*Official* Tennis Thread

[Jono]

JA outsted the prank Labor member in Bennelong, so can't be that bad.


Used to like Courier, but now ****s me for some reason. He's such a downhill skiier. Praises the best players like they can't possibly do anything wrong, then when they do start going down it's because they're injured etc etc.

Not saying you're wrong, but just wondering what examples you have of this?

Haven't noticed it myself.

 

[Burgey]

I know you're being a dick on purpose, but Nadal has been continuously requesting a change to the schedule and ranking system for years and years. He has constantly suggested alternatives as well, rather than just having a whinge he's given the ATP options.

He is Vice President of the ATP’s Player Council and Federer is President. They recently had a player's meeting. Clearly for Nadal to come out he must have been frustrated at Federer not leading from the front like the other players want.

However before I blindly support Nadal in what he said, if he actually doesn't have the support of the majority of players, and particularly Nole and Murray, like he claims, then he was totally out of line in saying what he said.

But if he actually has the support of the majority (or super majority as he described it ) of the men's tour, and Federer isn't listening to everyone else, then Fed isn't doing his job as President of the ATP’s Player Council

Of course, if they are a bit jack of an exhaustive tour, they could always not play a couple of weeks and freshen up.

That goes for any sport, mind you.

 

[Jono]

There are financial penalties if you don't play a certain amount of Masters tournaments.

There are also ridiculous financial rewards for playing 7 Masters tournaments I think (don't think Monte Carlo counts in that) as we saw when Novak was playing Paris despite being injured.

Overall I agree with you though.

But we don't want a ATP World Tour Finals every year where Murray, Nadal and Djokovic don't really care or can't play properly because they are too fatigued. Federer took time off at the US Open and was in tip top condition near the end of the year. I guess the other 3 will do that this year.

And just on the part about Rafa complaining now that he is losing, he actually had a whinge about the schedule even after winning the French Open last year. See below:

It was the middle of the 2011 French Open and Rafael Nadal was in a press conference, talking at length about something that I couldn’t quite follow. I knew that winning this title meant a lot to him. It would be his sixth at Roland Garros, tying him with Bjorn Borg, and it would stop the slide that had begun with his four losses to Novak Djokovic that spring.

But Nadal wasn’t going on about his game, or his draw, or Borg, or Djokovic, or anything remotely related to the tournament. He was explaining a system he had devised to shorten the length of the season for the players who wanted it shortened—i.e., the top guys—while keeping it the same length for the guys who wanted it that way—i.e., everyone else. Nadal talked about ending the mandatory Masters 1000 events sooner and reserving the end of the year for the smaller 250-level tournaments.

http://blogs.tennis.com/thewrap/2012/01/slow-burn.html

 

[Burgey]

Didn't have a shot at another player though. Cracks in the facade mate. Why do we need a World Tour Final anyway? It's nowt but a money-making exercise anyway really. If the blokes don't want to play it, let them sit it out. If they're at that level they aren't short of a quid.

 

[Jono]

To be fair, the World tour finals has been run since 1970 and wasn't an issue until recently.

The best have always wanted to play too - Fed, Lendl, Becker, Sampras etc.

And it keeps players ranked 6-20 motivated near the end of the year as they all battle to make the finals.

 

[Burgey]

To be fair, the World tour finals has been run since 1970 and wasn't an issue until recently.

The best have always wanted to play too - Fed, Lendl, Becker, Sampras etc.

And it keeps players ranked 6-20 motivated near the end of the year as they all battle to make the finals.

You shouldn't need to be kept motivated ffs.

 

[Jono]

Ideally, no. But how do you play all those tournaments right after the US Open to get into the Masters finals, and then if you get into the Masters finals, play that too, and then also represent your country in Davis Cup finals?

The fact that Rafa has had to retire from Davis Cup tennis at 25 year old is an indictment on the tour. Same with the fact that Federer didn't play much between 2005-2010.

 

[Jono]

FYI, Rafa apologised to Fed about his comments.

Generally those guys are pretty lovey dovey, and Fed didn't seem too bothered with it all.

Find this bit interesting:

Federer said Monday that years ago, Nadal — who is now vice president of the player council — would agree with all his council-related decisions, but had developed a strong opinion as he grew older, which Federer said he respected.

Wonder if Novak speaks up much. You'd think he'd want a shortened tour.

 

[Burgey]

I suppose you prioritise different tourneys. To use Rafa as an example, or Fed for that matter, if the Davis Cup means that much (and I'm not saying it doesn't) then forego an extra mil and set aside time to play it.

I realise it's different if you're emerging as a player, but it's a bit rich (pun intended) for blokes to make squillions out of a sport, then once they're at the top of the tree, bitch about how much of that sport they have to play.

It's analogous to cricket these days I suppose. There is rapidly coming a time where players will roster out of matches, even tests, because the calendar is so crowded. There's talk Siddle will miss Adelaide, not through injury, just to rest him. Maybe tennis is heading that way too.

But whether you change the whole ATP scheduling so blokes who've already made it big can sit out tourneys which those on the rise may want to play is a massive call to make.

 

[Jono]

Maria Kirilenko

 

[benchmark00]

Not saying you're wrong, but just wondering what examples you have of this?

Haven't noticed it myself.

He does it all the time when there's a top ranked player playing against a lesser opponent. You obviously see it more in the earlier rounds of a slam.

 

[Jono]

So if that top ranked player is losing to a lower ranked player, he'll make excuses that they are injured or something?

 

[benchmark00]

So if that top ranked player is losing to a lower ranked player, he'll make excuses that they are injured or something?

Pretty much... or he'll just flat out refuse to give the underdog credit.

A couple of years ago, Nadal was playing a young bloke in the first round (from memory. It was in the evening session) of the Aus Open. Nadal either went a set down early, or a break early, I can't exactly remember, and it was through brilliant play, was just smoking winners. Courier who had spent the first 30 mins of the coverage saying how perfect Nadal was refused to give any credit to the lower ranked player, other than to say Nadal hadn't come out properly and may have been carrying an injury etc.

He does it all the time. Yeah, we know these players are good, stop have a flog over them and watch the game ffs.

 

[Jono]

Ah okay. Did he do it yesterday in the arvo or evening session? Ionly watched a bit of Fed vs. Alexander Kudryavtsev, was enjoying McEnroe's commentary on Fox Sports

Or were you just bringing it up from last year etc.?

 

[benchmark00]

I didn't catch the evening session, but he was talking Verdasco up epically yesterday for the first two sets.

Was more of a general comment from past years.

 

[Jono]

Interesting, would have thought Courier would be all over Tomic.

I didn't catch any of the Tomic vs. Verdasco match except match point when I ran to a TV, but I heard Nando did play well in the first two sets.

 

[Jono]

Btw does anyone go on mens tennis forum? Geez that place looks terrible. Swear to god every post on there is some annoying **** whining about how Olderer, Nadull, Fakervic, Mugray (or some other lame variation of a players name) is a mug or any match between them is a mugfest or tennis was ruined because of that game etc.

"mug" and "tank" are the two most used words in online tennis discussion from what I have seen.

But you are dead on regarding them changing players names into insults lol. Happens all the time.

"Almugro" is probably the only one that is good

Nadull isn't too bad.

 

[Jono]

Awesome to see Harrison take the first set from Murray. He's a good young talent. Should be America's best player in a few years I'm sure.

 

[benchmark00]

Stosur gooooooooooooooooooooone.


I'd say the weight of expectation on her shoulders was too great, but I reckon she'd be able to carry it.

 

[benchmark00]

btw can we have confirmation on the L00ch situation??? Has he retired?