Nadal foot faults?

[Greg Raven]

During Nadal's match last night (against Kendrick), Nadal appeared to foot fault on about 50 percent of his serves at the deuce side.

From what I could see, his right foot starts about a foot to the right of the center mark, but as he's tossing the ball, he steps to the left with this foot, so that his foot -- while still behind the service line -- is nevertheless directly behind the imaginary extension of the center mark.

I suppose it could just be the camera angle, but some of them seemed really clearly to be foot faults, yet he was never called. According to the rule book, Section 18d, it should have been.

Anyone else notice this?

 

[ChipNCharge]

I noticed it too. I can't remember the last time that type of foot fault was called, though. Lindsay Davenport also used to get close to foot faulting over the center mark.

 

[Grimjack]

This is just another of the ways that the ATP overlooks blatant violations by a marketable star in the name of manufacturing "success" for him. Nadal is barely top ten level talent on his own merits, but allow for some blatant time violations, some blatant on-court coaching, some leeway with the line calls (including foot faults), and very likely some questionable "supplements," and you've got a guy who is a solid #2.

Where would he be without all the "help?"

 

[alienhamster]

During Nadal's match last night (against Kendrick), Nadal appeared to foot fault on about 50 percent of his serves at the deuce side.

From what I could see, his right foot starts about a foot to the right of the center mark, but as he's tossing the ball, he steps to the left with this foot, so that his foot -- while still behind the service line -- is nevertheless directly behind the imaginary extension of the center mark.

I suppose it could just be the camera angle, but some of them seemed really clearly to be foot faults, yet he was never called. According to the rule book, Section 18d, it should have been.

Anyone else notice this?

I've noticed this before with him, too. Are the center linespeople not really "on duty" for this type of call? I don't remember seeing anyone ever called out for this.

Maybe you should write the Aussie Open and the ATP and complain!

 

[crazylevity]

I'm quite sure they do call it...I've seen it called at Wimbledon and the USO as well. There seem to be certain people whom linesmen know tend to footfault, such as Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin.

 

[Musashi]

Serena got called on it like over 3 times on her 1st round match before yesterday!

 

[Zets147]

Wow, I glanced at the match from time to time yesterday and that was what I have noticed also. Kinda weird lol. Did he get called for it at all during the match?

 

[Andy Hewitt]

I noticed that too... I just figured you had to fully cross that center mark.... cheatin' *******!

 

[Zaragoza]

Nadal foot faults? I don´t think so. Since there is a linesman on the court looking at him from the right place, I think his opinion is more valid than others (unless there is a slow motion reply on tv).
The only thing I noticed about Nadal is that he is taking less time between points but I guess some people would die before admitting this.
It seems he is really popular in Australia and the crowd love him. Everytime he plays you can see intensity in the match, that´s why so many people like watching him.
Things like time between points, coaching...are always taken out of context and exaggerated by his haters.
Do you want to see someone taking too much time between points? Look at Kiefer. Do you want to see someone abusing of timeouts? Look at Haas.
Do you want to see someone smashing rackets? Look at Safin. And I could keep this going on...
If someone doesn´t like the way Nadal plays it´s ok, but stop inventing childish stories about him.

 

[EricW]

This is just another of the ways that the ATP overlooks blatant violations by a marketable star in the name of manufacturing "success" for him. Nadal is barely top ten level talent on his own merits, but allow for some blatant time violations, some blatant on-court coaching, some leeway with the line calls (including foot faults), and very likely some questionable "supplements," and you've got a guy who is a solid #2.

Where would he be without all the "help?"

Wow, unless you're kidding, that's the stupidest thing i've ever read.

 

[Fedace]

During Nadal's match last night (against Kendrick), Nadal appeared to foot fault on about 50 percent of his serves at the deuce side.

From what I could see, his right foot starts about a foot to the right of the center mark, but as he's tossing the ball, he steps to the left with this foot, so that his foot -- while still behind the service line -- is nevertheless directly behind the imaginary extension of the center mark.

I suppose it could just be the camera angle, but some of them seemed really clearly to be foot faults, yet he was never called. According to the rule book, Section 18d, it should have been.

Anyone else notice this?

So what if he does, he is a top player and he deserves preferential treatment. Nobody wanted Kendrick win anyway.

 

[Starlite]

So what if he does, he is a top player and he deserves preferential treatment. Nobody wanted Kendrick win anyway.

I'm pretty sure he wanted to win.

 

[Sagittar]

I'm pretty sure he wanted to win.

Grimjack also as i see it

 

[Morrissey]

Nadal foot faults? I don´t think so. Since there is a linesman on the court looking at him from the right place, I think his opinion is more valid than others (unless there is a slow motion reply on tv).
The only thing I noticed about Nadal is that he is taking less time between points but I guess some people would die before admitting this.
It seems he is really popular in Australia and the crowd love him. Everytime he plays you can see intensity in the match, that´s why so many people like watching him.
Things like time between points, coaching...are always taken out of context and exaggerated by his haters.
Do you want to see someone taking too much time between points? Look at Kiefer. Do you want to see someone abusing of timeouts? Look at Haas.
Do you want to see someone smashing rackets? Look at Safin. And I could keep this going on...
If someone doesn´t like the way Nadal plays it´s ok, but stop inventing childish stories about him.

I agree with that. But nobody really pays attention to Haas or so and so. Nadal is number 2, Fed's current rival, highly visible and he shows his emotions. The Fed fanboys hate demonstrative players and especially if they can beat Federer. So they nitpick every little thing and make it over the top. Yeah, Grimjack (Fedtroll) it's a conspiracy by the Australian Tennis Association. It is within their right to make sure that a popular player like Nadal gets no foot faults called on his matches to ensure victory. I do believe in a tiny part of your exagerration though. The whole "Jordan Rule" in which big name stars get breaks is definitely a factor in tennis, in every sport really. I'm sure Federer, Roddick, Safin, Hewitt and definitely Agassi have gotten a few breaks over the span of their careers. But to just pigeonhole Nadal is so typical of Grimjack. (flaming troll is there ever was one)

 

[BigServer1]

So what if he does, he is a top player and he deserves preferential treatment. Nobody wanted Kendrick win anyway.

Yeah, that makes perfect sense. In fact, Kendrick shouldn't have even shown up to play. No one deserves preferential treatment, regardless of ranking or talent.

 

[psamp14]

i dont know about foot faults and nadal, but seeing a little highlight reel on the AO's official site, his 1st service motion is like a left handed mimic of federer....

 

[rfprse]

I think the center line foot fault from the duce court will be an issue if Nadal stands at the same spot as he did throughout the AO. To our surprise, he actually got called once in his match against Murray. He moved away a little for a couple of times but went right back to the same spot again. I can understand that he wants to be as close as possible to the center line to maximize the effect of his slice serve for that side, but he'd better stop using the one step (with left foot) move because it just systematically makes him commit (at least borderline) foot fault whenever he serves on deuce court side. Instead of doing that, why doesn't he just stand as close as to the center line from the start? If he keeps doing this motion unless he gives plenty of room for the left foot to move, the issue of foot fault will come up just like the time violation did.