Azarenka cheated using the injury time out

[Nostradamus]

is Vika really in love with PartyRock ?

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by TMF

I can't believe a few people are still defending Azarenka for her gamesmanship. The 2 MTOs completely took away Sloane's rhythm. She was hounded by the press and 99% of the crowd at Laver Arena were rooting for Li. I guess the 1% including the ones on this board support(or fan of) cheater.

I'm not a fan of Azarenka. I generally don't like her that much because of all of that noise she makes, which is really annoying and apparently is a bother to some players (Radwanska).

However, I think the stuff about the MTO is a bit overblown. I remember Martina Hingis taking suspect MTO's and bathroom breaks to change momentum, etc.

But this one with Azarenka and Stephens just didn't seem to do that. Yes, Azarenka lost what 5 or 6 match points, but it wasn't like Stephens was hitting winners down match point, Azarenka was missing shots long and into the net. The match was always firmly on her racquet. She was dictating with her winners and errors.

Barring a miracle turnaround, Stephens was headed toward a loss before and after the MTO.

I'm not outraged by the MTO because Azarenka appeared to actually be injured earlier in the match.

[Soianka]

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

is Vika really in love with PartyRock ?

It appears so.

They both are extremely goofy, so seem like a good match.

[Don Felder]

The MTO tactic is an awful one, and always has been. It's an unbelievably effective tactic at all levels. Even the mentally strongest people can physically "cool off" or tighten up during a bogus (or legitimate MTO). I think some solid rule changes would put the kibosh on this tactic.

1. Give players one penalty-free MTO if they need to take one during a set break.

2. If a player takes another MTO at another set break, they forfeit the first game of the next set.

3. If you need to take a MTO during the set, you automatically forfeit the game. Moreover, if you take the MTO during your own service game, you forfeit that game and the next game too so your opponent doesn't get a crack at breaking you after you tighten up/cool down.

This problem is a lot like "flopping" in basketball--it's pretty hard to regulate and pretty hard to CONCLUSIVELY prove that a player is doing it in bad faith. But at the same time, it's destructive to the sport and in bad taste. I think penalizing games is a good way to go. There could be the odd scenario where the outcome could arguably be overly harsh (e.g., the fact that Li Na hit her head last night in a fluke). But for the most part, most serious "trauma/impact related" (for lack of a better description) injuries on the court instantly spell the end of the match for the player (e.g., Brian Baker's knee this year) and most iffy injuries/MTOs are (at best) the result of fitness-related stuff like cramping, if not downright bad sportsmanship.

So I think I'd be willing to live with occasional unfairness to curb players from abusing this tactic.

[Don Felder]

Originally Posted by Soianka

It appears so.

They both are extremely goofy, so seem like a good match.

That guy is one of the ugliest people I've ever seen. Azarenka is no beauty queen, but she's not bad looking, at least not physically (the fact she seems to be an "ugly" person notwithstanding).

[Don Felder]

Originally Posted by Soianka

However, I think the stuff about the MTO is a bit overblown. I remember Martina Hingis taking suspect MTO's and bathroom breaks to change momentum, etc.

And that makes it right how? This is an age-old, time-tested tactic. I remember kids using it against me in the 12 and unders. It's not right whether it's Hingis, Azarenka, Nadal, Federer, Laver, Djokovic, Murray, or whoever else doing it.