Did you see any player clapping for opponent's points more than Djokovic

[Cindysphinx]

Originally Posted by Sentinel

Then who do ?

Fed with his whiny sore loser behavior.
Or Rafa with his hip thrusts and huge fist pumps -- which are fine while anything Nole does is not. Or maybe Murray with all the swearing on each point.

All of the top players seem to struggle to lose with grace and class.

Nole seems to be the one who cannot learn to win with grace and class.

[Netspirit]

Anyone who plays tennis (even at the recreational level) knows that applauding your opponent's shot is the easiest, most recommended way to take the blame for a lost point off your shoulders and flip the negative emotion into a positive one.

It is a ritual, similar to bouncing the ball before the serve. Djokovic is doing it all the time because it HELPS him, not because he is full of class.

Only players who do it sparingly really mean it.

[Clarky21]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

All of the top players seem to struggle to lose with grace and class.

Nole seems to be the one who cannot learn to win with grace and class.

This is very true and is one of the biggest reasons I don't like him.

[Masayoshi]

Originally Posted by Cindysphinx

All of the top players seem to struggle to lose with grace and class.

Nole seems to be the one who cannot learn to win with grace and class.

Oh please, Nole when winning always gives plenty of credit to his opponents, which shows plenty of class. The Hulking out and shirt ripping is a bit lacking in grace and dignity, I'll grant you. But I find it entertaining, as having a slightly over-the-top personality is better than a very boring personality (like Sampras).

And Novak is probably the best loser of the top 4 - the least likely to start blaming random stuff and getting all whiny about it.

[Skarter]

Federer is by far the worst loser out of the top 4.


But I guess, that's one part of what makes him such a great champion. He really hates to lose.


Murray, although he won only one slam was by far the best winner, he was so composed and low key. Which can also be contributed to his general demeanor ie, not really a fighter.

Me, personally, I dislike Federer's pathetic and imo slightly hysteric rolling on the ground and crying more than I dislike Novak's savage like yelling and shirt ripping.

But I don't find either to be a big deal really.



I think Federer had a problem with accepting Novak and Murray in the past of being worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as him, not being worthy enough to represent a challenge to him.

If you remember at the beginning of Nadal's career he had a few unkind words to say about him from time to time and after a bit he accepted him.

Same with pre-2011 Djokovic. After the 2011 US Open Federer was always very gracious, respectful and kind when he talked about Novak but he still said a couple of unkind things about Murray. (like when asked to comment about Murrays Asia tour success Roger said something like "well, I wasn't there, Novak wasn't there as well")

Guy just has a really high opinion of himself (and he earned it) and it takes time until he accepts someone on his own level. All of that can produce some really unclassy behaviour from Roger after a loss.

[Terenigma]

Originally Posted by Relinquis

i think it's a little patronising sometimes...

This.

He did it for one paticular point that Murray served out wide and then hit down the other line then Djokovic lowered his head and clapped his hand to his raquet. It felt patronising to Andy.

I think if you play a long point with both players trying different shots and then a player comes up with a fantastic shot to finish it, applauding that is ok but not a simple 1-2 play that pretty much every Tennis player plays at some point.

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by Clarky21

Such a humble guy this Lance. Does he also walk on water, turn water into wine, and make the blind see?

Nah only Nadal does that. He recently took an injury for other tennis players sins, but he will be resurrected soon and worshipped accordingly.. apart from one disciple who don't love him no more

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by Skarter

Federer is by far the worst loser out of the top 4.


But I guess, that's one part of what makes him such a great champion. He really hates to lose.


Murray, although he won only one slam was by far the best winner, he was so composed and low key. Which can also be contributed to his general demeanor ie, not really a fighter.

Me, personally, I dislike Federer's pathetic and imo slightly hysteric rolling on the ground and crying more than I dislike Novak's savage like yelling and shirt ripping.

But I don't find either to be a big deal really.



I think Federer had a problem with accepting Novak and Murray in the past of being worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as him, not being worthy enough to represent a challenge to him.

If you remember at the beginning of Nadal's career he had a few unkind words to say about him from time to time and after a bit he accepted him.

Same with pre-2011 Djokovic. After the 2011 US Open Federer was always very gracious, respectful and kind when he talked about Novak but he still said a couple of unkind things about Murray. (like when asked to comment about Murrays Asia tour success Roger said something like "well, I wasn't there, Novak wasn't there as well")

Guy just has a really high opinion of himself (and he earned it) and it takes time until he accepts someone on his own level. All of that can produce some really unclassy behaviour from Roger after a loss.

