Tennis

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May 13, 2009
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The Slav calls them like she sees them and she sees them as they are. Sammie is more than just fit and it goes to shows what lengths the WTA and the ATP will look the other way.
 
Jun 25, 2013
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mikeoneill said:
stosurs built like a man
reminds me of sally pearson

i wonder what cibulkova will say today after the match
https://m.yahoo.com/w/legobpengine/...yahoo.com&.intl=us&.lang=en-US&_device=tablet

rp6i.jpg
 
Aug 31, 2012
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bewildered said:
It's plausible that his energy levels increased as a result of the removal of gluten from his diet, to change him from post match gasping to being able to last 5 sets without retiring

you mean "without tiring", right? djokovic has unlimited ultra fitness, like nadal and murray.

gluten free diet : tennis :: warming down : cycling
 
Dec 30, 2010
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The Hitch said:
matts willander asked about if Nadal gets tired thinking about how long every one of his points lasts-

"I don't think Nadal gets tired".

I wonder why that is:cool:



I remember back when Armstrong was walking away from the competition during his third or fourth TDF. The deeper into the tour, and the tougher the days route, the more Armstrong left behind the competition. It was as though he wasn't human. He just never tired. I was suspicious of Armstrong then.


The very first time I saw Nadal play in 2005, I thought the same thing. No matter how long the point, he never even breathed hard (and Nadal generally plays from a defensive position which is much more strenuous).

He generally performs better in the fifth set than he does in the first. It is normal to have at least some physical degradation over time while exerting yourself, yet I swear he runs faster and faster as the match goes on.

Traditionally attacking players would wear down the defensive players by "keeping them on a string". What Nadal does is wears down his competitor, from a defensive position. This is not normal.

The only guy I have ever seen outlast Nadal is Djokovic. Of course Djokovic went from having the worst stamina of all of the top men, to having stamina that rivals Nadals.


I am wondering specifically what these guys are taking. I suppose it wouldn't be EPO, since there is a test for it, but their stamina is far too strong for micro-dosing to be effective enough to explain their super-human performances.

Autologous blood doping would require a lot of equipment to be transported over long distances, so is far more risky.

What is the "stamina booster" de jour for cyclists ?
 
May 2, 2010
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Andynonomous said:
I remember back when Armstrong was walking away from the competition during his third or fourth TDF. The deeper into the tour, and the tougher the days route, the more Armstrong left behind the competition. It was as though he wasn't human. He just never tired. I was suspicious of Armstrong then.


The very first time I saw Nadal play in 2005, I thought the same thing. No matter how long the point, he never even breathed hard (and Nadal generally plays from a defensive position which is much more strenuous).

He generally performs better in the fifth set than he does in the first. It is normal to have at least some physical degradation over time while exerting yourself, yet I swear he runs faster and faster as the match goes on.

Traditionally attacking players would wear down the defensive players by "keeping them on a string". What Nadal does is wears down his competitor, from a defensive position. This is not normal.

The only guy I have ever seen outlast Nadal is Djokovic. Of course Djokovic went from having the worst stamina of all of the top men, to having stamina that rivals Nadals.


I am wondering specifically what these guys are taking. I suppose it wouldn't be EPO, since there is a test for it, but their stamina is far too strong for micro-dosing to be effective enough to explain their super-human performances.

Autologous blood doping would require a lot of equipment to be transported over long distances, so is far more risky.

What is the "stamina booster" de jour for cyclists ?

EPO would form a large part of his doping program. One actually has to be tested regularly to test positive.

Nadal's dope testing stats from the ITF for 2013:

In competition: 4-6
Out of competition: 7+ (doesn't get more specific for any player)

That is 4-6 in competition tests for a player who won 2 grand slams, 5 1000 level Masters tournaments (highest below the slams), and 3 other tournaments.

The drug testing regime in tennis is a joke, and sadly the ITF has increased it's anti-doping measures in 2013.

Other notable stats for players with low amounts of testing:

Federer: 4-6 in competition
Djokovic: 4-6 out of competition
Murray: 4-6 in & out of competition
Del Potro: 4-6 in competition, 0 out of competition
S. Williams: 4-6 out of competition
V. Williams: 4-6 in competition, 1-3 out of competition
Sharapova: 1-3 in competition
 
Dec 13, 2012
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Nadal can afford to drop sets and still win, he wins without playing fantastic tennis most of the time, just one more ball back, over and over and over again. Not normal.
 
Andynonomous said:
I am wondering specifically what these guys are taking. I suppose it wouldn't be EPO, since there is a test for it, but their stamina is far too strong for micro-dosing to be effective enough to explain their super-human performances.

Autologous blood doping would require a lot of equipment to be transported over long distances, so is far more risky.

made my day. micro-dosing in tennis lol. more like hypermegaultrasuper dosing.
risky in tennis trololol
great sport though. vamos rafa!
 
Mar 13, 2009
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SundayRider said:
Nadal can afford to drop sets and still win, he wins without playing fantastic tennis most of the time, just one more ball back, over and over and over again. Not normal.
no, you need to capitalize.

