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WNC #4

September 23rd, 2010 by Gustav

Top Tennis Players Want Changes in Davis Cup, by Christopher Clarey

This story from the N.Y. Times on the Davis Cup (nationwide competition) deals with the request of top tennis players to change the stage, time, basically the whole thing, in order to avoid a lower turn out rate of big names. Since the Davis Cup takes place only one week after the US Open, players are tired and moreover don’t want to travel long distances for only a couple matches. The author goes on to talk about Team USA and their discussions about team captains and choice of players. Also, Novak Djokovic serves as an example for the impact of smaller nations in the Davis Cup.

Unlike the other three that I have evaluated so far, this story is poorly written. The lead is horrible. In the headline it hints towards the difficulties of the Davis Cup arrangements, and then the story begins with Novak Djokovic’s attendance at the tournament. I couldn’t understand what the story would be about, not until the 5th or 6th paragraph, when finally the author explains the issue at hand. There is no quote to introduce the article. The main information doesn’t appear until halfway through. I cannot make out any principle or organization. The facts are good, but not reader-friendly arranged. Also, all of a sudden the focus of the story changes: Team USA becomes the topic of the last few paragraphs. Why? Well, the information isn’t bad, but there are too many teasers instead of a discussion. With a little organization and a better headline, this article could have stirred some decent discussion about length and scheduling of tournaments.

Posted in Weekly News Comment | | | 1 Comments


One Response to ' WNC #4 '

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  1.   Fuglsang said,

    on September 27th, 2010 at 10:01 AM

    You’re right, Gustav. I can see what the author is trying to do — put an individual face on a story about scheduling. But it takes way too long to get to the point. In the second or third graf he writes: “If you wonder why tennis stars keep breaking down in their prime, this is certainly part of the story.” The story should have explained there, but instead goes on for about 10 more grafs before coming back to what was hinted at.

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