Ivanovic is hot, but her return feet noise is Cheating

[Fuzzy10sBalls]

When she is returning serve, and when her opponent tosses the ball she squeaks her feet. In my book thats cheating, and should be penalized.

Yes I know I know, its the chair umpires job to enforce or you cant blame her, but I can, and I will.

If she did what Zina Garrison did, which was to start the feet small tapping early and not loud then i would have no problem. But Ivanovic, would wait till the toss is in the air and then squeak her shoes to mess up the server, IMO.

The reason I know its cheating, is because she only seems to do it when its a bigger point. The sharapova noise is different as Ivanovic's foot noise is done when the server is about to hit the ball when all is quiet and any noise can have even more impact.

I have played many tournaments, and have had many a times when a cheap player would do that only on break points or 30-30 points, and I can tell you it has a def affect on messing up the server.

Anyone else?


best posts from others:

Originally Posted by darkhorse View Post
Here's a clip from last years Pacific Life Open where Ivanovic is returning serve:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vkL5IAluE0

Not only is she not squeaking he shoes on the court, but she's not even shuffling her feet in any way during the serve. While this is almost a year old now, there's a video from last year's US Open where she demonstrates the same thing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGGPxVSd4ng

And for people saying it's only the hard courts that's causing this and it wouldn't matter on clay, she wasn't shuffling at all during the French:

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

So there's three examples from 2007 where she's barely moving her feet during returns, so now all of the sudden she does this shuffling thing? Hell, she wasn't even doing it in the first set of her previous match:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIfpkfAs0o8

Fast forward to the tiebreak, and what's she doing?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_q7kj9Vnk0
----------------------------
I really do like Ivanovic, like most people, but this squeaking got my attention recently. There is no doubt it's intentional. It seems like her coach or someone "helpful" told her to do it and she complied. I'm not sure she would come up with this on her own (maybe I'm naive), but now that it's working she keeps doing it. Which brings down my level of admiration for her a couple of notches...

Also, let me assure you it's really annoying and distracting to the server. It happened to me once in a league match and I was like - "guy, what the hell is wrong with you?". Totally inappropriate and poor sportsmanship. I beat the crap out of him or at least I'd like to think it was the case.

Seems like Hantuchova was really was pissed off by this and hence the "cool handshake". I don't blame her. She was fighting her nerves trying to hang on for dear life, now she had to deal with screeching noise from her opponent on top of it. It's annoying enough in a neutral situation...

Now, if this happens in the final, we're going to see some fireworks (or Yuri will jump the fence)...
--------------------
In the first clip I posted from the Venus match, she returns pretty much the same way she did in the clips from 2007. Once in a while she'll take a step forward and she'll squeak her shoe once, but that's it. I did notice that even in that clip, she would do the squeaking thing on second serves sometimes, though.

I want to make it clear that I don't think this is why she won the match, I think she won because Hantuchova has a history of mental breakdowns and this is just another example, and talent-wise Ana is better. My point is that Ana is clearly doing this on purpose. I agree with the people who are saying screaming at the top of your lungs when hitting a volley is a deliberate act, also. These things do not win matches, but it's very unsportsmanlike and tennis is a sport that, in theory, should see more sportsmanship than any other.

I also think that the fact that nobody complained is meaningless. What's the umpire supposed to do if somebody does complain? Last night all the ump said was "It's her shoes on the floor". Well no kidding. An umpire isn't going to tell a player to change the way they're playing. That's the beauty of it.
***********

Yeah, you're right, she squeaked pas her victory. She's a cheater. I love tennis and women's tennis but i hate cheaters.

I'm ashamed of ivanovic, she just laughs it off. I HAVE NEVER seen a player squeak their shoes at every serve. Everyone one elses seems to be able to shuffle their feet without much noise and she cant ? She says she's been doing since the tournament, exactly, thats how she's reached the finals. She never did it before.

People can say she's had her fitness training but time will tell. Will she continue to shuffle her feet in the following tournaments ? If not then shame on her.

I hope Sharapova beats her even though they're both quite annoying,

 

[Tempest344]

its a hard court and they tend to squeak
most likely she's doing ready steps for the return
but there is a valid point I have noticed the squeaking too
but compared to sharapova's shriek+her deliberate slowing down on the serve and in between 1st and 2nd it isn't that bad

on clay or grass it would be impossible however

 

[janipyt05]

its not cheating its annoying, Now if she is doing it on purpose to put some one off its obstruction and should be told but she tends to bounce move about when the ball is in the air coming toward her so its not cheating, now what Radwanska did when playing sharapova last year at the us open is cheating clearly moving forward the back while sharapova is shaping up for the serve now that clearly putting someone off

 

[superman1]

It's not on purpose. None of the players complain so I don't think it matters.

