Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

“This Is Pathetic” – Calvin Betton Slams Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner Obsession, Blasts Andy Roddick in Scathing Doubles-Promotion Tirade

Betton’s fiery criticism exposes doubles marketing flaws and overhyped tennis elites.

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Calvin Betton, one of the most vocal coaches in professional doubles tennis, used a recent appearance on the Chip n Charge Tennis podcast to criticize Tennis TV for what he sees as a systemic refusal to promote the discipline. His comments came after another season in which mixed doubles at the US Open drew strong crowds, yet the day-to-day coverage of doubles remained stagnant. Betton argued that poor visibility, restrictive policies and skewed promotional choices are slowing the sport’s momentum.

"People want to watch doubles, the product is fantastic!" @Calvbetton on the "myth that people don't want to watch doubles"
LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE: https://t.co/VwvmpkZIwS #Tennis #Doubles pic.twitter.com/h3RGptY1H0
— Chip n Charge Tennis Podcast (@ChipnCharge_tp) November 29, 2025

Sinner, Alcaraz and the Promotion Gap

Betton said the core problem is not fan disinterest, but the broadcaster’s unwillingness to shift attention away from singles. He pointed directly at Tennis TV’s posting habits. “It bothers me that there is no promotion of doubles. There is zero marketing. If you go on Tennis TV and try to find a post about doubles, there isn’t a single one.”

Instead, he said, the feed highlights lifestyle moments over competitive substance. “This year, I’ve seen Tennis TV posts about tennis players playing golf, skateboarding, or shaking hands. They are obsessed with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. As soon as they cross paths in a hallway, they set up a camera and say, ‘Legends meet.’ But that happens every week! Why film it every time? It’s pathetic.”

Doubles world #3 coach Calvin Betton:

"There is zero marketing for this (doubles). Zero marketing. They're obsessed with, whenever Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner cross each other in a corridor, they'll stick a camera there and go 'two legends meet'. This happens every week;… pic.twitter.com/GZ88E2xmkz
— Swish 🍒 Tennis (@Zwxsh) December 3, 2025

Roddick Pushes Back, Betton Fires Again

Betton’s frustration intensified after Andy Roddick publicly suggested that doubles players should simply handle their own marketing. Betton rejected that stance as unrealistic under ATP restrictions and criticized Roddick directly. “There are idiots like Andy Roddick who say, ‘Do it yourself,’ but they can’t. They would do it, they would pay for it, they would do everything themselves, but they can’t. The ATP won’t let them do it and won’t even allow them to use clips to promote themselves.”

He also detailed how players attempted to fix the problem themselves by proposing a dedicated doubles Instagram account. “The doubles players stated they would fund this account. All the doubles players had agreed among themselves: the top 100 would each contribute $2,000; they would pay someone to manage the account and fund the marketing, but the ATP did not let them do it.”

"Long repetitive drilling is pointless training, tennis is not played in straight lines, so there is no point practicing it in straight lines!" @Calvbetton on his approach to on court training/ coaching.

Listen to the FULL episode- https://t.co/VwvmpkZIwS pic.twitter.com/UJuABKQQoE
— Chip n Charge Tennis Podcast (@ChipnCharge_tp) November 29, 2025

Betton’s remarks underline a broader disconnect between what fans respond to and what governing bodies choose to spotlight. The debate he has sparked will test whether the sport is ready to take doubles visibility seriously or continue relying on the familiar comfort of its singles stars.

Mandatory Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Andy Roddick

Calvin Betton

Carlos Alcaraz

Doubles

Jannik Sinner

Marketing

Slams

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.