New Rule NOW!

[ultradr]

well, it sounds like she was at least honest. no?

[DMan]

Originally Posted by sureshs

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

I've played 3 hour matches, as a NON-PROFESSIONAL twice Azarenka's age, and didn't have to take an injury time out due to nerves after only 80 minutes of play, with a 90 second break with a nice little courtside sun roof!

[DMan]

Originally Posted by ultradr

well, it sounds like she was at least honest. no?

Honest? Oh yeah, why didn't she say so in the presser afterwards:

"Yup, I manipulated the rules, to call an 'injury time out' even thought he injury was just nerves."

[DMan]

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.

It was appalling. So what happened with the way the game used to be played:

Play is continuous!

Plain and simple.

Oh, you are "injured" and can't continue? Oh well. Game, set, and match! You lose!

EVERYONE, including Azarenka KNOWS her injury was bogus. She took a "medical timeout" for 10 minutes! Because she was nervous!

If tennis leadership doesn't address this now, the sport is toast. Or at least women's tennis will be. Especially with Azarenka as #1. And don't forget her abominable grunting.

Women's tennis continues to have an image problem. Stacy Allaster doesn';t get it. She'll just put out press releases saying how much the game has grown, and how attendance is up. Forgetting to note that attendance is up ONLY when the women play at events that are co-ed, or used to be men's events. Young stars like Sloane Stephens are great. But when the dominant player isn't even close to being ranked#1. And the former #1 (Wozniacki) was a player devoid of anything special, and the current #1 is a confirmed cheater and horrific grunter, the media, fans, and sponsors will continue to treat the women's game for exactly what it is: A JOKE!

[TheCheese]

I think they should allow MTOs only in between sets, at the very most. If you're not fit to play, you should lose.

[DMan]

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.

She is supposedly a professional tennis player. If you can't handle the heat, then DON'T PLAY!!!!

Tennis is a SPORT. Played outdoors. Ina ll sorts of conditions. If you haven't trained for it, you don't deserve to be paid millions of dollars to do it.

Why don't they just take someone from the stands, and put them on court, without any training, and ask them to play in 100 degree heat.

Anyone, and I mean anyone who defends Azarenka is completely oblivious to reality!

[DMan]

Originally Posted by DMan

There has to be a rule change NOW in the game of professional tennis:

NO INJURY TIME OUTS MID-MATCH!

I thought the Azarenka episode was an all-time low.

Azarenka admitted to choking, and that's why she needed to go off court - for 10 minutes - so she could get a massage and relax!

I mean it is pathetic.

Tennis went completely the opposite from the Shuzo Matsuoka days when he cramped horribly on court. Now, a player needs to just fake an injury to not only get on court treatment, but be able to leave the court MID-MATCH, and yet still continue!

I mean, whatever happened to "Play shall be continuous" ?!?

Tennis is a sport. Participating in a sport means you are in physical condition to play continuously. And yes, you have to be in good mental condition to play continuously. It ISN'T a team sport. Substitutions aren't allowed. And apart from the side changes where players get a "time out" break, you don't get to pick and choose when you need a break to physically and mentally recover.

Azarenka is the lowest of the low when it comes to #1 ranked players. Her grunting is atrocious. She's never been popular off court with tournament officials. And she practically resorted to cheating today, because she was choking so badly. I wish she had played Serena in the SF. Even if Azarenka were ahead, I guarantee you that Azarenka's off court trick would have fired Serena up so much, she would have beaten her even if Serena had one arm and one leg. Serena's had her moments, but in the majors, she fights until the very end.

It was a sad day for tennis today. And the sport will continue to be devalued when the rules remain as they are!

There is no excuse for how pathetic the current rules are. Horrible shame for the sport!

The whole tennis media has been all over this, saying exactly what I said.

TRAVESTY!
RULE CHANGE NEEDED NOW!

[Kalin]

Good to see this thread finally taking a proper direction.

In all sports (please correct me if I am wrong) if a player gets injured they need to keep playing or be replaced or, if it as an individual sport, they have to keep playing or forfeit (i.e. lose) the match.