Then again, if Sharapova did it I might call it cheating. Maybe because it fits with her personality and not with Ivanovic's. Oh well, I'm a hypocrite.

 

[Rickson]

I was waiting for a thread like this to pop up. Ana is definitely doing it on purpose. She really wants to throw off the server's timing. I'm rooting for Ana to win it all, but let's be honest about this; the shuffles are intentional.

 

[JohnnyCracker]

The squeaking is nothing new. She's been doing that forever. It didn't have any effect on the outcome of the match at all. Hantuchova bageled Ivanovic in the first set and was up 2-0 in the second, didn't she? You can't really blame Jankovic's lost on Sharapova's scream, can you?

 

[Fuzzy10sBalls]

watching closely the way she does it, and when she does it, I can assure you she does it on purpose.

it will be deuce and she will get loud with the feet, then its the next point and game point for the server and she wont make the noise, but then back to deuce and there it is again.

100% on purpose. i have played enough tennis to tell

 

[darrinbaker00]

I was waiting for a thread like this to pop up. Ana is definitely doing it on purpose. She really wants to throw off the server's timing. I'm rooting for Ana to win it all, but let's be honest about this; the shuffles are intentional.

That may be, but it's only a distraction if her opponent speaks up about it. So far, no one has.

 

[fluffy Beaver]

just browse youtube videos of ana and you'll notice she hardly does it..... meaning she is doing it purposely when you hear it.

 

[mrDamien]

She cheated everyone on all corners.

 

[stormholloway]

I was waiting for a thread like this to pop up. Ana is definitely doing it on purpose. She really wants to throw off the server's timing. I'm rooting for Ana to win it all, but let's be honest about this; the shuffles are intentional.

I agree. Anyone who can't see it is in denial. She always does it on big points. If this was her normal return style she'd do it on every point.

It's tacky in my opinion but I've seen others do it too. It's totally cheap. If your opponent does it to you, the best thing is to do it back to him/her.

 

[BallzofSkill]

i doubt she would cheat so blatently.

 

[Hot Sauce]

I don't know how loud the sound Hantuchova was hearing the squeaks, so I can't really say if it was that big of a deal or not. It is quite plausible though because tennis is the type of sport where the crowd has to be silent, there can't be any flash photography, and the audience has to be motionless or else the players suffer.

 

[stormholloway]

If I'm not mistaken, I saw Hantuchova do that very same thing against Kirilenko. I swear it was her.

 

[origmarm]

This one is difficult because it's equipment related rather than just shrieking for example. It may be that she just tries to get her feet moving faster for the bigger points or something. Its funny because I notice it now but I had attributed it to the new surface or new shoe brand/model. Is it that same at other tournaments?

I haven't watched her enough recently to make a call on whether I feel she's doing it on purpose or not

 

[JLyon]

no different than Sharapova shrieking louder on big points, same as Williams sisters. Capriati did this all the time also with the same foot squeaking.

 

[jmverdugo]

Im pretty sure she is doing it on purpose, however i wouldnt consider it cheating but lack of ethics from her side, the other thing is that it sound louder on TV than it does it on the court, well maybe in that stadium that is so closed the sound may be more intense. It clearly bother the opponent but until somebody complaints and call it a hidrance, nothing can be done

 

[dr325i]

Sore looser...
Hantuchova did not complain at all in the first set...
Maybe Ana is doing that on purpose, but bad luck that the roof was closed and it was pronounced more...
Anyway, it will be interesting to see Ana's sqeeking vs. Maria's screaming...

 

[theone]

Just watched a few youtube videos.. her grunts are annoying as hell. I can't watch womens tennis at all.

 

[amoguga]

What a bunch of B.S.! Like the psychotic screaming of Sharapova and the Williams' sisters isn't deliberate and not designed to distract their opponents? Please!

 

[austro]

Well Hantuchova HAS complained about it...

 

[JackSkellington]

I bet no one complains until they're losing to her

 

[jmverdugo]

What a bunch of B.S.! Like the psychotic screaming of Sharapova and the Williams' sisters isn't deliberate and not designed to distract their opponents? Please!

