Melbourne. Still looking forward to all the great tennis to come.