New Rule NOW!

[Phoenix1983]

Zoidberg needs to stop this behaviour.

[gavna]

Originally Posted by NadalDramaQueen

Forfeit the game and then get treatment. It happens too often that you end up breaking your opponent when you disrupt their service game.

Love it

Now I hope Li Na kills her!

[adidasman]

I think what Azarenka did was appalling, but I also don't see how you can change it. If the injury is legitimate, what are you going to do? You're actually going to ask the injured played to forfeit a game if it's their opponent's serve? That's ridiculous. And the "well, now you get to have your coach on court" idea is fraught with all kinds of problems, and doesn't really address the problem. Truth is, just like if the power went off as Stephens was about to serve to stay in the match, she has to learn to deal with that and not let it bother her. That's part of being a pro.

[woodrow1029]

Coaching is already allowed on the WTA tour whenever the opponent has the trainer on court, and I don't think that's ridiculous. I don't think it helps the problem, but I like the idea of it.

[sureshs]

In the interview, she brazenly said she took a time out because she was choking. What was the official reason she gave to the umpire?

[arche3]

Originally Posted by sureshs

In the interview, she brazenly said she took a time out because she was choking. What was the official reason she gave to the umpire?

No she didn't man. She said she couldn't breath. The video is all over the place. She said she was choking. But when asked about the medical she said she was unable to breath.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by arche3

No she didn't man. She said she couldn't breath. The video is all over the place. She said she was choking. But when asked about the medical she said she was unable to breath.

Then that is what the umpire has to go with. You cannot conduct polygraph tests on the court.

[NadalDramaQueen]

Originally Posted by adidasman

I think what Azarenka did was appalling, but I also don't see how you can change it. If the injury is legitimate, what are you going to do? You're actually going to ask the injured played to forfeit a game if it's their opponent's serve? That's ridiculous. And the "well, now you get to have your coach on court" idea is fraught with all kinds of problems, and doesn't really address the problem. Truth is, just like if the power went off as Stephens was about to serve to stay in the match, she has to learn to deal with that and not let it bother her. That's part of being a pro.

Read Woodrow's post. It is a similar to how cramping is handled. Is that ridiculous?

I really don't see what the problem is. It solves the problem of people using MTOs for gamesmanship reasons, and it still allows players a chance in the match if they get injured. It will also generally stop people from taking other ridiculous timeouts (such as a player's tape being too tight) right before the opponent serves for the set, which is an outrage, honestly.

[arche3]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Then that is what the umpire has to go with. You cannot conduct polygraph tests on the court.

If azi told the umpire and doctor she is choking I don't think she would be allowed the MTO. Obviously she told them it was a medical issue.

After the match she said she choked when asked what happened at the end. Then the next interview she was asked specifically what the MTO was for. She said breathing issues. So she wanted it checked out.

Not saying she faked it or it was real. There is no way to know. And it is part of the rules. Stephens could of easily won that last service game. I can't apply the logic that because azi took a MTO stephens lost her service game. She lost all her previous serves just about as well. If anyone needed a time out Sloan did lol.

[mariecon]

Originally Posted by arche3

If azi told the umpire and doctor she is choking I don't think she would be allowed the MTO. Obviously she told them it was a medical issue.

After the match she said she choked when asked what happened at the end. Then the next interview she was asked specifically what the MTO was for. She said breathing issues. So she wanted it checked out.

Not saying she faked it or it was real. There is no way to know. And it is part of the rules. Stephens could of easily won that last service game. I can't apply the logic that because azi took a MTO stephens lost her service game. She lost all her previous serves just about as well. If anyone needed a time out Sloan did lol.

She still shouldn't be allowed to take the MTO on her opponent's serve. At the very least a player deserves to lose a game if they aren't fit enough. That would mean just standing there while Sloane served a love game. Then she could have her MTO. When she got back on court it would be 5-5. Much fairer.

[volleygirl]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Why don't you play in 105 degrees weather and show us?

Sloane wasnt playing in the same conditions? Its over 100 degrees here in the south all the time in the summer and no one gets to pull that lame act like Azarenka did last night.

[volleygirl]

Originally Posted by NadalDramaQueen

Forfeit the game and then get treatment. It happens too often that you end up breaking your opponent when you disrupt their service game.

That is a great idea and thats the minimum that should be done to the one who cant continue to play.

[arche3]

Originally Posted by mariecon

She still shouldn't be allowed to take the MTO on her opponent's serve. At the very least a player deserves to lose a game if they aren't fit enough. That would mean just standing there while Sloane served a love game. Then she could have her MTO. When she got back on court it would be 5-5. Much fairer.

Fair or not they are playing for money. This isnt USTA league matches. A pro has these obstacles to overcome. Sloan could of buckled down to actually win her service.

