AO 2013 - Semifinals - Vika Azarenka v. Sloane Stephens

[Overdrive]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

You mean like this?



"I taught you well, Azarenka."

Haha.

Where did you get that picture from? Never saw that before.

[beast of mallorca]

Originally Posted by The-Champ

if you're not breathing because of it, then yes.

The rules are not the problem. Azarenka's gamesmanship is.

[rk_sports]

Originally Posted by beast of mallorca

The rules are not the problem. Azarenka's gamesmanship is.

you nailed it... world #1 setting such a wrong example

[Relinquis]

Originally Posted by Say Chi Sin Lo

At least ESPN is finally doing the coverage right, the commentators are tearing into Azarenka for icing the opponent.

to be honest, they're probably taking this approach because stephens is an amaerican. I'm not condoning or condemning vika, just saying ESPN has a horse in this race.

anyway, it's good to see that Stephens didn't let the hype of her win over Serena to get to her head and she kept her cool. she will go very far if she continues with this mental attitude/toughness (probably needs to embrace her killer instinct a bit more though, on the court that is).

Biggest risk for her now is to become too 'hollywood'.

[veroniquem]

Azarenka could have lied, she could have pretty much said anything she wanted after the match about the MTO. I liked that she was so candid about it instead. She clearly didn't realize how harshly she would be judged for "over-emotionality". And she did sound genuinely rattled. The good thing about this is that this sucky rule may get re-evaluated because of it. The rule is sucky. Nothing to do with Azarenka personally. I agree with Gilbert that a player should NEVER be allowed an MTO before the opponent's serve. I've seen it tons of times and it's just not right. You should be allowed ONLY before your own serve. That makes a lot of sense to me. I don't understand why it doesn't make sense to the tennis powers . But not Azarenka's fault if something is allowed that in the eyes of many people shouldn't be. And in this particular match, Stephens could almost never hold serve (what was it? Once in each set?), so it really didn't make any difference to what was already the typical pattern. No one on earth could convince me that Stephens would have held her serve if Azarenka had not had a panic attack because she wasn't either before the panic attack but of course, in some cases, it could make a difference. There is a valid point in challenging that rule but no need to scapegoat Vika about it.
And overall, Vika was clearly the dominant player in the match.

[edmondsm]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Azarenka could have lied, she could have pretty much said anything she wanted after the match about the MTO. I liked that she was so candid about it instead. She clearly didn't realize how harshly she would be judged for "over-emotionality". And she did sound genuinely rattled. The good thing about this is that this sucky rule may get re-evaluated because of it. The rule is sucky. Nothing to do with Azarenka personally. I agree with Gilbert that a player should NEVER be allowed an MTO before the opponent's serve. I've seen it tons of times and it's just not right. You should be allowed ONLY before your own serve. That makes a lot of sense to me. I don't understand why it doesn't make sense to the tennis powers . But not Azarenka's fault if something is allowed that in the eyes of many people shouldn't be. And in this particular match, Stephens could almost never hold serve (what was it? Once in each set?), so it really didn't make any difference to what was already the typical pattern. No one on earth could convince me that Stephens would have held her serve if Azarenka had not had a panic attack because she wasn't either before the panic attack but of course, in some cases, it could make a difference. There is a valid point in challenging that rule but no need to scapegoat Vika about it.
And overall, Vika was clearly the dominant player in the match.

All of this is completely irrelevant. There is one issue here. Azarenka basically faked TWO injuries so she could have 10 minutes to settle down after choking away 5 match points. She used the MTO to halt the momentum her opponent had just taken. We have seen similar incidents before, but this was the most disgusting use of the MTO I've ever seen. The rule needs to be done away with entirely. If you're injured, that sucks. Either find a way to play through it or call it a day. If players are allowed to stop play at any time to get treatment for an injury then their will always be those that abuse the rule.

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by beast of mallorca

I'm fine with the rules. It's when losers like Azarenka abuse such rules that irritates me.

Then why doesn't it also irrate you when Nadal does the same thing?

[BreakPoint]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

The rule is sucky. Nothing to do with Azarenka personally. I agree with Gilbert that a player should NEVER be allowed an MTO before the opponent's serve. I've seen it tons of times and it's just not right. You should be allowed ONLY before your own serve. That makes a lot of sense to me. I don't understand why it doesn't make sense to the tennis powers.

So you were watching that Nadal-Petzschner match at Wimbledon, too?

[veroniquem]

I was also watching the Djoko/Wawa match...

[James Bond]

https://twitter.com/GerardWhateley/s...52637879545857

[James Bond]

There's plenty of "She was outplaying Sloane Stephens anyway" chatter going on

Well, Lance Armstrong outplayed the TdF field for 7 years, still doesn't make it right.

[rk_sports]

looks like she got the plot now -- change of story


Azarenka in press:

"I'm being really honest here. When I play and someone else takes a medical timeout, I don't doubt them."

