Tennis

[zebedee]

Troicki gets off despite refusing a blood test, receiving the minimum sentence possible under the rules.

http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/7176/5048/0/Media20Release20_English_2005.11.13.pdf

Clearly in tennis, calling the doping control officer a liar takes you a long way.

 

[Bicycle]

Djokovic says he no longer trusts the testers. How convenient. So not only is testing incredibly soft the players now have a get-out-of-jail-free card if they get caught [the testers can't be trusted].

 

[martinvickers]

Djokovic says he no longer trusts the testers. How convenient. So not only is testing incredibly soft the players now have a get-out-of-jail-free card if they get caught [the testers can't be trusted].

The testing authorities can't, but they should issue a VERY strongly worded statement, putting Novak back in his box.

"1. The question is not whether players trust the authorities; it's whether the fans trust the players. Novak would do well to remember that it is the fans who matter.

2. We would STRONGLY advise Novak that there is a choice to be made between protecting clean fair sport, and protecting your friends and national interests.

We advice Novak in the strongest terms not to choose the wrong side in the war on cheats. The public and the sport will not forgive it"

 

[the sceptic]

its gonna be hillarious when Nadal wins all 4 slams this year

 

[Andynonomous]

its gonna be hillarious when Nadal wins all 4 slams this year

For anyone who has played the game, it will be a travesty if this happens.

His form is horrid (your average recreational player has better form than does Nadal). He leans backwards when hitting his forehand. He "bunts" his backhand. His serve has a spastic corkscrew motion. He looks like he is a Cro-Magnon man yielding a club when he volleys.

He is a MUCH worse tennis player than Lance Armstrong is a grand tour racer. Like Armstrong, because of his accomplishments, Nadal will have a legitimate claim to "greatest ever". I hold out some slim hope that the tennis authorities won't let this happen.

 

[bewildered]

Nadal has lost to 2 100/1 shots in the first round of wimbledon 2 years in a row. Blames his knees, not so sure about that but I think he puts his all into the French every year and is spent for Wimby. Unlikely he'll win it imo

 

[robow7]

I don't care for Nadal's style of play, nor his attitude but he is exceptionally fast, and maybe the strongest player to play the game, imo most likely PED induced. But form is not always indicative of function, Borg hit with an open stance, had a God awful ugly back hand take back and follow thru, volleys were fair at best and yet he did pretty well for himself. McEnroe, quite possibly the best volley of all time broke the classic rules or technique of volley every time he stepped on the court but he had amazing hand-eye, timing and touch that only few humans are born with.

 

[spiROZE]

Last week I spoke with a female top-30 player in Belgium. She apparently had a talk with Els Callens (former nr.43 of the world). Miss Callens had told her that all top5-players are doped but their sponsors etc pay enough money to keep everything hidden.

Nothing new since this has been "known" for a longer time. Just too bad that they can't say it out loud in the papers..

 

[the sceptic]

Women tennis seems alot cleaner than the mens.

I refuse to believe someone like Radwanska is doping, but she is still one of the best players around.

 

[42x16ss]

For anyone who has played the game, it will be a travesty if this happens.

His form is horrid (your average recreational player has better form than does Nadal). He leans backwards when hitting his forehand. He "bunts" his backhand. His serve has a spastic corkscrew motion. He looks like he is a Cro-Magnon man yielding a club when he volleys.

He is a MUCH worse tennis player than Lance Armstrong is a grand tour racer. Like Armstrong, because of his accomplishments, Nadal will have a legitimate claim to "greatest ever". I hold out some slim hope that the tennis authorities won't let this happen.

Hopefully Federer's return to form is genuine and indicative of the year to come. If tennis was reduced to an even playing field he'd be even greater than his current record shows. Absolutely beautiful technique and hand-eye coordination keeps him in the game against monsters like Nadal. Even Djokovic and Murray are starting to beef up around the chest and arms to try and match Nadal in the power stakes yet Roger manages it with finesse, skill and an unbelievable ability to read the play.

 

[robow7]

Yea for tomorrow's meeting, my heart says Fed in 3 but my head says Nadal in 4.

 

[42x16ss]

I'm going with Nadal in 5 but he'll have to dig very deep. At least 3 1/2 hours, probably 4+.

The best part is that Roger was saying early in the tournament that he feels that he's still 3-4 months away from hitting his best form, so maybe good for Wimbledon?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Hopefully Federer's return to form is genuine and indicative of the year to come. If tennis was reduced to an even playing field he'd be even greater than his current record shows. Absolutely beautiful technique and hand-eye coordination keeps him in the game against monsters like Nadal. Even Djokovic and Murray are starting to beef up around the chest and arms to try and match Nadal in the power stakes yet Roger manages it with finesse, skill and an unbelievable ability to read the play.

Doubt any of the top players are clean. Clearly the likes of Murray, Nadal and Berdych are on a different program to Federer, but I can't see the Swiss being pristine.

Djokovic is somewhere between Federer and the beefy for me.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Women tennis seems alot cleaner than the mens.

I refuse to believe someone like Radwanska is doping, but she is still one of the best players around.

Really?

Have a look at Cibulkova. How can anyone be in a final looking like that?

Serena
Stosur
-Sands
etc

 

[The Hitch]

I refuse to believe someone like Radwanska is doping.

Who hacked into sceptics account and why arent they doing a better trolling job of it?