You cannot disregard MTO because you think it is head games. What about the time azi passed out from a concussion and had to be carried off the court forfeiting the match? Or the other time when she suffered a heat stroke and had to forfeit yet again.

[volleygirl]

Originally Posted by arche3

Fair or not they are playing for money. This isnt USTA league matches. A pro has these obstacles to overcome. Sloan could of buckled down to actually win her service.

You cannot disregard MTO because you think it is head games. What about the time azi passed out from a concussion and had to be carried off the court forfeiting the match? Or the other time when she suffered a heat stroke and had to forfeit yet again.

What about those instances? If shes not in the condition to play in that weather where the other players are, then she should lose those matches, not be bailed out by some bogus rule.

[SoCal10s]

this is worth a good try :: got this from another thread ... in college tennis..

MENS DIVISION 1

1. If a player takes a Medical Time-Out, he will receive a point penalty. This point penalty is not part of the progressive point penalty schedule for code violations.

2. A player can take 1 Medical Time-Out per match.

3. A player can take 1 Medical Time-Out in the warm-up, and 1 Medical Time-Out in the match (for the same condition ONLY). If the player takes a Medical Time-Out in the warm-up, he still receives a point penalty, and then if he takes one in the match for the same condition, he will receive another point penalty.

4. If a player takes a bathroom break during or immediately after the warm-up, it will be considered his ONLY Medical Time-Out for the entire match, and of course, he will receive a point penalty.

5. A player can take an emergency bathroom break during the match (as long as he has not had a Medical Time Out already). If he takes an emergency bathroom break that is not at a changeover or set break, it will be considered his one Medical Time Out for the match (maximum of 3 minutes), and he will receive, yep you got it, a point penalty.

6. Medical Time-Outs are now limited to 3 minutes ONLY! No evaluation time allowed. When the trainer puts his/her hand on the player, the 3 minutes starts. If the trainer discusses the injury before hands-on, the chair umpire can allow 1 or 2 quick questions, but then the trainer and player must decide if a medical time-out will be taken. If yes, the 3 minute clock starts.

7. In the past, if a player was losing a match, and looked over at the scores and saw that his teammate was about to wrap up the dual, he could take a medical time-out down match point, hoping to stall his match until the dual was decided, to avoid a loss on his record, and cheat the opponent out of a win. Now, if a player is down match point, and requests a medical time-out, he will immediately be assessed a point penalty (as opposed to after the medical time-out at any other time of the match), and the match will be over.

[arche3]

Originally Posted by volleygirl

What about those instances? If shes not in the condition to play in that weather where the other players are, then she should lose those matches, not be bailed out by some bogus rule.

The point was in those previous matches the rules dictated a forfeit. She was not fit to play. The azi vs slaon match it was a MTO. This is the rule. She is allowed it.

[Totai]

Originally Posted by heninfan99

What if you're really injured and need treatment???

Then forfeit

[adidasman]

Originally Posted by NadalDramaQueen

Read Woodrow's post. It is a similar to how cramping is handled. Is that ridiculous?

I really don't see what the problem is. It solves the problem of people using MTOs for gamesmanship reasons, and it still allows players a chance in the match if they get injured. It will also generally stop people from taking other ridiculous timeouts (such as a player's tape being too tight) right before the opponent serves for the set, which is an outrage, honestly.

What do you do if the injured player is down 5-4 and their opponent is serving? You give the match to his/her opponent because they got injured?

[slowfox]

Originally Posted by Bartelby

That's a good idea. It costs you one game if you want a MTO. I'm sure that will fix the problem.

Originally Posted by mariecon

She still shouldn't be allowed to take the MTO on her opponent's serve. At the very least a player deserves to lose a game if they aren't fit enough. That would mean just standing there while Sloane served a love game. Then she could have her MTO. When she got back on court it would be 5-5. Much fairer.

Being fit, physically and mentally, is a part of the game. If you don't have what it takes, then you should be penalized.

"I'm tired today, let's finish the match tomorrow when I'm rested." - How would that fly..?

[SoCalJay]

Originally Posted by adidasman

What do you do if the injured player is down 5-4 and their opponent is serving? You give the match to his/her opponent because they got injured?

Absolutely. It isn't the opponent's fault that the person was injured, cramping, mentally choking, or out of gas due to mediocre fitness. I think they need to to one of two things:

1. Impose a game penalty for an MTO like someone suggested earlier on this thread.

OR

2. Formalize the process by creating a time out rule where a player gets, say, one 3 minute time out per 3-set match (2 timeouts for a 5-set match) that can ONLY be used on your serve. The timeout could be used for whatever (even a coaching visit). If a person requires an additional timeout -> game penalty.