This is true but that doesnt make any of those thing better.

 

[origmarm]

What a bunch of B.S.! Like the psychotic screaming of Sharapova and the Williams' sisters isn't deliberate and not designed to distract their opponents? Please!

They are just as bad, she sounds worse but the principle is the same

 

[daddy]

Q. What about the way she squeaks her feet when she returns?

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, that's ridiculous, I think. I was really surprised with that. I think it's unfair. It's a distraction to the server. Yeah, we played before and she never did it.

Q. Did you say anything to the umpire?

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, in the first or second service game, but she didn't do anything about it. I don't think that was very nice.

 

[dr325i]

Q. What about the way she squeaks her feet when she returns?

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, that's ridiculous, I think. I was really surprised with that. I think it's unfair. It's a distraction to the server. Yeah, we played before and she never did it.

Q. Did you say anything to the umpire?

DANIELA HANTUCHOVA: Yeah, in the first or second service game, but she didn't do anything about it. I don't think that was very nice.

Next time Ana should play barefoot and Maria and Nadal with a tape over their mouth...

 

[slice bh compliment]

...If she did what Zina Garrison did, which was to start the feet small tapping early and not loud then i would have no problem. ....

Nice. Zina was awesome.

 

[daddy]

Next time Ana should play barefoot and Maria and Nadal with a tape over their mouth...

I just did a copy paste thing. I think its all bullsh*t, I mean she does it thruout the tournament. Seems this surface + her shoes equal sqeeking and she has a habit and thats all. I imagine clay does not squeek and Ana nade it to Roland Garros final .. I imagine when you lose, you are allowed to be angry and find excuses.

ko se ljuti ...

 

[leonardtay]

Hantuchova has the cheek to complain...

This is a woman that waits till her opponent is ready to serve and then turns around and goes for the towel... and the same woman who sits in a chair fiddling with her stuff for 60 secs after the umpire has called for time and her opponent is waiting at the service line to serve... then when Ana goes for the towel, she complains to the umpire even though it is obvious that Ana was dripping with perspiration as opposed to Hantuchova who obviously went for the towel to throw her opponents rhythm off. I mean, even the commentators on star sports were saying that Hantuchova had a LOT of cheek to complain to the umpire about Ana going for the towel... COME ON... Hantuchova is just being a sore loser.

 

[gj011]

Agree with Daddy, these accusations are BS. It is the new surface and her shoes and she is obviously not doing that on purpose. She is just preparing for the return.

Hantuchova is a sore loser. I guess after such a choke she is looking for any excuses.

 

[lawrence]

err...
to be honest id rather listen to a squeak on my serve rather than a "AGRGRGAHGOAWHFIWAHFOIAWNBFOA" everytime sharapova hits the ball
its plain ********.

 

[daddy]

err...
to be honest id rather listen to a squeak on my serve rather than a "AGRGRGAHGOAWHFIWAHFOIAWNBFOA" everytime sharapova hits the ball
its plain ********.

Hey - you know what is my problem with this ? She screams like 2 seconds after she hits the ball. I mean I can understand grunting WHILE hitting the ball, during that very brief moment, to try to correct breathing and get 100% from the shot, but to prolongue 130decibels scream until your opponent is to hit back, its what bothers me.

 

[AR15]

If you watch her feet movement closely, she starts the sqeaking noise at the moment the server tosses the ball. At serve impact, she has to take a split-step to ready herself for the return. The initial movement is totally unneccesary.

I think this girl is extremely cute, but that doesn't justify what I think is a deliberate distraction.

 

[jorel]

im glad you prefaced your Title with the fact that she is hot... because without that starting comment, the rest of your post would make no sense

 

[jorel]

Nadal also shuffles like that... does his shoes squeek?

 

[daddy]

Q. Daniela was very upset with the amount of noise your shoes were making on the court. She thought the squeakiness of your shoes, particularly when you're returning serve, is a form of gamesmanship, and you're deliberately making a lot of noise with your shoes on the court.

ANA IVANOVIC: Well, I don't think so. If you see other matches I was doing exactly the same thing. It's just the way these courts play. And if you listen to the guys I think they're doing the same thing.

You know, I just tried to move my feet, to return the ball, so it really was not intentional.


Q. Are you a natural squeaker, or are these courts squeakier than other courts?

ANA IVANOVIC: This ‑‑ I don't know, really. I just try to move my feet, and I don't pay attention to the squeaking of my shoes make.


