Is this gamesmanship?

Ehh

Banned
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=BlJtpU9GFG8#t=98s

At around 1min 40secs into this video, Klizan hits a drop-shot winner along with a fake 'grunt' - so it would appear as though he were going to drive the ball.

Is this gamesmanship?

Personally, I think not. Part of the game of tennis is acting and being a bit cheeky.

So when Nishikori sets up like he's going to do a drop-volley, then at the last second, pushes the ball past his opponent and onto the baseline or when Murray is at the net and looks down the line, then flicks the ball cross-court, or when Mayer hits his jumping drop-shot winners, or when Federer holds his forehand smash to the last second to make the opponent guess the wrong way - are these all gamesmanship?
 

Jeffrey573639

Semi-Pro
The difference between all your examples and the Klizan incident is that all those incidents of trickery are done without necessitating the grunt. From your description, it seems as though his grunt was the a major part of the bluff which I would classify as gamesmenship. Not that I have a problem with it.
 

The Meat

Hall of Fame
If Klizan did it to distract his opponent, it would be wrong. Federer, Nishikori, etc. just faked out their opponents, its smart. Not poor gamesmanship.
 

Ehh

Banned
If Klizan did it to distract his opponent, it would be wrong. Federer, Nishikori, etc. just faked out their opponents, its smart. Not poor gamesmanship.

Klizan's grunt was to fake out his opponent too.

Is it smart play when the faking is visually based, but gamesmanship when the faking is sonically based?
 

Jeffrey573639

Semi-Pro
Klizan's grunt was to fake out his opponent too.

Is it smart play when the faking is visually based, but gamesmanship when the faking is sonically based?

I'm opposed to grunting in the first place but I can understand that it allows players to generate rhythm. This is just abusing something which I feel is already an unfair tactic which is why I classify it as gamesmanship. However that being said, you have a fair point that both of them play on your opponent's assumption. Still I think a fake drop shot or the like recquires much more skill and disguise than what Klizan did.
 

The Meat

Hall of Fame
Klizan's grunt was to fake out his opponent too.

Is it smart play when the faking is visually based, but gamesmanship when the faking is sonically based?

Federer's head fake against Gulbis is a good example of a good fake. There's nothing in the rules against deceiving your opponent with a fake shot, and from the audience and commentator's reaction, they loved it.

Klizan could have been accused of verbal hindrance, if his opponent really wanted to call him out.

It's fine as long as you don't distract your opponent.
 
D

Deleted member 21996

Guest
sonic based faking in grunting game is the shipment of the the acting*


and people do seem to have too much time in their hand, thus over analising....


*this sentence makes no sense. just my ten.

:)
 

GoaLaSSo

Semi-Pro
If he grunts on most shots, then it would not be gamesmanship. If he does not grunt very often, then it might be.
 
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