NOT NORMAL
 
Dec 30, 2010
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I am presuming that EPO has to be taken just before competition for maximum effect.

In-competition testing in tennis, is only done AFTER a match. Since they only play every other day at the slams, there is 48 hours between most matches. If the EPO in the body only remains "hot" (detectable) for less than 24 hours, the players can dope early on their off day, and never test positive.

It has been this way for many years. It would be stupid to think that the player's doping doctors don't know this. The ITF has to suspect that there are many players doing this, but won't adjust the timing of the in-competition tests. This has to be deliberate. They must be "looking the other way".
 
Jul 21, 2012
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jens_attacks said:
made my day. micro-dosing in tennis lol. more like hypermegaultrasuper dosing.
risky in tennis trololol
great sport though. vamos rafa!

tennis is like cycling in the 90s. You can do whatever you want if you have good doctors.

the Nadal-Djokovic final at australian open a few years ago is the most ridiculous thing I have seen in any sport.
 
Aug 31, 2012
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SundayRider said:
Nadal can afford to drop sets and still win, he wins without playing fantastic tennis most of the time, just one more ball back, over and over and over again. Not normal.

other players can afford to drop sets and win too: it's called not winning every set and it happens extremely often. :rolleyes:

the level of play in tennis is incredible. nadal plays fantastic tennis and is hugely skilled.

he's also doped to the eye balls, as is djokovic. perhaps even murray
 
May 13, 2009
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the sceptic said:
the Nadal-Djokovic final at australian open a few years ago is the most ridiculous thing I have seen in any sport.

+1, hell, I was tired from just watching the grueling 5-6 hour match, but those playing it were still sprinting in the end.
 
Aug 31, 2012
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iirc, djokovic had a similar grueling 5 set battle 1 or 2 days before the that match in the semi, that's some recovery
 
Andynonomous said:
I am presuming that EPO has to be taken just before competition for maximum effect.

In-competition testing in tennis, is only done AFTER a match. Since they only play every other day at the slams, there is 48 hours between most matches. If the EPO in the body only remains "hot" (detectable) for less than 24 hours, the players can dope early on their off day, and never test positive.

It has been this way for many years. It would be stupid to think that the player's doping doctors don't know this. The ITF has to suspect that there are many players doing this, but won't adjust the timing of the in-competition tests. This has to be deliberate. They must be "looking the other way".

Well THomas Frei said if you drink enough water EPO won't show up in tests and he had to deal with far more stringent ones than Tennis players do.

Besides anotherway to defeat tests is to simply be in league with the authorities which is exactly what Lance did, and considering Aggasi got his meth + hushed up, its perfectly reasonable to suspect it happens in tennis.

If Nadal ever did test positive im sure the ITF would move heaven and earth and even hell to make sure that never came out, just like they did with Agassi.

the sceptic said:
the Nadal-Djokovic final at australian open a few years ago is the most ridiculous thing I have seen in any sport.

When there was the discussion of human limits in the Froome thread I was half considering offering Nadal Djoko AO 09, as something that everyone can agree is outside the boundaries of human performance.

SeriousSam said:
iirc, djokovic had a similar grueling 5 set battle 1 or 2 days before the that match in the semi, that's some recovery

It reminds me of when Nadal in 09 played what was at the time the longest match in the history of the Australian Open 5 and a half hours against Verdasco, had 1 days rest, then had a 4 and a half hour match against Federer and won that.

Its particularly hillarious when the commentators describe what Nadal was like after the Verdasco match, apparently he could barely walk and spent most of the Saturday in bed.
 
May 13, 2009
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The Hitch said:
It reminds me of when Nadal in 09 played what was at the time the longest match in the history of the Australian Open 5 and a half hours against Verdasco, had 1 days rest, then had a 4 and a half hour match against Federer and won that.

Its particularly hillarious when the commentators describe what Nadal was like after the Verdasco match, apparently he could barely walk and spent most of the Saturday in bed.

And for those that don't follow tennis, it wasn't always this way. E.g. Twice Sampras in the early 2000's had a tough semi-final match (not nearly as long as Nadal suffered) and then went on to look like a worn out rag in the finals. That was the norm.
 
Dec 13, 2012
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Nadal has had an unbelievably easy route to the SF of the French. Didn't play a single player/type of player who challenges him. Ferrer took a set but then it was a demolition job after that. I think Murray might match him for 2 sets then it will be straightforward for Nadal, who as usual is getting better and better the longer the tournament goes on.
 
The Hitch said:
Well THomas Frei said if you drink enough water EPO won't show up in tests and he had to deal with far more stringent ones than Tennis players do.

Besides anotherway to defeat tests is to simply be in league with the authorities which is exactly what Lance did, and considering Aggasi got his meth + hushed up, its perfectly reasonable to suspect it happens in tennis.

If Nadal ever did test positive im sure the ITF would move heaven and earth and even hell to make sure that never came out, just like they did with Agassi.



