Tennis

[Andynonomous]

Nadal has made the final in 10 of the 11 tournaments that he has played in since he came from his "debilitating" knee injury last year.

Previously to tennis's "steroids era", defensive minded players played their best tennis before the age of 25. Usually by the age of 25, they were for all intense and purposes, washed up (Chang, Courier, Borg, Wilander). Nadal, on the other hand is playing the best tennis of his life, at 27 or 28 years of age.

To those who "explain away" Nadal's serve speed increase by "technique changes", remember, Nadal uses his non-dominant hand to serve (he is right handed, but uses his left hand to serve). Try throwing a ball with your non-dominant hand, and see how that comes out.

No other player has dramatically increased their serve speed, after becoming a pro that I know about. He typically served below 110 mph for his first few years, now it magically approaches 120 mph at the two grand slams that a fast serve helps the most (Wimbledon, US Open).

He has managed in the past to increase his serve speed throughout the tournament (in Wimbledon 2011, his serve speed in the 6th round was faster than in any of the first 5 rounds, and his serve speed in the seventh round was faster than it was in any of the first six rounds).

I strongly suspect that he is using "testosterone patches" in-competition on off-days at the grand slams (they only test positive for about 12 hours after use). Tennis only tests after the completion of the matches. Plenty of time for the player to dope, and not test positive. As well, I believe that he is using IGF1 well before competition. The two drugs would add a significant boost to a serve's speed.

 

[Briant_Gumble]

Previously to tennis's "steroids era", defensive minded players played their best tennis before the age of 25. Usually by the age of 25, they were for all intense and purposes, washed up (Chang, Courier, Borg, Wilander). Nadal, on the other hand is playing the best tennis of his life, at 27 or 28 years of age.

I strongly suspect that he is using "testosterone patches" in-competition on off-days at the grand slams (they only test positive for about 12 hours after use). Tennis only tests after the completion of the matches. Plenty of time for the player to dope, and not test positive. As well, I believe that he is using IGF1 well before competition. The two drugs would add a significant boost to a serve's speed.

I agree with a lot of what you have to say but Chang was identified as a pre-BALCO raid client of Victor Conte so is very likely a doper, not sure about Courier. Both those guys I'd say were part of a steroids era but nowhere near as bad as it is now. Borg and Wilander were definitely before steroids came into the game.

I'd say Nadal uses some testosterone inbetween matches for recovery in the form of a patch but with the kind of bulk he has and the type of training he does (tennis drills, no weights) I imagine he uses large dosages injected at certain times of the year.

 

[Bicycle]

He must also be doing something for endurance. Look at the way he hits the ball - noone in tennis has ever done it like him - and he does it for hours. That together with his insane court coverage well into 5th sets is unbelievable.

I remember watching him play Djokovic at Roland Garros a few years ago - his legs were moving like Sonic the Hedgehogs - just didn't look normal - like they belonged to someone else's body. I remember thinking the same about Flo-Jo.

 

[wansteadimp]

Borg and Wilander were definitely before steroids came into the game.

Isn't there a reasonable argument that these two's career were shortened by nonPEDs and their party life style?

 

[manafana]

has the full story of the cilic postive come out at all?

 

[blackcat]

Nadal has made the final in 10 of the 11 tournaments that he has played in since he came from his "debilitating" knee injury last year.

Previously to tennis's "steroids era", defensive minded players played their best tennis before the age of 25. Usually by the age of 25, they were for all intense and purposes, washed up (Chang, Courier, Borg, Wilander). Nadal, on the other hand is playing the best tennis of his life, at 27 or 28 years of age.

To those who "explain away" Nadal's serve speed increase by "technique changes", remember, Nadal uses his non-dominant hand to serve (he is right handed, but uses his left hand to serve). Try throwing a ball with your non-dominant hand, and see how that comes out.

No other player has dramatically increased their serve speed, after becoming a pro that I know about. He typically served below 110 mph for his first few years, now it magically approaches 120 mph at the two grand slams that a fast serve helps the most (Wimbledon, US Open).

He has managed in the past to increase his serve speed throughout the tournament (in Wimbledon 2011, his serve speed in the 6th round was faster than in any of the first 5 rounds, and his serve speed in the seventh round was faster than it was in any of the first six rounds).

I strongly suspect that he is using "testosterone patches" in-competition on off-days at the grand slams (they only test positive for about 12 hours after use). Tennis only tests after the completion of the matches. Plenty of time for the player to dope, and not test positive. As well, I believe that he is using IGF1 well before competition. The two drugs would add a significant boost to a serve's speed.

service, ceteris paribus. compare "like to like". not a "flattened out" serve, with one "spun in"

igf-1. well, there is not third gen. igf-3

 

[Ferminal]

Bartoli retires, lulz.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Bartoli told to Retire

Bartoli retiring - how dodgey is that !!

Told to retire quietly like Hingis and Henin ? It was always well fishy that she wouldn't play for France in Davis Cup because she wouldnt play without her father, doctor Bartoli...being on the squad.

And since when has she ever had an injury ? never heard of her ever retiring from a match due to injury.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Bartoli retiring - how dodgey is that !!

