Tennis

[iejeecee]

And now federer is out.

Did somebody intercept a huge shipment of drugs send to wimbledon or what?

Lmao!

 

[King Boonen]

some tweets



an 'injury jiinx'....doubt it.

Federer and Sharapova gone now, surely someone is going to start asking questions?

 

[martinvickers]

Federer and Sharapova gone now, surely someone is going to start asking questions?

So many absolutely identical looking knee injuries - yet both Novak and Murray have said they are fine....

A tennis based Paul Kimmage would be going bonkers right about now, and not without reason...

leaving aside the dope angle for one second - it's hard not to love the 'carnage' of it all -- which i've decided is my new favourite sports radio cliche... #carnageonthecourts

 

[King Boonen]

So many absolutely identical looking knee injuries - yet both Novak and Murray have said they are fine....

A tennis based Paul Kimmage would be going bonkers right about now, and not without reason...

leaving aside the dope angle for one second - it's hard not to love the 'carnage' of it all -- which i've decided is my new favourite sports radio cliche... #carnageonthecourts

I've played tennis in the past. It's pretty easy to force a slip and make it look like you hurt your knee...

Carnageonthecourts, that's awesome.

 

[King Boonen]

Wonder if Fuentes has been spotted in the crowd...

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Football Funnys ‏@FootballFunnys 33m
BREAKING: Live pictures of Djokovic and Murray after Federer's defeat at Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/54TB7fWfbl

 

[The Hitch]

Never know. Results still have to go to the LTA though right? So they can just carry on ignoring them.

Nadal's exit was a very big shock. And Tsonga gone today...

Federer and Sharapova gone now, surely someone is going to start asking questions?

Don't you usually ridicule this kind of talk as coming from nutjob conspiracy theorists, or would that only be if someone suggested Murray was doping?

There are plenty of explanations why these guys lost. Nadal lost 2nd round last year, and his knees are ****ed for grass. Moreover he's only played 2 matches on grass in the last 24 months. The reason why everyone thought he was doping in the first place was because he plays7 hour semi finals (towards the end of a gt against top opposition) and has no problem getting back to top shape for the 5 hour final 2 days later. Not because he manages to beat challenger level players in the first round of a GS.

Federer 2 years ago almost lost in the 1st round in straight sets after the south american drawn against him failed to win his own service game for the match having flown through Federer in the first 2 sets.. And that was when he was nearly 30. Now hes nearly 32. Which in tennis is Chris Horner age.


Are these people doping- of course. Does that mean every single thing that happens in their lives is evidence of doping. Ugh no.

 

[King Boonen]

Don't you usually ridicule this kind of talk as coming from nutjob conspiracy theorists, or would that only be if someone suggested Murray was doping?

There are plenty of explanations why these guys lost. Nadal lost 2nd round last year, and his knees are ****ed for grass. Moreover he's only played 2 matches on grass in the last 24 months. The reason why everyone thought he was doping in the first place was because he plays7 hour semi finals (towards the end of a gt against top opposition) and has no problem getting back to top shape for the 5 hour final 2 days later. Not because he manages to beat challenger level players in the first round of a GS.

Federer 2 years ago almost lost in the 1st round in straight sets after the south american challenge drawn against him missed failed to win his own service game for the match. And that was when he was nearly 30. Now hes nearly 32. Which in tennis is Chris Horner age.


Are these people doping- of course. Does that mean every single thing that happens in their lives is evidence of doping. Ugh no.

Fun Sponge.

And I'm perfectly happy for someone to suggest Murray is doping, I think he probably is.

You've explained 2, what about the other 5? Errani and Hewitt losing yesterday?

 

[martinvickers]

Don't you usually ridicule this kind of talk as coming from nutjob conspiracy theorists, or would that only be if someone suggested Murray was doping?

There are plenty of explanations why these guys lost. Nadal lost 2nd round last year, and his knees are ****ed for grass. Moreover he's only played 2 matches on grass in the last 24 months. The reason why everyone thought he was doping in the first place was because he plays7 hour semi finals (towards the end of a gt against top opposition) and has no problem getting back to top shape for the 5 hour final 2 days later. Not because he manages to beat challenger level players in the first round of a GS.

Federer 2 years ago almost lost in the 1st round in straight sets after the south american drawn against him failed to win his own service game for the match having flown through Federer in the first 2 sets.. And that was when he was nearly 30. Now hes nearly 32. Which in tennis is Chris Horner age.


Are these people doping- of course. Does that mean every single thing that happens in their lives is evidence of doping. Ugh no.

I'm not sure they all dope (emphasis on sure, rather than think, suspect, etc), but I think that's a very fair point - whatever about odd withdrawls today and this week (fatigue, in the SECOND ROUnD? REALLY?) there's no doubting federer lost because he's an old man in tennis terms who hit the worst kind of player for an old man in tennis terms - the almost extinct serve-volleyer on the day of his life - the matches are two quick and you have to run back and forward as well as side to side shifting. Federer's mobility is not the same as the other three of the big four - never has been, and he's 32.