 

[42x16ss]

Doubt any of the top players are clean. Clearly the likes of Murray, Nadal and Berdych are on a different program to Federer, but I can't see the Swiss being pristine.

Djokovic is somewhere between Federer and the beefy for me.

I also doubt that Federer is squeaky clean but he's nowhere near the hijinks of Murray (Now working with ex Conte client Ivan Llendl), Nadal (Op Puerto?) and Djokovic.

 

[42x16ss]

Really?

Have a look at Cibulkova. How can anyone be in a final looking like that?

Serena
Stosur
-Sands
etc

One look at Cibulkova and she is far more believable than the likes of Williams (she's now got a Tammy Thomas mo FFS!) and man arms Stosur.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

One look at Cibulkova and she is far more believable than the likes of Williams (she's now got a Tammy Thomas mo FFS!) and man arms Stosur.

Agree, the others are just bodybuilders with a racket, but give the pitbull a few more years. Similar program as Errani imo.

 

[The Hitch]

There are more peds out there than just steroids. Y'all know this. Tennis players blood bags were found in Puerto and those who blood dope don't necessarily look bulked (just look at Rasmussen).

Do.judge purely by body build whether someone dopes and how much, in tennis nonetheless where testing is a joke, is therefore flawed.

Federer had always allegedly trained harder than everyone else (the secret behind his success, so they say). Hes always had the best recovery in the sport if not in all sport.
How, in the doping age could he be doing that without using all the means at his disposal?

And don't underestimate how hard his shots are, he's hitting them with a heavier racket. He's never been overpowered by Nadal Djokovic etc.

 

[ExRower]

With fans like these, tennis and doping are going to end up in bed...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-09/let-s-hope-drugs-prolong-rafael-nadal-s-great-career-.html

 

[SundayRider]

There are more peds out there than just steroids. Y'all know this. Tennis players blood bags were found in Puerto and those who blood dope don't necessarily look bulked (just look at Rasmussen).

Do.judge purely by body build whether someone dopes and how much, in tennis nonetheless where testing is a joke, is therefore flawed.

Federer had always allegedly trained harder than everyone else (the secret behind his success, so they say). Hes always had the best recovery in the sport if not in all sport.
How, in the doping age could he be doing that without using all the means at his disposal?

And don't underestimate how hard his shots are, he's hitting them with a heavier racket. He's never been overpowered by Nadal Djokovic etc.

Federer has never had great stamina, his game is pretty much based on skill and skill alone hardly ever wins long drawn out battles from the baseline. Even in his prime he never had amazing stamina or speed. When he was younger he even used to get outlasted by the likes of Hewitt and Nalbandian. Look at the guys physique skinny arms/legs and carries quite a bit more bodyfat around his middle than the other top players. When I watch him play I see a brilliant technician but great physical specimen? Not at all.

 

[The Hitch]

With fans like these, tennis and doping are going to end up in bed...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-09/let-s-hope-drugs-prolong-rafael-nadal-s-great-career-.html

that viewpoint is a million times better than the dominant one which denies doping exists in tennis and would have anyone who accuses Nadal hung drawn and quartered.

 

[The Hitch]

Federer has never had great stamina, his game is pretty much based on skill and skill alone hardly ever wins long drawn out battles from the baseline. Even in his prime he never had amazing stamina or speed. When he was younger he even used to get outlasted by the likes of Hewitt and Nalbandian. Look at the guys physique skinny arms/legs and carries quite a bit more bodyfat around his middle than the other top players. When I watch him play I see a brilliant technician but great physical specimen? Not at all.

Yeah cos making 50 semi finals in a row or whatever it was doesn't require great stamina.playing 5 setters jn the middle of gs's you win doesn't require stamina?

To say he doesn't win long drawn out battles from the baseline is so delusional, omg. Watch Federer vs Djokovic from the French 2011 (the 1 gs match djoker lost all year) where the average rally was like 25 shots. Watch the Federer vs Nadal 5 set finals. Not from the baseline? Are you kidding me.

I'm guessing you based your post off some highlights reel you saw of federers best spin shots and believe that those once every few sets shots are his entire game.

 

[SundayRider]

I could be naive but I believe that tennis does have problems but that it is much less widespread than sports like cycling, athletics, swimming etc. I think it is probably confined to the top echeleons of the sport for a couple of reasons. The lower ranked players probably don't earn enough to fund a decent program when you take off all of their other expenses. These guys are literally never in the same place for very long at all, different countries and tournaments every weeek near enough and the off season is so short. Are they really going to risk taking stuff through customs so often? Its not like cycling wherby most of the competitors train/race on the same continent the majority of the time.

 

[Arredondo]

Federer knows he can't compete against Nadal in a 5-set match. Roger has to make the points short, otherwise he has to fight with Nadal in the rally, and he's in big trouble. Nadal just knows how to play against Federer. Just put pressure on his backhand, and play with a lot of topspin, and he knows he has the advantage over Federer.

And if you loose 8/10 matches, mentally it isn't easy to come back after a loss set as Federer. And we all know Federer just makes to much mistakes if he's on the defense.

That's why i think Nadal is the best player that ever played the game. The fact that Nadal won against Federer at Wimbledon (2008), in the Swiss ''domain'', makes it even better. Federer won RG, but only because Nadal was in bad form then, and lost against Söderling.