Q. Could you sense it was annoying her at the time?

ANA IVANOVIC: Once I saw she was complaining to the referee, you know. But there was nothing I could do, because if I want to move my feet to return a ball, you know, this was the sound I was producing.

And, also, during the point, if I want to run with small steps around the ball, it was exactly the same thing. So, you know, maybe she was just trying to pick on something, to get upset.

 

[sunflowerhx]

If you watch her feet movement closely, she starts the sqeaking noise at the moment the server tosses the ball. At serve impact, she has to take a split-step to ready herself for the return. The initial movement is totally unneccesary.

I think this girl is extremely cute, but that doesn't justify what I think is a deliberate distraction.

I'm not 100% that it's deliberate.

But Edberg used to shuffle back and forwards as the server tosses the ball.
And no one ever had a bad word to say about him

For example
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKqJTYFRlGc

I think Hantuchova was more upset by what looked like a double bounce on the final break point.

 

[AR15]

Yeah, I played a guy who started coughing almost everytime I tossed the ball. He didn't cough at any other time during the match - only during me, and my partner's serves. Yes, he was cheating.

In this case, I'm surprised Ana's earlier opponents didn't complain. My wife and I both noticed the antics in those matches as well.

 

[ChipNCharge]

Next time Ana should play barefoot and Maria and Nadal with a tape over their mouth...

Nadal and Sharapova don't scream and grunt just as their opponent tosses the ball to serve.

 

[ATXtennisaddict]

I've seen tennis players do that on returns. Get the feet moving.

People just blow these things way out of proportion. When ppl point that kind of stuff out, it gets ppl to focus on that one thing only. And when you focus intently on a squeaky sound, of course it'll get annoying.

Just like people looking at Nadal picking his butt. Or Mary carillo.

I wonder why some ppl are so sensitive.

/2cents

 

[daddy]

I've seen tennis players do that on returns. Get the feet moving.

People just blow these things way out of proportion. When ppl point that kind of stuff out, it gets ppl to focus on that one thing only. And when you focus intently on a squeaky sound, of course it'll get annoying.

Just like people looking at Nadal picking his butt. Or Mary carillo.

I wonder why some ppl are so sensitive.

/2cents

I dont know why are people on the board so sensitive. I mean I understand hantuchova, poor thing lost her first semis as GS while being 6-0 and 2-0 up. I am aware of her feelings and she is angry allright. But as many have pointed out, everyone has a habit. Sharapova takes too much time between points, between 1st and 2nd serve and screams, Nadal also time issues, picking his but etc, Djokovic ball bounces, Williams sisters scream like Maria.. history of tennis is also full of this. Cmon, let them play. Gamesmanship is not uncommon but these days people call everything gamesmanship.

There is no such thing as perfect silence and one can only be gracious in defeat, unlika Hantuchova. Unlike Serena. Unlike Hewitt. For example like Nadal. Just my view.

 

[AR15]

I dont know why are people on the board so sensitive. I mean I understand hantuchova, poor thing lost her first semis as GS while being 6-0 and 2-0 up. I am aware of her feelings and she is angry allright. But as many have pointed out, everyone has a habit. Sharapova takes too much time between points, between 1st and 2nd serve and screams, Nadal also time issues, picking his but etc, Djokovic ball bounces, Williams sisters scream like Maria.. history of tennis is also full of this. Cmon, let them play. Gamesmanship is not uncommon but these days people call everything gamesmanship.

There is no such thing as perfect silence and one can only be gracious in defeat, unlika Hantuchova. Unlike Serena. Unlike Hewitt. For example like Nadal. Just my view.

I don't think it's an issue of people being "sensitive." I think people just don't like to see cheaters get away with it.

Personally, I wanted to see Ivanovic win this match. But, I want to see her win BY THE RULES, and without silly antics.

Have you ever seen Tiger Woods stop his swing when someone in the gallery shouts during his backswing? When the audience, in Rod Laver arena, is perfectly silent, and the sqeaking starts as you toss your ball, it has to be somewhat distracting.

 

[Nellie]

You guys know that the court is heavily miked, right? The other player can hardly hear the squeeks from shoes.

Also, even if you squeek on purpose, how could that be an obstruction? its a natural part of the game and players tune it out.

 

[CGMemphis]

You guys know that the court is heavily miked, right? The other player can hardly hear the squeeks from shoes.

Also, even if you squeek on purpose, how could that be an obstruction? its a natural part of the game and players tune it out.

