Should Rafa have conceded his QF match to give Fritz a chance to progress?

[Terry Tibbs]

I could tell from Rafas body language, demeanor and what he was saying in his post match interview on the court that he knew he wasnt gonna be git enough to play the SF and you could visibly see how hampered and limited he was on serve.

I couldn't help but think if that was the case, should he not have conceded the match as his family were trying to encourage him to do so that Fritz would have a chance to progress?

I guess the argument is that he needed to be good enough to win and wasnt and also the fact that to not be able to close out a match from 2-1 up against a player serving 95mph serves on grass is not deserving of a SF place. Thoughts?

 

[GabeT]

Add a poll

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

No way. He didn't know what the injury was.

 

[14OuncesStrung]

Yes he should've. What a cactusface.

 

[Nostradamus]

I could tell from Rafas body language, demeanor and what he was saying in his post match interview on the court that he knew he wasnt gonna be git enough to play the SF and you could visibly see how hampered and limited he was on serve.

I couldn't help but think if that was the case, should he not have conceded the match as his family were trying to encourage him to do so that Fritz would have a chance to progress?

I guess the argument is that he needed to be good enough to win and wasnt and also the fact that to not be able to close out a match from 2-1 up against a player serving 95mph serves on grass is not deserving of a SF place. Thoughts?

its the money. i was told by ATP tour people that if you just win 1 more round, it pays for all the expenses of couaches and family airfare and hotel and entertaiment and all that

 

[14OuncesStrung]

No way. He didn't know what the injury was.

Yes, he did.

 

[Rattie]

No. How was he to know that he wouldn’t be able to continue on? He didn’t begin the Fritz match unable to move and serve. Jeez. Give the guy a break!

 

[TheNachoMan]

What’s with the Fritz threads? Is this Taylor’s extended family or something? lol
The kid played terribly and couldn’t even beat a injured Nadal. Go back to Cali and cry kid.

 

[3loudboys]

Their is no room for sentiment in any sport - especially individual sports. He would not have known that it was that serious or couldn’t be treated.

 

[Deuce-all]

He knew that Kyrgios has a better chance of beating Djokovic in the final compared to Fritz. So decided to give 3 days of rest to Kyrgios to be better prepared for Djokovic.

 

[socalmd123]

absolutely not

 

[Amritia]

No- this isn't child's play

 

[TripleATeam]

If there's a 1% chance he could've played then no. Only if there was a 0% chance pf him playing the next round, then yes. But not because Fritz deserves it, just because there'd be no pointing in exerting himself to win the match.

 

[Adv. Edberg]

Or fritz could've just won fair and square. Injury or not. Fritz isn't 16 anymore, he should be up there winning slams now.

 

[a10best]

No. Rafa should not have. GOAT may have received another holistic remedy to beat Nick. Plus, Fritz was disrespectful to Rafa at the IW trophy ceremony.

 

[bnjkn]

No. Fritz couldn't beat an injured Bull. Why should he be in the SF?

 

[beltsman]

I could tell from Rafas body language, demeanor and what he was saying in his post match interview on the court that he knew he wasnt gonna be git enough to play the SF and you could visibly see how hampered and limited he was on serve.

I couldn't help but think if that was the case, should he not have conceded the match as his family were trying to encourage him to do so that Fritz would have a chance to progress?

I guess the argument is that he needed to be good enough to win and wasnt and also the fact that to not be able to close out a match from 2-1 up against a player serving 95mph serves on grass is not deserving of a SF place. Thoughts?

Yes. It was 99% chance that he knew he would have to withdraw. His family were putting their coats on to leave during the match. His selfishness ruined what tatters are left of this exhibition called a slam.

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

It was Fritz's responsibility to win against an injured player. Sometimes it might be a strain and not a tear of the muscle which could get better. Today is the day we know it is a tear, not yesterday.

 

[DogInSpace]

No he shouldn't. He loses against Fritz the usual hater morons would say "yeah yeah always injured when loses". Retires during the Fritz match "yeah yeah Fritz was outplaying him, he obviously knew he didn't have a chance".

This way hater morons can be proven wrong.

 

[Crazy Finn]

Fritz could have made this a moot point by winning against an injured Nadal. Like many before him, he failed to defeat an injured Big 3.

Earn your way into the next round.

Personally, obviously a Kyrgios - Fritz match would be more entertaining than no match. But, that's about it.

 

[Terry Tibbs]

No he shouldn't. He loses against Fritz the usual hater morons would say "yeah yeah always injured when loses". Retires during the Fritz match "yeah yeah Fritz was outplaying him, he obviously knew he didn't have a chance".

This way hater morons can be proven wrong.

it wouldn't have been just losing though would it? Retiring is different from losing.

 

[Nadal15thslam]

I could tell from Rafas body language, demeanor and what he was saying in his post match interview on the court that he knew he wasnt gonna be git enough to play the SF and you could visibly see how hampered and limited he was on serve.

I couldn't help but think if that was the case, should he not have conceded the match as his family were trying to encourage him to do so that Fritz would have a chance to progress?

I guess the argument is that he needed to be good enough to win and wasnt and also the fact that to not be able to close out a match from 2-1 up against a player serving 95mph serves on grass is not deserving of a SF place. Thoughts?