When there was the discussion of human limits in the Froome thread I was half considering offering Nadal Djoko AO 09, as something that everyone can agree is outside the boundaries of human performance.



It reminds me of when Nadal in 09 played what was at the time the longest match in the history of the Australian Open 5 and a half hours against Verdasco, had 1 days rest, then had a 4 and a half hour match against Federer and won that.

Its particularly hillarious when the commentators describe what Nadal was like after the Verdasco match, apparently he could barely walk and spent most of the Saturday in bed.

So Frei didn't drink enough water:eek:
 
May 2, 2010
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The Hitch said:
Well THomas Frei said if you drink enough water EPO won't show up in tests and he had to deal with far more stringent ones than Tennis players do.

Besides anotherway to defeat tests is to simply be in league with the authorities which is exactly what Lance did, and considering Aggasi got his meth + hushed up, its perfectly reasonable to suspect it happens in tennis.

If Nadal ever did test positive im sure the ITF would move heaven and earth and even hell to make sure that never came out, just like they did with Agassi.



When there was the discussion of human limits in the Froome thread I was half considering offering Nadal Djoko AO 09, as something that everyone can agree is outside the boundaries of human performance.



It reminds me of when Nadal in 09 played what was at the time the longest match in the history of the Australian Open 5 and a half hours against Verdasco, had 1 days rest, then had a 4 and a half hour match against Federer and won that.

Its particularly hillarious when the commentators describe what Nadal was like after the Verdasco match, apparently he could barely walk and spent most of the Saturday in bed.

If I recall correctly, he didn't even have a day's rest. Due to the tournament running behind schedule (rain), he played the match against Verdasco on the Saturday night, then beat Federer in 5 the following night.
 
Dec 30, 2010
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thrawn said:
If I recall correctly, he didn't even have a day's rest. Due to the tournament running behind schedule (rain), he played the match against Verdasco on the Saturday night, then beat Federer in 5 the following night.

If I recall correctly, he had about 40 hours between the semi, and the final. Still an amazing "recovery" (Friday night to Sunday afternoon).


Nadal keeps going through the same patterns :

UP
- 2008 - a banner year for Nadal, winning RG and Wimbledon back to back

DOWN
- 2009 - after winning in Australia (showing an amazing physical performance in winning 2 back to back five setters, showing more energy in the 5th set, of the second five setter than he had in the first set of the first 5 setter) Nadal went downhill, having an off year, This was the year that the WADA code was adopted, and the French did supplementary drug testing at RG. His fans surmised he was "injured", even though he showed no outward signs of injury.

UP
2010 - another up year for Nadal, winning three of 4 slams, including the most difficult one to win for a defensive player (USO). Magically showing a mid-career 10 mph serve speed increase, after undergoing his "PRP" knee treatments.

DOWN
2011/2012 - 2 down years that Nadal only wins one GS each year (his favorite at RG). This includes a 7 month injury break for problem knees. This knee problem was identified as something different than his usual "tendonitis". Of course he had previously said that the "tendonitis" was cured by Dr. Sanchez's "PRP" treatments, so he couldn't use that injury excuse this time. In the "injury" absence, he missed the 2012 London Olympics. He was the defending gold medal champion, and the flag bearer for his country. Of course the fact that the IOC, not the ITF was doing drug testing (and introducing a new test for HGH) had nothing to do with his last minute withdrawal from the Olympics.

UP
2013 - Nadal comes back from a long injury break and DOMINATES the men's tour. Winning most tournaments he enters (including 2 of the three remaining GS's), and making the finals of almost every tournament he enters. He won every summer hardcourt tournament (Canada, Cincinatti, and the USO), EASILY. He won the USO (his toughest) with the loss of only one set. What is especially amazing, is that he is now 27 years old, and playing the best tennis of his career, even though defensive minded players traditionally were washed up before their 26th birthday (Borg, Chang, Wilander, Hewitt, Courier).

?
2014 - Mixed results so far, but he did unexpectedly lose to Wawrinka, in Australia, with a reported "bad back". He complained that the back is still bothering him at RG, but he has only lost one set through his first 6 matches at RG, CRUSHING Andy Murray in the semifinal.



So, he goes WAY up and down repeatedly. We keep hearing how he is "slowing down" because of age, yet keeps coming back as spry as a 22 year old after every "slowdown".

As well, Nadal has his "in-year" ups and downs. He typically plays much better in the late spring, and through the summer (when 3 of the 4 GSs are played), than he plays in the fall, and winter (where only one GS is played). Amazing how he can "plan" his peaks and valleys (much like Armstrong always "planned" to peak at the TDF). No "cycling" here.;)

Amazingly, his fans are not the least bit suspicious, and are getting bolder, and bolder with their trash talk, insulting the other players.

Nadal is an even more brazen doper, than Lance Armstrong was, in my opinion, yet tennis looks the other way. Like Armstrong, someone outside of his sport will have to take him down.