And Nadal's knees are absolutely 100% wrecked - he can hide it on slow, forgiving clay - but grass is like krytonite for bad knees. Murray and Djok might not just be getting lucky this wimbledon - this may signal the start of the downward slope for both Fed and Nadal permenantly (his beloved clay aside - it's almost a different sport on clay)

 

[The Hitch]

Fun Sponge.

And I'm perfectly happy for someone to suggest Murray is doping, I think he probably is.

You've explained 2, what about the other 5? Errani and Hewitt losing yesterday?

Hewitt losing is a surprise? Him even being in the 2nd round is a far bigger surprise. Also if Hewitt has been doping at any point since 2005 he probably has been working at a financial deficit.

Errani, is a clay court specialist. Del Potro was world number 5 when he lost in the 2nd round - another example of someone who plays better away from grass not doing well.

Besides women's tennis is far far more unpredictable. Even Serena has lost 1st round before. Its not uncommon in the slightest to have scorlines of 6-0 0-6. For another, since the women's game is only 3 sets the top seeds don't have a chance to comeback after losing the 2nd set like the men do.

If you look at the history of the seeds over the last few years you'll find that seeds often go out in the first couple of rounds. Not usually as ridiculous as this of course, but then Azarenka at least, we saw her actually get injured.

 

[King Boonen]

Hewitt losing is a surprise? Him even being in the 2nd round is a far bigger surprise. Also if Hewitt has been doping at any point since 2005 he probably has been working at a financial deficit.

Errani, is a clay court specialist. Del Potro was world number 5 when he lost in the 2nd round - another example of someone who plays better away from grass not doing well.

Besides women's tennis is far far more unpredictable. Even Serena has lost 1st round before. Its not uncommon in the slightest to have scorlines of 6-0 0-6. For another, since the women's game is only 3 sets the top seeds don't have a chance to comeback after losing the 2nd set like the men do.

If you look at the history of the seeds over the last few years you'll find that seeds often go out in the first couple of rounds. Not usually as ridiculous as this of course, but then Azarenka at least, we saw her actually get injured.

Stop be eloquent and rational.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Wimbledon Today showed Wozniaki go over on her ankle, Sharapova was truly beaten, I watched that match, Federer was also truly outplayed, Hewitt was outplayed,...

Jankovic's match was 'not normal, Tsonga faked a knee, Isner also fake, Stepanek - well known doper,.faked knee...and the Belgian who beat Nadal is questionable - even cenroe said that was odd not to even attempt to play.

Ivanovic is always 'hit and miss' so no surprise.

Azarenka fell.

 

[zebedee]

In light of the Armstrong debacle and the fact that the tennis authorities were coming under pressure, I postulated either on here or another forum that the ITF would quietly warn off a number of suspect players (I surmise that the lot of them are on some kind of programme, the top ten anyway) and that we would see more unpredictability and match upsets this year as a result. The latest revelations about Odesnik (see above) provide some indication that that indeed is how the ITF goes about it. Quiet words in corridors is the way tennis works and no scandals. No real news ever, no proper published information on TUEs and certainly no transparency.

I think there are definite signs of change. And it's not just the so-called 'big four'. Look how Tipsarevic, he of the the off-season training in Kenya, has dropped away. He actually got tested while he was out there.

The other healthy sign is that volleying is starting to make an impact again. I noticed a lot more of it at the French. Perhaps the backcourt marathon artists have become so denuded of their habitual supplies that they are no longer capable of running around as much.

As an aside, I heard yesterday that Andy Murray's physio, Andy Ireland, has parted company. I wonder why. He's been with Murray for a number of years now and his departure, if true, is unexpected.

 

[blackcat]

remember during the last decade, the 2000s, they would always pop the argentinians for amphetamines.

only high profile players i can remember going are petr korda the human dunny brush, for nandrolone, greg rusedski the canuck brit, and they the human backhand gasquet for coke but they let him off. they popped hingis for coke too.

but they keeped on popping the argies. never any big name. not agassi.

 

[zebedee]

Agassi was off limits, like today's stars. The ATP protected him.

The nandrolone saga was managed by raising the level at which a player tested positive. The problem disappeared overnight.

 

[Briant_Gumble]

Federer's mobility is not the same as the other three of the big four - never has been, and he's 32.

Sorry to get off topic but I refuse to accept that prime Federer had worse movement than Murray.

As an aside Mo Farah runs his average lap of the 10,000m faster than Murray can do it sprinting.

 

[iejeecee]

Sorry to get off topic but I refuse to accept that prime Federer had worse movement than Murray.