No. He had to be sure a mug like Fritz isn't in the final. Imagine how bad a Djokovic- Fritz final would've been. Nick at least will fight.

 

[Russeljones]

I could tell from Rafas body language, demeanor and what he was saying in his post match interview on the court that he knew he wasnt gonna be git enough to play the SF and you could visibly see how hampered and limited he was on serve.

I couldn't help but think if that was the case, should he not have conceded the match as his family were trying to encourage him to do so that Fritz would have a chance to progress?

I guess the argument is that he needed to be good enough to win and wasnt and also the fact that to not be able to close out a match from 2-1 up against a player serving 95mph serves on grass is not deserving of a SF place. Thoughts?

No. Fritz needed to beat his opponent and he couldn't do the job.

 

[ImmorTAL Big 3]

Absolutely no.In sport,especially Individual any individual match win is prestigious no matter the round.Furthermore the question is wrongly posed-It should be not should Rafa withdraw but Why Fritz wasn't able to beat injured Nadal?

 

[victorcruz]

Is that the honorable thing to do? This isn't war or life and death. It's a sport and game. He doesn't owe us anything, especially after all the electrifying matches he's played even this year.

 

[BeatlesFan]

No! Fritz is a mental midget and thoroughly deserved to lose. If he can't beat a hobbled Nadal, then that's on him. Pathetic chokers don't deserve to advance.

 

[Impressario]

The answer is that he should have conceded as much as Federer conceded to Wawrinka in that Mirkagate WTF.

 

[GhostOfNKDM]

Why can't we have a 'lucky loser' past qualifying rounds?

That takes the onus off the injured player to concede a match just because they may not be able to play the next.

 

[Terry Tibbs]

No! Fritz is a mental midget and thoroughly deserved to lose. If he can't beat a hobbled Nadal, then that's on him. Pathetic chokers don't deserve to advance.

Yeah I kind of agree. Just thought it was an interesting topic of debate thats all.

 

[Sudacafan]

I could tell from Rafas body language, demeanor and what he was saying in his post match interview on the court that he knew he wasnt gonna be git enough to play the SF and you could visibly see how hampered and limited he was on serve.

I couldn't help but think if that was the case, should he not have conceded the match as his family were trying to encourage him to do so that Fritz would have a chance to progress?

I guess the argument is that he needed to be good enough to win and wasnt and also the fact that to not be able to close out a match from 2-1 up against a player serving 95mph serves on grass is not deserving of a SF place. Thoughts?

Easier math because of no ranking points awarded.
Wimbledon Finalist gets GBP 1,050,000 (= USD 1,290,000).
Quarterfinalist gets GB 310,000 = USD 380,000).
Fritz would have owed him USD 910,000.

Back on question: Do you really think Fritz would have more chances than Kyrgios against Djokovic?

 

[Sudacafan]

No! Fritz is a mental midget and thoroughly deserved to lose. If he can't beat a hobbled Nadal, then that's on him. Pathetic chokers don't deserve to advance.

Well, he already defeated an injured Rafa at the IW finals earlier this year. OK, it was in a best of three and he won in straights, it sufficed.

 

[Terry Tibbs]

He knew that Kyrgios has a better chance of beating Djokovic in the final compared to Fritz. So decided to give 3 days of rest to Kyrgios to be better prepared for Djokovic.

Almost 4 days it will be actually. Arguably not ideal to have such a long rest period in terms of rhythm especially given his QF match was a straight sets win so not a long match.

 

[Terry Tibbs]

actually I forgot about the prize money. A huge 200k more for reaching the SF

 

[Lleytonstation]

I could tell from Rafas body language, demeanor and what he was saying in his post match interview on the court that he knew he wasnt gonna be git enough to play the SF and you could visibly see how hampered and limited he was on serve.

I couldn't help but think if that was the case, should he not have conceded the match as his family were trying to encourage him to do so that Fritz would have a chance to progress?

I guess the argument is that he needed to be good enough to win and wasnt and also the fact that to not be able to close out a match from 2-1 up against a player serving 95mph serves on grass is not deserving of a SF place. Thoughts?

The juic box boy don't deserve it.

 

[PaddyDutch]

Yes, he did.

He did not have a scan made during changeovers and he had no sure way of knowing how he’d feel the next day.

He also is under no obligation to act in the best interest of the tournament.

in summary, this whole thread, all variations on it and the reasoning it’s based on is a load of crap

 

[The Guru]

I hate when people ask this question. Obviously not.

 

[steenkash]

It's Fritz's fault that he can't take advantage over an "injured" player.

 

[tex123]

Change the rule that allows the loser to go through if the winner has to withdraw.

 

[BGod]

Practically all top athletes are arrogant and self absorbed. They basically have to be.

So this is like Fed 2014 WTF against Wawrinka (worse actually) or even Sandgren 2020 AO.

 

[socallefty]

Would you give up a chance to make 225,000 pounds? Plus, why take a loss without fighting?

 

[Devilito]

lolwut? Why didn't Fritz just beat him then? Yes Rafa was injured and Fritz should have won. He didn't, therefore absolutely does not deserve a spot in the semis.

 

[Slicehand]

Hahahahaha yeah, as a gift to hard working taylor, hell no!!!

 

[ollinger]

What a cactusface.

This