'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Fans reacted to Kim Clijsters' comments about asking ball kids to carry towels for players in light of Carlos Alcaraz's controversy at the China Open. Alcaraz had a tense exchange with the chair umpire about the time violations and also talked about the issue during the press conference.
During Alcaraz's first-round match at the 2024 China Open, he was given two time violations, which led him to protest the decision to the chair umpire. Clijsters reacted to this controversy and suggested that tournaments bring back the rule of ball kids getting the towels for players.
"Bring back the rule where the ball boy/girl can bring the towel to the player," Clijsters commented.
Trending
Some fans reacted to this suggestion by the Belgian. A fan said it was inappropriate to have a child carry sweaty towels.
"It’s not appropriate that players would expect a child to touch their sweaty towels. No thank you."
Another fan flipped the script and asked the Belgian if she was okay with her children carrying sweaty towels.
"Would you be happy for towels to be thrown at your kids that are dripping in sweat and snot from a stranger??"
Another fan informed that the tournaments had already started doing so but complained that it was an unhealthy practice.
"They're already doing that. And it's gross. It was gross before covid and now it's literally unhealthy"
A fan was concerned that ball kids have many other tasks to perform.
"The ballkids have enough to do running after balls and tossing them correctly to the players and getting back in place. Also, those towels can be pretty disgusting with sweat, snot and coughing into it.. I’m glad those kids don’t have to touch the towels anymore."
One fan sided with Clijsters saying that if anyone doesn't want to carry dirty towels, they can opt to not apply for the job.
"It's a job and if a young person doesn't want to carry an athlete's sweaty towel, they can choose not to apply for the job. Most of the ball boys and girls are so thrilled to be around the players and to be able to watch them and gain experience from doing so that I personally don't think they will care all that much."
One fan said from personal experience as a ball boy that carrying towels was not an issue for them.
"Oh cmon I was a ballboy, that never was a problem, it's really time to stop walking on eggshells," they said.
Carlos Alcaraz on time violations: "I was a little bit mad about it"
Carlos Alcaraz was miffed about getting two time violations during his first-round win against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard 6-4, 6-4. Alcaraz told the press after the match that he was 'mad' about the time rule.
He complained that he had no time to rest or breathe. The Spaniard said that if he finished the point at the net, he had no time to reach for his towel or do his routine.
"Obviously, I was little bit mad about the time rule because I feel like I have no time. I have to run between points. I have no time to have a break, to rest or to breathe. I mean, if I finish the point at the net, which was the case, I have no time to go to the towel and do my routine. I was a little bit mad about it," Alcaraz said.
Carlos Alcaraz will now face Tallon Griekspoor in the second round.
