Beyond the Baseline: tennis athletes’ voice and the future of post-match press conferences.

Abstract

This article explores the ritual of the tennis post-match press conference and considers the impact of new technologies as a way to reimagine its form. We use Gen Z tennis player Naomi Osaka’s refusal to meet press conference obligations during the French Open 2021 as a lens through which to consider the consequences for athlete and press voice. Identifying the incident and the fallout as a potential catalyst for change, this article considers the intergenerational tensions between all parties and focusses on Osaka’s use of social media to circumvent traditional press obligations and communication. Recent societal events, such as the Covid pandemic, triggered adjustments to press conferences which demonstrated change was possible. Reflecting on such change whilst considering the benefits and complexities presented by social media, this article considers ways in which new and emerging technologies could shift press rituals to reimagine a process which is over 100 years old.