Told to retire quietly like Hingis and Henin ? It was always well fishy that she wouldn't play for France in Davis Cup because she wouldnt play without her father, doctor Bartoli...being on the squad.

And since when has she ever had an injury ? never heard of her ever retiring from a match due to injury.

Seems a bit strange that she was able to show her best ever form a few weeks ago whilst battling against career ending injuries. That Wimbledon win will have made her for life, why risk carrying on and ruining what she has achieved by getting caught?

 

[blackcat]

I agree with a lot of what you have to say but Chang was identified as a pre-BALCO raid client of Victor Conte so is very likely a doper, not sure about Courier. Both those guys I'd say were part of a steroids era but nowhere near as bad as it is now. Borg and Wilander were definitely before steroids came into the game.

I'd say Nadal uses some testosterone inbetween matches for recovery in the form of a patch but with the kind of bulk he has and the type of training he does (tennis drills, no weights) I imagine he uses large dosages injected at certain times of the year.

courier, definitely. he had his version of "what are you on, i'm on my bikre 6 hours a day, and pedalling thru the snow",

but JC was towing a ruck tire behind him on the athletic park, doing sprint repeats

 

[hrotha]

Seems a bit strange that she was able to show her best ever form a few weeks ago whilst battling against career ending injuries. That Wimbledon win will have made her for life, why risk carrying on and ruining what she has achieved by getting caught?

It sounds like she was already caught but tennis handles things, er, differently.

 

[sniper]

here's bartoli on the rigour rolleyes of testing in tennis:

Marion has a different opinion from Roger Federer. According to the French the tests are enough and drug cheats cannot escape

Talking about Armstrong and his capacity of always test negative for some many years she added "Maybe Lance Armstrong was tested a lot and never failed a test but I just don't know how that is possible,"

ffs

when are sports journalists finally going to address cases like Bartoli's with more skepsis?
i don't remember another case where a tennis player's retirement was so unexpected, out of the blue, and, indeed, dodgy.
(perhaps hingis)

 

[Cloxxki]

It sounds like she was already caught but tennis handles things, er, differently.

Haha, letting 7 girls take a dive so Bartoli has her parting present
Tennis goes wrestling.

 

[Andynonomous]

I have stated in the past that Nadal is just as obvious a doper as Armstrong (even before Armstrong got "caught"). I took a lot of abuse from Armstrong fans, and Nadal fans.

Nadal is tennis's Armstrong says Michael Emmet.


Tennis insiders don't make these accusations so publicly, unless they feel strongly about them.

 

[sniper]

I have stated in the past that Nadal is just as obvious a doper as Armstrong (even before Armstrong got "caught"). I took a lot of abuse from Armstrong fans, and Nadal fans.

Nadal is tennis's Armstrong says Michael Emmet.


Tennis insiders don't make these accusations so publicly, unless they feel strongly about them.

it's great to see somebody who is not just an anonymous blogger speak out against nadal.
unfortunately the article isn't written very eloquently though, which might prevent it from reaching a wider public and from being taken very seriously by other media.
let's hope i'm wrong, though, and that this echoes into other media.

 

[mudbone]

unfortunately the article isn't written very eloquently though, which might prevent it from reaching a wider public and from being taken very seriously by other media.

agreed, the one linked at the top of the article, as an "alternative view" is much better and very thorough.

 

[Benotti69]

My first thought when i read about Bartoli was doping related.

 

[hrotha]

Haha, letting 7 girls take a dive so Bartoli has her parting present
Tennis goes wrestling.

Well, that's not what I meant, but obviously I'm not going to argue against match fixing in tennis.

 

[goggalor]

Bartoli is sooo obvious, lols. Thasp did deserve a bit of ridicule back in the day when his posts were basically the blog equivalent of the "look at this rider's forehead" threads in the Clinic, but he was a bit of a prophet. I'm looking forward to the day the tennis scandal breaks and makes cycling look small time.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Tommy Haas

I reckon more doped than Nadal - Tommy Haas.

The Wikipedia page makes for some unbelievable reading. After shoulder and hip surgery he does nothing until the 2nd half of the 2012 season. He is now no. 11 in the world.

His resurgence, Re-Resurgence, Back to Top Form is interesting. I notice Wikipedia has started doing this on sports players - think they know PED's ability to bring back sportsmen from the 'dead'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Haas

 

[Bicycle]

Nadal's doing awfully well this summer for someone whose chronic knee problems are supposed to be exacerbated by hardcourts.

 

[Cycle Chic]

Bartoli

Bartoli - I reckon she came up positive at Wimbledon. It must have been a major positive for her to have to retire.

 

[Freddythefrog]

That first week at Wimbledon was hilarious and now this.

Was it Fahey who saying about the corruption of the testers and system, the other week ?

 

[Jack (6 ch)]

Bartoli - I reckon she came up positive at Wimbledon. It must have been a major positive for her to have to retire.

I agree, that was my first thought.

You have to hope Her Majesty's Press will see a story worth digging for here. Chance for someone to make a name for themsleves.

 

[The Hitch]

I agree, that was my first thought.

You have to hope Her Majesty's Press will see a story worth digging for here. Chance for someone to make a name for themsleves.

Suggesting there was doping at the Wimbledon a Brit won?

They would reopen the Tower of London as a prison.