As an aside Mo Farah runs his average lap of the 10,000m faster than Murray can do it sprinting.

Off topic, but as a (somewhat) regular runner Mo Farah's average speed exceeds my maximum sprinting speed with ease, and probably 90% of humanity.

Those guys are complete monsters.

 

[blackcat]

federer is the best defender in the game that nole has managed to meet his standard over the past four years. that is what makes fed great. defense into attack.

 

[martinvickers]

Sorry to get off topic but I refuse to accept that prime Federer had worse movement than Murray.

As an aside Mo Farah runs his average lap of the 10,000m faster than Murray can do it sprinting.

You miss the point. Federer in his prime didn't need the movement of a murray, or a djok. His touch at it's best was several leagues better than theirs. They are all, to an extent 2.0 players from a certain template that gives priority to the ability to keep movement going for hours on end.

 

[martinvickers]

Off topic, but as a (somewhat) regular runner Mo Farah's average speed exceeds my maximum sprinting speed with ease, and probably 90% of humanity.

Those guys are complete monsters.

At the weekend Farah ran the last 400 of a 5000 metres in 50 point. which is in the range of women 400 specialists. If you saw it, you'd open a thread on it. #justsaying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCmEqSGpjY

Watch at the bell.

 

[The Hitch]

Off topic, but as a (somewhat) regular runner Mo Farah's average speed exceeds my maximum sprinting speed with ease, and probably 90% of humanity.

Those guys are complete monsters.

Whats more shocking is that Gomez and the Brownlee bros did the 10 000m at the olympic triathlon faster than some of the guys in the 10 000m final did the 10 000m final.

Of course that was largely because the 10 000m final was run slow but still, it means the triathletes even after the swim and the cycle can exceed the average persons top end speed, in a 10 000 m.

At the weekend Farah ran the last 400 of a 5000 metres in 50 point. which is in the range of women 400 specialists. If you saw it, you'd open a thread on it. #justsaying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCmEqSGpjY

Watch at the bell.

Bekele in his prime was even better.

Of course Bekele was the Peter Sagan of long distance athletics, major prodigy at the start who beat the greatest athlete of all time - Haile, when he was only 21.

Mo Farah was a mediocre runner who probably would never have come top 5 in a worlds or Olympics had Paris gotten that 1 extra vote and not London on July the 6th 2005.

 

[zebedee]

Now why would you part company with your long-standing physio at the start of the year's biggest tournament?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/te...-scandal--CHARLES-SALE.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

No announcement either. Strange, very strange.

 

[martinvickers]

Whats more shocking is that Gomez and the Brownlee bros did the 10 000m at the olympic triathlon faster than some of the guys in the 10 000m final did the 10 000m final.

The Brownlees are absolute monsters. The sheer belligerent power of the two, especially Alistair, is seriously frightening in both good and bad ways. No-one has really seen what he can do on a bike. All we know is, he grumbles a lot that he rants to let rip on the bike, but team tactics tell him not to.

Word is Alistair wants to run the 10k at the glasgow commonwealths....and STILL do the triathlon.

Power of ten lists him at UK no. 2 for 2013 - No.2 that is for the track 10,000m alone - although Farah hasn't run one yet, he's behind only European medalist Chris Thompson. He's effectively the England no. 3 at 10k. While cross training, and fitting in some fellrunning and XCountry

That's with little specific training. As I said, Monstrous.

Gomez is an animal, and brave as all hell, but he can't live with that kind of run pace. Nobody in Triathlon can. Precious few in Track can.

Of course that was largely because the 10 000m final was run slow but still, it means the triathletes even after the swim and the cycle can exceed the average persons top end speed, in a 10 000 m.

 

[More Strides than Rides]

Whats more shocking is that Gomez and the Brownlee bros did the 10 000m at the olympic triathlon faster than some of the guys in the 10 000m final did the 10 000m final.

Of course that was largely because the 10 000m final was run slow but still, it means the triathletes even after the swim and the cycle can exceed the average persons top end speed, in a 10 000 m.

Triathlons are notorious for less than precise measured courses. There are no measurement standards, and every measurement is up to the race director.

Olympic Champ Alistar ran a 10000m this spring in 28:32, 35 seconds faster than his split in the Olympics. Arguments can be said about his form for each performance, but I don't think a fresh, legit 10k could only be 35" faster than the third leg of a triathalon...

Comparing Bekele to Farah is like comparing Pantini to Contador: it will all be a moot point sooner or later, after some whistle blowing, confessions and investigations.

 

[del1962]

At the weekend Farah ran the last 400 of a 5000 metres in 50 point. which is in the range of women 400 specialists. If you saw it, you'd open a thread on it. #justsaying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XCmEqSGpjY

Watch at the bell.

He ran that off an incredibly slow 5000m pace for an international race though.