Best post on this subject.

Call up McEnroe and Connors. They did way worse at distraction.

I highly doubt its as violent as you clubbers are making it out to be.

 

[leonardtay]

I don't think it's an issue of people being "sensitive." I think people just don't like to see cheaters get away with it.

Personally, I wanted to see Ivanovic win this match. But, I want to see her win BY THE RULES, and without silly antics.

Have you ever seen Tiger Woods stop his swing when someone in the gallery shouts during his backswing? When the audience, in Rod Laver arena, is perfectly silent, and the sqeaking starts as you toss your ball, it has to be somewhat distracting.

Well... I for one know that certain shoes squeak on certain surfaces and it is a matter of the friction of the shoes on the surface and there is not really anything you can do about it if you need to shuffle your feet to get ready for a point. What I wonder is how come you fail to point out that hantuchova was doing things like making her opponent wait for ridiculously long amounts of time and doing things to break her opponent's rhythm like going for the towel as the opponent is about to serve (this when she is hardly perspiring at all take note)... I think that is definitely more blatant gamesmanship than something that Ana was doing that may or may not be on purpose...

 

[daddy]

I don't think it's an issue of people being "sensitive." I think people just don't like to see cheaters get away with it.

Personally, I wanted to see Ivanovic win this match. But, I want to see her win BY THE RULES, and without silly antics.

Have you ever seen Tiger Woods stop his swing when someone in the gallery shouts during his backswing? When the audience, in Rod Laver arena, is perfectly silent, and the sqeaking starts as you toss your ball, it has to be somewhat distracting.

I just think she - Ana - is being hard done by being called a cheater. Who gets away with it on top of it. It took a lot for her to get back into the match and she was really out of it - and at that time the squeeking did not bother Daniela to wipe her out in first 8 games, whitewash her yet she managed to pound on Hantuchova's choke and she should be given credit for that. I feel she is hard done by all this sqeeking thing, and I will not post anymore in this thread because I think I said everything I can say on this matter.

 

[protourOS]

it may or may not be slight gamesmanship but seriously get over it!
Like has already been said - this stuff goes on with many pro players in one way or another - it is part of the game - I think calling it cheating is excessive...

I say get over it and get on with playing the match - you're a pro tennis player - you should be able to handle slight distractions...

 

[cknobman]

Lol, it typical womens tennis bs.

Women who are emotionally unstable and unconfident pull stupid crap like this all the time.

Hmm lets list a couple of court antics used today:

• looking to coaches box for illegal coaching
• screaching-yelling very loud on purpose during your shots
• excessive medical timeouts during changeovers - inbetween sets
• squeaking shoes during serves
• retiring early from your match when your getting an @sswhopping

Typical womens crap that happens on a regular basis. Some of this does happen from time to time on the mens side but this is a regular every match occurance thing for the women. And they expect to get the same respect, attention, pay as the guys.......lol give me a break!!!!!

 

[AR15]

Lol, it typical womens tennis bs.

Women who are emotionally unstable and unconfident pull stupid crap like this all the time.

Hmm lets list a couple of court antics used today:

• looking to coaches box for illegal coaching
• screaching-yelling very loud on purpose during your shots
• excessive medical timeouts during changeovers - inbetween sets
• squeaking shoes during serves
• retiring early from your match when your getting an @sswhopping

Typical womens crap that happens on a regular basis. Some of this does happen from time to time on the mens side but this is a regular every match occurance thing for the women. And they expect to get the same respect, attention, pay as the guys.......lol give me a break!!!!!

And they only have to play 3 sets.

 

[bhallic24]

That's what i'm talking about! Haha, Right on on every single ****ing point.

Women's tennis is just such a joke. And all this complaining and whining about every little thing just takes away even more from what little that's there.
One thing you forgot: Excessively long bathroom breaks when your down in the match or you need time to rest.

Lol, it typical womens tennis bs.

Women who are emotionally unstable and unconfident pull stupid crap like this all the time.

Hmm lets list a couple of court antics used today:

• looking to coaches box for illegal coaching
• screaching-yelling very loud on purpose during your shots
• excessive medical timeouts during changeovers - inbetween sets
• squeaking shoes during serves
• retiring early from your match when your getting an @sswhopping

Typical womens crap that happens on a regular basis. Some of this does happen from time to time on the mens side but this is a regular every match occurance thing for the women. And they expect to get the same respect, attention, pay as the guys.......lol give me a break!!!!!