Quote of the Day: Australia's Jordan Thompson blasts "wokest tournament ever" for relaxed crowd policy

Jordan Thompson railed against a new Australian Open policy on Monday, as he called his home Grand Slam the “wokest tournament ever” for allowing fans to move about the stands between games.

The Aussie didn’t seem to be up to speed on the new fan friendly policy that allowed fans in Melbourne Park to move to and from their seats between each game—instead of during every changeover, as is the standard in the rest of the tennis tour.

Thompson was taking on fellow Aussie Aleksandar Vukic on Court 3 in the first round, preparing to serve down 3-6 but leading 3-1 in the second set, when he was taken aback as he noticed fans shuffling around the stands.

“Every time we’re about to serve, (the stewards) are just letting them in!” he complained to the chair umpire, before he was informed of the rule.

“You’re kidding me? Really?” a stunned Thompson replied. “Oh my god, this is the wokest tournament ever!” (Watch video above.)

Thompson eventually found a way to block out the distractions as he prevailed 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in just over four hours, and was quick to shrug it off by the time he was asked about his statement in a press conference.

Q: You were frustrated earlier in the second set. I think the whole of Australia heard you call it the wokest tournament ever. Can you explain your frustration at that point?

JORDAN THOMPSON: No, I'm good (smiling). Heat of the battle. Probably shouldn't have said it. Yeah, there’s a few things that concerned me, but we won't go into that.

Q: You genuinely didn't know the change to the rule?

JORDAN THOMPSON: Had no idea. How many years have we been playing tennis, and then all of a sudden they spring on us that they can come in between not even a sit down. So it just disrupts everyone's rhythm.

I mean, if someone is walking at the back and you are throwing the ball toss up, it's impossible to see it because you have a moving person behind it.

It's… in my opinion, it's not good. I'm choosing my words carefully.

The new changes are a part of an effort to improve the live tennis experience and allow fans to move about the stadium before and after each game. Typically, tennis fans have been restricted to moving to and from their seats only during changeovers—meaning those who miss sitting down by the start of the match will miss the first three games before being allowed in. And getting up to use the restroom or grab a snack in the middle of a set would cost fans another two or more games when returning to their seats.

The jury is still out on whether all the movement in the stands disrupts the players’ concentration while they’re serving, but Thompson isn’t the only one who took issue with the rule change.

Defending champion Novak Djokovic also appeared confused by all the movement during his victory over Dino Prizmic in the first round, and admitted that it caused him distraction on Sunday.

“I did not know about that new policy or new rule,” he said in a post-match interview. “I understand the motive behind it is to enhance and improve the experience for fans. We do play for fans. We want fans to have a great, thrilling experience of being out on the court.

“It’s hard, I must say. I understand that and I support it to some extent, but at the same time all my career, all my life I’ve been used to some kind of atmosphere. When that changes, it kind of messes up, distracts you a bit.”

Thompson, one of 15 Australian men who began in the singles draw, moved into the second round at his home major with the victory. He’ll have to stay laser focused as he will face an even bigger test next against No. 7 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, last year’s finalist.