Tennis

[sniper]

He beat Murray in the final last week. Safe to say he's in top form.

This is a weird fluke.

Imagine what the odds would have been for him losing that match against a qualifier.

Good and easy money for him and his friends.

I remember an interview where he was asked about matchfixing, and he basically downplayed it as if it was nothing to worry about. Made me think he might be involved himself.

 

[PeterB]

Re:

He beat Murray in the final last week. Safe to say he's in top form.

This is a weird fluke.

Imagine what the odds would have been for him losing that match against a qualifier.

Good and easy money for him and his friends.

I remember an interview where he was asked about matchfixing, and he basically downplayed it as if it was nothing to worry about. Made me think he might be involved himself.

Matchfixing is rather hard to imagine. Any big bets on his loss would be highly suspicious and betting companies would notice - especially if he really loses. Unless he was threatened by mafia of course.

 

[the delgados]

Re:

He beat Murray in the final last week. Safe to say he's in top form.

This is a weird fluke.

Imagine what the odds would have been for him losing that match against a qualifier.

Good and easy money for him and his friends.

I remember an interview where he was asked about matchfixing, and he basically downplayed it as if it was nothing to worry about. Made me think he might be involved himself.

Apologies in advance for what might be a dumb question, but given the amount of money Novac has won throughout his career, I'd be surprised to learn he was in need of a quick fix.
Are you suggesting he's in the pockets of folks who don't know how to play tennis?

 

[yaco]

The top players are occasionally beaten early in Grand Slams - Nothing to read here.

 

[sniper]

All fair points. And I'm just speculating of course.

Peter B's point is a fair point, but maybe they have ways to spread the bets and make it look less suspicious?

To be honest, I have no idea how much money is involved and how financially tempting it would be (or not be) for Joker to throw a match at a Slam.

Anyhow, I seem to remember his answers in that interview didnt convince me, and I wondered why he was downplaying it.

And yes, I guess it's possible that he was pressurized. I think the matchfixing maffia is not to be underestimate.
But clutching at straws of course.

Of course I realize it could be a legit loss. It could be anything really.
Indeed surprise losses at Slams happen and it's what makes the sport interesting also.

 

[sniper]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jan/18/novak-djokovic-match-fixing-tennis-australian-open

Novak Djokovic tells of being offered $200,000 to fix a match
• ‘I was approached through people working with me at that time’

 

[sniper]

from same article:

Over the last decade, 16 players who have ranked in the top 50 have been repeatedly flagged to the Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) over suspicions they have thrown matches.”

so indeed it seems to affect the top end, too.

 

[sniper]

and this is (again from same source) Novak's response that got me thinking, why is he downplaying it?

“I don’t think a shadow is cast over our sport. People are talking about names, guessing who these players are. But there’s no real proof or evidence yet of any active players, for that matter. As long as it’s like that, it’s just speculation.”

 

[Remmie123]

Re:

The top players are occasionally beaten early in Grand Slams - Nothing to read here.

If you think a lot of top tennis players are on doping programs (I don't know if you do. I do), do you not think it is reasonable to assume that they tailor their programs to peak for the second half of the second week in slams, on the basis that they should win their first few games?

On the other hand, a guy like Istoman (already a pretty big hitter), sees he's up against Djock frist round, and may taylor his program to peak for that match. We often see Nadal struggling early in tournaments and really pick it up in later stages.

Pure speculation, interested to hear thoughts.

 

[sniper]

Same story, different outlet (BBC):
http://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/35340949

Tennis match-fixing: Novak Djokovic plays down allegations

Novak Djokovic says match-fixing is not prevalent at the top level of tennis

 

[Zebadeedee]

He didn't go to work on an egge.

 

[T_S_A_R]

Re:

He beat Murray in the final last week. Safe to say he's in top form.
].

He narrowly beat Murray despite hitting very accurately. Not so long ago that kind of accuracy would have crushed Murray.

Today he played well in the middle of the match but faded terribly at the end.

Match fixing isn't possible as any significant bets would set off huge alarms.

 

[The Hitch]

Re:

All fair points. And I'm just speculating of course.

Peter B's point is a fair point, but maybe they have ways to spread the bets and make it look less suspicious?

To be honest, I have no idea how much money is involved and how financially tempting it would be (or not be) for Joker to throw a match at a Slam.

Anyhow, I seem to remember his answers in that interview didnt convince me, and I wondered why he was downplaying it.

And yes, I guess it's possible that he was pressurized. I think the matchfixing maffia is not to be underestimate.
But clutching at straws of course.