In some sports it is acknowledged that if a match continues longer than expected then both sides can get some extra rest/treatment. An example would be the sit-dowm/massage time allowed before extra time in soccer or the extended break before a 5th set under the old volleyball rules (not sure abt the new puss*fied rules where every serve is a point to make TV audiences happy; I stopped watching).

Actually it may not be a bad idea to allow players some extra (like a few more minutes) rest before a fifth (for the girls, a third) set. As long it is the same for both players.

These on-court (or off-court even) massages are embarrassing

Edit: Admittedly, in soccer, if a player gets injured during the game they can get treatment on the pitch as long as it is short. For longer treatment they must leave the pitch and the team plays one man down until the player returns. However, as a contact sport where 22 people kick each other all the time for 90 minutes it makes sense. Plus, now referees add time to the end of the game so players can't run the clock by lying down all the time. And yes, time-wasting in soccer it still happens but it doesn't man tennis has to follow that particular 'tradition'

[woodrow1029]

Don't people realize how STUPID it would be if tennis was a "keep playing or quit" sport?

Think about it. 5 set final. One guy rolls his ankle early in the fifth set. Not too bad but bad enough to continue. We have this great thing called a trainer and athletic tape. We can make it feel better, and the good match can continue.

Or, the player keeps fighting, risking major injury, making the quality of play poor, and ruining it.

Or, he should be more fit, not roll his ankle, and quit.

That will happen if they eliminate the MTO.

People are taking 1 moron taking advantage (legally) of the rule, and people say this should be a play or quit sport. The most amusing are the clueless ones comparing it to a team sport.

[Stinkdyr]

Tennis should do what Squash does......if you are really injured and need 5 minutes to be treated, you default the remainder of the set, then take your 5 minutes MAXIMUM, then you come out and finish the match....or forfeit.

[coloskier]

Originally Posted by sureshs

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

It was the same temperature for both. Not an excuse.

[coloskier]

Originally Posted by woodrow1029

Don't people realize how STUPID it would be if tennis was a "keep playing or quit" sport?

Think about it. 5 set final. One guy rolls his ankle early in the fifth set. Not too bad but bad enough to continue. We have this great thing called a trainer and athletic tape. We can make it feel better, and the good match can continue.

Or, the player keeps fighting, risking major injury, making the quality of play poor, and ruining it.

Or, he should be more fit, not roll his ankle, and quit.

That will happen if they eliminate the MTO.



People are taking 1 moron taking advantage (legally) of the rule, and people say this should be a play or quit sport. The most amusing are the clueless ones comparing it to a team sport.

Woodrow,
Do you think that taking away a serve or a game would change their attitude while still keeping the integrity of the game? It is not the opponents fault that they get hurt, and the opponent should not be penalized for the delay. In this way at least the match can be finished after the MTO, but with a penalty. Of course, then it would have been 5-5 and Azarenka would have lost her break.

[woodrow1029]

Originally Posted by coloskier

Woodrow,
Do you think that taking away a serve or a game would change their attitude while still keeping the integrity of the game? It is not the opponents fault that they get hurt, and the opponent should not be penalized for the delay. In this way at least the match can be finished after the MTO, but with a penalty. Of course, then it would have been 5-5 and Azarenka would have lost her break.

I gave a suggestion earlier, similar the cramping rule.

MTO only at a set break or before/during your own serve.

If something happens before/during your opponents serve, forfeit points to your own service game.

[arche3]

Originally Posted by DMan

She is supposedly a professional tennis player. If you can't handle the heat, then DON'T PLAY!!!!

Tennis is a SPORT. Played outdoors. Ina ll sorts of conditions. If you haven't trained for it, you don't deserve to be paid millions of dollars to do it.

Why don't they just take someone from the stands, and put them on court, without any training, and ask them to play in 100 degree heat.

Anyone, and I mean anyone who defends Azarenka is completely oblivious to reality!

My original point is when vica had heat stroke she forfeited the match. When she had a concussion she forfeited. In this instance you have to give her the benefit of the doubt. Was it suspect? Yes but it was fair in the eyes of the umpire. You grumbling about it makes no difference. Sloan lost. Deal with it.

There is a real reason for mto allowances. Just because your all up in arms about being an athlete doesnt mean vica is not an athlete. Of course she is.