Federer can come out with some disrespectful comments but the one about Murray in asia was fair. I think he was being asked if Murray was the guy to beat so it's fair to say you can't really judge when his usual rivals werent there since there is no way to compare their games. He said something silmilar when he won a title that the others were not at.

He's said worse things about Murray

[Prisoner of Birth]

Originally Posted by Skarter

Federer is by far the worst loser out of the top 4.


But I guess, that's one part of what makes him such a great champion. He really hates to lose.


Murray, although he won only one slam was by far the best winner, he was so composed and low key. Which can also be contributed to his general demeanor ie, not really a fighter.

Me, personally, I dislike Federer's pathetic and imo slightly hysteric rolling on the ground and crying more than I dislike Novak's savage like yelling and shirt ripping.

But I don't find either to be a big deal really.



I think Federer had a problem with accepting Novak and Murray in the past of being worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as him, not being worthy enough to represent a challenge to him.

If you remember at the beginning of Nadal's career he had a few unkind words to say about him from time to time and after a bit he accepted him.

Same with pre-2011 Djokovic. After the 2011 US Open Federer was always very gracious, respectful and kind when he talked about Novak but he still said a couple of unkind things about Murray. (like when asked to comment about Murrays Asia tour success Roger said something like "well, I wasn't there, Novak wasn't there as well")

Guy just has a really high opinion of himself (and he earned it) and it takes time until he accepts someone on his own level. All of that can produce some really unclassy behaviour from Roger after a loss.

As a Federer fan, I can say with honesty that most of his "class" in interviews and stuff is fake. So is Djokovic's (but when he loses, he is genuinely classy, no doubt about that) and Nadal's (who is only classy when he wins). I'd say Federer is the least "classy" of the top 4. He's just a really smart guy who knows how to maintain his image. I must say, however uncomfortable he is, that Murray is the most genuine (and classy) in interviews and stuff after wins and losses.

[Relinquis]

have you guys tried this tactic?

i only give a thumbs up when my opponent plays an exceptional shot, haven't thought about using it as gamesmanship, but a friend of mine only claps for his opponent when he's up a game or a set; you can tell that he does it to be patronising. It really annoys the people he plays.

[Towser83]

Originally Posted by Prisoner of Birth

As a Federer fan, I can say with honesty that most of his "class" in interviews and stuff is fake. So is Djokovic's (but when he loses, he is genuinely classy, no doubt about that) and Nadal's (who is only classy when he wins). I'd say Federer is the least "classy" of the top 4. He's just a really smart guy who knows how to maintain his image. I must say, however uncomfortable he is, that Murray is the most genuine (and classy) in interviews and stuff after wins and losses.

Murray is not that classy either, though he has gotten a bit better. I seem to remember he said DelPotro was nothing special sometime in 2008 but I can't be sure, but he did insinuate that he was a power only player with little feel. He also has returned fire with Federer in their sly dig wars.

Federer is sometimes genuinely classy but only about certain guys he likes. Del Potro is one, Nadal usually is another but he knows he would be an idiot if he didn't give him credit. He's had to muster some respect for Djokovic and Murray though he didn't like them much. Djokovic because of his family and his own intial arrogance, Murray because of his game which annoyed fed cos it was so defensive and Federer found he was vulnerable to this. He hates losing to a defensive game when it's his own errors deciding the match. I think the UK press probably ****ed him off too, hard not to when every question is about some no slam guy that everyone wants to win cos no brit has in 1000 years Fed can be classy but also a bad loser, depends.

Nadal got less classy as he got more successful and he felt the need to make an excuse of each loss or be annoyed cos he got outplayed. It's what happens when you become number one.

Djokovic classy when he loses, not much when he wins.

[axel89]

Originally Posted by Towser83

Murray is not that classy either, though he has gotten a bit better. I seem to remember he said DelPotro was nothing special sometime in 2008 but I can't be sure, but he did insinuate that he was a power only player with little feel. He also has returned fire with Federer in their sly dig wars.