"I shouldn't have put myself in that situation. ... I thought I was going to play through the pain. ... I should have [called a timeout] earlier."

"I was trying to make sure I could breathe. ... I'm experienced enough to know what was wrong. I just couldn't breathe. I think it was obvious that my shots were pretty different. It was stressing me out... I couldn't breathe."

"I understand the situation. I guess it was my bad. A few seconds after the match I couldn't discuss everything. I took it to the point where I couldn't breathe."

"I should of called the trainer earlier. The rib tightened up and it was impossible for me to breathe. I thought I could play through it"

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by rk_sports

you nailed it... world #1 setting such a wrong example

Much like another former #1.

Funny, do not expect to hear the same poster address that.

Anyway, Azarenka is a disgrace.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by rk_sports

looks like she got the plot now -- change of story


Azarenka in press:

"I'm being really honest here. When I play and someone else takes a medical timeout, I don't doubt them."

Well OF COURSE you won't doubt them, you only just pulled the mother of all MTOs.

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Then why doesn't it also irrate you when Nadal does the same thing?

Not quite the same thing.

Yes, Nadal did pioneer the practice, but I'm pretty sure Azarenka just out-MTO'd him.

Like I said earlier, Nadal would be proud of tonight's display.

[NastyWinners]

Originally Posted by rk_sports

looks like she got the plot now -- change of story


Azarenka in press:

"I'm being really honest here. When I play and someone else takes a medical timeout, I don't doubt them."

"I shouldn't have put myself in that situation. ... I thought I was going to play through the pain. ... I should have [called a timeout] earlier."

"I was trying to make sure I could breathe. ... I'm experienced enough to know what was wrong. I just couldn't breathe. I think it was obvious that my shots were pretty different. It was stressing me out... I couldn't breathe."

"I understand the situation. I guess it was my bad. A few seconds after the match I couldn't discuss everything. I took it to the point where I couldn't breathe."

"I should of called the trainer earlier. The rib tightened up and it was impossible for me to breathe. I thought I could play through it"

she might as well have done this

[GhostDog]

I fell asleep, so I missed the MTO fiasco. Man, like Vika needed any more reasons for people to dislike her. Unacceptable behavior/gamesmanship.

Let's hope Li Na beats her in the final.

[Tennis_Hands]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Azarenka could have lied, she could have pretty much said anything she wanted after the match about the MTO. I liked that she was so candid about it instead. She clearly didn't realize how harshly she would be judged for "over-emotionality". And she did sound genuinely rattled. The good thing about this is that this sucky rule may get re-evaluated because of it. The rule is sucky. Nothing to do with Azarenka personally..

Has it ever occured to you, that the garbage, that you post here, in the form of personal "beliefs" , generally accepted facts, that do not fit the context and someone else's opinions, sugarcoated with your cynical thinking, yield responses just because they are just that: garbage?

Originally Posted by veroniquem

I agree with Gilbert that a player should NEVER be allowed an MTO before the opponent's serve. I've seen it tons of times and it's just not right. You should be allowed ONLY before your own serve. That makes a lot of sense to me..

Originally Posted by veroniquem

I don't understand .....

Yes, we know that.

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by veroniquem

Azarenka could have lied, she could have pretty much said anything she wanted after the match about the MTO. I liked that she was so candid about it instead. She clearly didn't realize how harshly she would be judged for "over-emotionality". And she did sound genuinely rattled. The good thing about this is that this sucky rule may get re-evaluated because of it. The rule is sucky. Nothing to do with Azarenka personally. I agree with Gilbert that a player should NEVER be allowed an MTO before the opponent's serve. I've seen it tons of times and it's just not right. You should be allowed ONLY before your own serve. That makes a lot of sense to me. I don't understand why it doesn't make sense to the tennis powers . But not Azarenka's fault if something is allowed that in the eyes of many people shouldn't be. And in this particular match, Stephens could almost never hold serve (what was it? Once in each set?), so it really didn't make any difference to what was already the typical pattern. No one on earth could convince me that Stephens would have held her serve if Azarenka had not had a panic attack because she wasn't either before the panic attack but of course, in some cases, it could make a difference. There is a valid point in challenging that rule but no need to scapegoat Vika about it.
And overall, Vika was clearly the dominant player in the match.

I tend to agree. I noticed that in the quarter with Serena, Serena did just that -- waited until after Sloane's service game to get her MTO.

I also tend to think that Vika was not openly trying to cheat as she would not have so readily admitted it.

I also think Vika would have won the match whether or not she took the MTO, but it does look bad.

And it might affect her final if the crowd gets really against her.

[TennisFan436]

Originally Posted by Soianka

And it might affect her final if the crowd gets really against her.

Not might. It will...she has the crowd against her and they will mock her shrieks. Karma is a biatch!

Let's go Li Na! Take this cheater out. She has lost so many fans last night.