Of course I realize it could be a legit loss. It could be anything really.
Indeed surprise losses at Slams happen and it's what makes the sport interesting also.

I definately would not consider matchfixing a realistic possibility here. Djoker earns untold millions, and one of the reasons why he dopes so much to begin with is because he wants to win so badly.

 

[sniper]

I just read the match report and it doesn't look like Joker threw it in the fifth but rather got outplayed.
So indeed not very plausible altogether.

Something else, how is Feliciano Lopez still a top 20 player? Great volleyer but very mediocre groundstrokes. To see him peak at this age, i wonder what sauce hes on.

 

[yaco]

Re: Re:

The top players are occasionally beaten early in Grand Slams - Nothing to read here.

If you think a lot of top tennis players are on doping programs (I don't know if you do. I do), do you not think it is reasonable to assume that they tailor their programs to peak for the second half of the second week in slams, on the basis that they should win their first few games?

On the other hand, a guy like Istoman (already a pretty big hitter), sees he's up against Djock frist round, and may taylor his program to peak for that match. We often see Nadal struggling early in tournaments and really pick it up in later stages.

Pure speculation, interested to hear thoughts.

Have no issues with your post - Though the discussion was centred around match fixing.

 

[BullsFan22]

It was definitely a strange match from Djokovic. He played well, with his typical defense and great backhand, but a lot of times he was hitting right into Istomin's hitting zone and just almost hitting back to him. Perhaps of the early rounds or playing down to the competition...whatever it was, it was strange. I've seen this from Serena Williams as well. It's not even hitting a lot of UE's, it's just almost passive, deliberate pensive hitting.

Istomin did play a very good match though. You look at matches like this and you say to yourself "where has this guy been all these years?" Actually he is an underachiever, but still, ranked 133rd coming to the Australian Open and not much form to speak of.

 

[The Hitch]

Federer is ridiculous. He's 35. 15 years ago prime top players in their mid 20's would struggle in 5 set matches. These days he's still killing it and has no problem going the distance.

 

[Red Rick]

Agreed. He plays crazy agressive, trying to preserve as much energy as possible, but to see him going 5 with no signs of fatigue is indeed ridiculous. Nishikori, who should be peaking at 27, breaks down physically again ffs.

 

[The Hitch]

Zverev brothers seem to both have peaked at the same tournament.

 

[sniper]

Zverev brothers seem to both have peaked at the same tournament.

Yeah. Although statistically it's probably not unexpected to finally see some German talent rise to the top.
Germany's men have a remarkably low number of only 7 grand slams amongst them (Stich 1; Becker 6)

 

[BullsFan22]

Zverev brothers seem to both have peaked at the same tournament.

Yeah. Although statistically it's probably not unexpected to finally see some German talent rise to the top.
Germany's men have a remarkably low number of only 7 grand slams amongst them (Stich 1; Becker 6)

For a big, 'old,' rich country with many possibilities and resources for all kinds of sports, Germany's record in tennis is generally modest. Steffi Graf alone carry Germany through the record books, and Becker is a legend, and Stich, while having one slam is generally perceived as an underachiever. Since Graf won Roland Garros in 1999, it's been pretty bare. Rainer Schuettler was a shock finalist in the Aussie 2003 where a likely doped Agassi beat him in straight sets and then there was Sabine Lisicki who only seems to play well at Wimbledon, getting to the finals and semis with that big serve. Now it's Kerber, a late bloomer who is very suspect for me, even more than the Zverev brothers.

 

[sniper]

I didn't like stich because I was a Becker fan. But have to admit he was a gifted player.
Although probably too tall and not quick and powerfull enough to really win much more.
Schuettler! Good memory, BF22.

 

[Zebadeedee]

Zverev's metier is more in the line of throwing matches than winning them. In the eyes of some punters, the integrity unit should have been all over him years ago but there again, they're always looking the other way too.

 

[TMP402]

Any comment on Mirjana Lučić-Baroni? Finally reaches the QF of Aus at 34. I know she had personal problems and took years out, but biology doesn't stop just because you don't play tennis for five years.

 

[sniper]

^Well, i have a two-fold view on that: (a) she's highly dodgy; (b) tennis is a joke

^^interesting Zebadee about Zverev.
What's your view on Djoker's second round loss against istomin? Would you exclude fixing?

Zverev brothers seem to both have peaked at the same tournament.

I had missed your point. Only just found out Mischa is ten years older than Alex. So yes, seeing them peak together at same tournament is a nice 'coincidence'.