Daria Kasatkina does not support trash talk between players

World number eight Daria Kasatkina has given the thumbs down to the idea of ​​trash talking between professional tennis players, saying that derogatory or bragging comments under the guise of banter would not work in smart sport.

As Frances Tiafoe called on tennis to relax its strict rules governing fan behavior at matches to attract younger audiences, Americans Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff said they wouldn’t mind trash talk either.

Pegula added this week at the Charleston Open that he would like to hold one event each year to see how the players and fans react, but Kasatkina said it might not work like it does in other sports.

For me, tennis is a bit different. I don’t think it’s going to work, in my opinion. “I think tennis has to be a little bit on that side,” Kasatkina, who beat Madison Key to reach the semifinals, told Tennis Channel.

I know fighters, basketball players especially in the US, it’s a very popular thing.

They weren’t from the US, so they weren’t used to it. I’ve always been educated that tennis is a smart sport. So I’ll go with that.

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Pegula’s Twitter post this week about whether trash talking should be encouraged drew many positive responses, with American youngster Ben Shelton volunteering immediately at the Estoril Open.

Spain’s Paula Badosa said at the Charleston Open that she also supports the idea.

I’m… traditionally tennis is polite, but why not? It’s a new generation, it can be a change, different and fun. But I don’t know if the women could handle it, Badosa, who lost to Pegula in Charleston in the round of 16.

Maybe they take it a little more personally, but on the men’s side I can definitely see it.