Federer is sometimes genuinely classy but only about certain guys he likes. Del Potro is one, Nadal usually is another but he knows he would be an idiot if he didn't give him credit. He's had to muster some respect for Djokovic and Murray though he didn't like them much. Djokovic because of his family and his own intial arrogance, Murray because of his game which annoyed fed cos it was so defensive and Federer found he was vulnerable to this. He hates losing to a defensive game when it's his own errors deciding the match. I think the UK press probably ****ed him off too, hard not to when every question is about some no slam guy that everyone wants to win cos no brit has in 1000 years Fed can be classy but also a bad loser, depends.

Nadal got less classy as he got more successful and he felt the need to make an excuse of each loss or be annoyed cos he got outplayed. It's what happens when you become number one.

Djokovic classy when he loses, not much when he wins.

Murray has a winning h2h against federer so you could see federer getting mad at murray. imo the person that has the most class is Isner

[Duncan Bell]

Originally Posted by Towser83

Nah only Nadal does that. He recently took an injury for other tennis players sins, but he will be resurrected soon and worshipped accordingly.. apart from one disciple who don't love him no more

.....Rosol?

[Duncan Bell]

Tsonga is Mr Class. Although, it's hard to know whether it's because he's just not taking it seriously...

[Clarky21]

Originally Posted by Towser83

Nah only Nadal does that. He recently took an injury for other tennis players sins, but he will be resurrected soon and worshipped accordingly.. apart from one disciple who don't love him no more

Lance is a terrible winner. Accept it and move on.

[NadalDramaQueen]

Whenever I clap for my opponent during a match, it is to say "lucky shot, ******."

[powerangle]

Originally Posted by Duncan Bell

.....Rosol?

The disciple is here at TTW.

[Love_No1e]

Originally Posted by Clarky21

Lance is a terrible winner. Accept it and move on.

Can you elaborate please? How is he a bad winner?

Here are a few examples of what he said after he won a slam:
USO '11
"It's an incredible, incredible feeling. I've had an amazing year and it keeps going but every time I play Rafa it's a big challenge and I want to congratulate him on a great tournament."

Wimbledon '11
"When you're playing the best player in the world, Rafael Nadal, who has won two out of the last three Wimbledons and he has always been winning the big matches against me in the Grand Slams, I had to be on the top of my game, I had to play my best."

AO 2012
"It was obvious on the court for everybody who has watched the match that both of us, physically, we took the last drop of energy that we had from our bodies. We made history tonight and unfortunately there couldn't be two winners."

I cannot POSSIBLY see you having a problem with what he says about his opponents after big wins because he is full of respect (win or lose and it's more impressive being classy after a loss anyway)

So you must have a problem with the celebrations? He ripped his shirt off once in 6 slam final wins and you're acting like it was a horrendous crime but frankly after ANY win, it's the winners moment. They can do whatever the hell they want to celebrate and I don't think ANYONE else has a right to judge the celebration. Unless you have been for court on 6 hours playing against one of the GOATs, and coming out on top you can't even be close to estimating what it must feel like. I also think if you think that it's disrespectful to the opponent, I think that just reflects badly on the opponent if they want to be selfish about a moment that isn't even theirs. If after Andys USO win against Novak he had an outrageous celebration (which would be COMPLETELY warranted) I don't for a minute think Novak would have any ill feelings about it because why would he? It was all about Andy, and he could choose what he wanted to do with it.

[powerangle]

Djokovic being classless after a win, to the point of being booed (sure back in 2008, but still):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLkZ4GMBOHM

Novak being classless after a loss (sure back in 2006, but still):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plbomcLe1rI

[Love_No1e]

Originally Posted by powerangle

Djokovic being classless after a win, to the point of being booed (sure back in 2008, but still):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLkZ4GMBOHM

Novak being classless after a loss (sure back in 2006, but still):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plbomcLe1rI

I don't think its totally fair to judge someone from what they did that far back in the past. Of course he could've handled the Roddick situation much much better and as for the Rafa comment, he was very young but I think it was important for him to believe he could beat a champion like Rafa because if he had no belief he wouldn't have been able to break through the Fedal monopoly at all. Although his recent behaviour looking at those videos makes it EVEN more impressive. He travelled, matured and actually consciously made an effort to become a better person who deals with these things in a better way. He wasn't one of those people who was just brought up to be very respectful as evidenced by his mothers comments in the past, but he broke away from that and matured into the person he is today. Of course I'm biased but I think he makes it incredibly easy to be a fan of him and defend him, because he's been a brilliant ambassador for the sport. Completely different to Rafa and Federer but special in his own way. However if he were to disrespect any opponents now I would lose a lot of respect for him as a person.