[VYholden]

I agree, they're nearly a waste of time and uncomfortable to watch, except... my defense is that it makes a huge difference to hear a player speak, in terms of relating to and engaging with a player that's not a celebrity. To establish that kind of connection before watching a match makes sense for the TV audience. I remember watching Cincy on TV a long time ago and hearing a one-on-one with Yevgeny Kafelnikov for the first time, and I was amazed at home more dimensional you see the players when you hear them talk. I wondered why they didn't air more interviews like this (this was before the video Internet age). It's a simple thing that makes a big difference in engaging the fan's attention and investment.