On court drama between Sloane Stephens and Pavlyuchenkova

Aussie Darcy

Aussie Darcy

Bionic Poster
This was already being discussed on another thread but thought I’d give it its own thread.

A Beijing match between former US Open champ Sloane Stephens and Pavlyuchenkova got quite heated when Pavs called a questionable MTO after being broken in the 2nd set to go down 5-2. Pavs managed to win the next 2 games (as we often see after these MTO’s which is strange). Sloane wasn’t happy and ended up having words with Pavs at the exchange. In the third set as well, Pavs had the whole court to hit the ball and instead did the petty thing and went right at Sloane.

Footage here:
https://twitter.com/benrothenberg/status/1046407181376147457?s=21

Calling questionable time-outs in tennis isn’t new, but doing so before the opponent was set to serve for the set is a bit unusual.

The 27-year-old clawed back to 5-4 in the second set before the changeover. That’s when Stephens had some words for umpire Jenny Zhang.

“That’s the sport we play. Right? Sportsmanship. That’s really important,” Stephens chimed to the umpire.

Stephens won the second set, 6-4, but stared down Pavlyuchenkova as she approached her bench, which ignited a war of words between the two, enough fireworks to get Zhang to come down to split the pair up.

“I’m disrespectful? What’s disrespectful? You called the physio at 5-2. You’re not even injured,” Stephens said to Pavlyuchenkova.

“How do you know I’m not injured?” Pavlyuchenkova clapped back.

To make things more dramatic, In the third set, it appeared that Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova tried hitting Stevens with an overhead smash near the net. However, Stephens returned the hit and won the point.

While returning to the baseline, it appeared that Stephens suspected Pavlyuchenkova’s intent, muttering: “That f–king ***** tried to hit me
Click to expand...
 
Aussie Darcy said:
This was already being discussed on another thread but thought I’d give it its own thread.

A Beijing match between former US Open champ Sloane Stephens and Pavlyuchenkova got quite heated when Pavs called a questionable MTO after being broken in the 2nd set to go down 5-2. Pavs managed to win the next 2 games (as we often see after these MTO’s which is strange). Sloane wasn’t happy and ended up having words with Pavs at the exchange. In the third set as well, Pavs had the whole court to hit the ball and instead did the petty thing and went right at Sloane.

Footage here:
https://twitter.com/benrothenberg/status/1046407181376147457?s=21
Click to expand...

The dispute is over the smash that Pavlyuchenkova hit at Stephens feet near the end of the clip?....ok and a medical time out. The smash is a perfectly legitimate shot. There's never anything wrong with going at your opponent's feet. It gives them a chance to stay in the rally apart from anything else.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
The argument about the MTO happened in the 2nd set, the smash is the 3rd set.
Click to expand...

Ok...the smash is fine. There's nothing wrong with going at your opponent generally. This one is at her feet and she's aiming for the centre of the court not risking the sideline. Gives Stephens the opportunity to stay in the point.
 
to be honest i think sloane was overreacting here. remember when she called serena disrespectful in brisbane for saying "come on" ? she can be overly sensitive sometimes and pav has never been a disrespectful player. also, im not sure if the overhead was hit in anger. it wasn't that fast and it was right at sloane's feet
 
reaper said:
Ok...the smash is fine. There's nothing wrong with going at your opponent generally. This one is at her feet and she's aiming for the centre of the court not risking the sideline. Gives Stephens the opportunity to stay in the point.
Click to expand...
I mean, Pavs had the entire open court and instead decided to go right at Sloane which seems pretty damn petty to me. Luckily her aiming at Sloane didn’t work and she lost the point and the match, maybe next time she should use the entire open court as the commentator said.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
I mean, Pavs had the entire open court and instead decided to go right at Sloane which seems pretty damn petty to me. Luckily her aiming at Sloane didn’t work and she lost the point and the match, maybe next time she should use the entire open court as the commentator said.
Click to expand...

If you're really trying to pin someone you don't hit it at their feet. I don't really see the problem with going at the player. They do it all the time in doubles, but somehow it's wrong in singles. It's the same type of ball...which usually doesn't hurt much if it hits you anyway.
 
reaper said:
If you're really trying to pin someone you don't hit it at their feet. I don't really see the problem with going at the player. They do it all the time in doubles, but somehow it's wrong in singles. It's the same type of ball...which usually doesn't hurt much if it hits you anyway.
Click to expand...
It didn’t really hit her feet did it, Sloane got the ball back and it’s not like her racquet was on top of her toes... Pavs had THE ENTIRE COURT but went right for Sloane. Commentator saw it, I saw it, Sloane saw it.
 
paranoidandroid said:
Ooh drama!
Click to expand...
giphy.gif


Brought to you as ALWAYS by @Aussie Darcy
 
Aussie Darcy said:
It didn’t really hit her feet did it, Sloane got the ball back and it’s not like her racquet was on top of her toes... Pavs had THE ENTIRE COURT but went right for Sloane. Commentator saw it, I saw it, Sloane saw it.
Click to expand...

This wasn't a situation where Stephens is hopelessly out of position. She's slightly to the right of the centre line as she hits her previous shot, and her feet are slightly to the left of the centre line after fending off the smash. You don't have a huge amount of open court there, given Stephens has both her reach and the ability to anticipate in either direction.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
This was already being discussed on another thread but thought I’d give it its own thread.

A Beijing match between former US Open champ Sloane Stephens and Pavlyuchenkova got quite heated when Pavs called a questionable MTO after being broken in the 2nd set to go down 5-2. Pavs managed to win the next 2 games (as we often see after these MTO’s which is strange). Sloane wasn’t happy and ended up having words with Pavs at the exchange. In the third set as well, Pavs had the whole court to hit the ball and instead did the petty thing and went right at Sloane.

Footage here:
https://twitter.com/benrothenberg/status/1046407181376147457?s=21
Click to expand...
I'm against all injustice.

Join me in the fight to eradicate injustice!!!
 
Aussie Darcy said:
This was already being discussed on another thread but thought I’d give it its own thread.

A Beijing match between former US Open champ Sloane Stephens and Pavlyuchenkova got quite heated when Pavs called a questionable MTO after being broken in the 2nd set to go down 5-2. Pavs managed to win the next 2 games (as we often see after these MTO’s which is strange). Sloane wasn’t happy and ended up having words with Pavs at the exchange. In the third set as well, Pavs had the whole court to hit the ball and instead did the petty thing and went right at Sloane.

Footage here:
https://twitter.com/benrothenberg/status/1046407181376147457?s=21
Click to expand...
To me it seemed like neither of them like each other and every incident was blown out of proportion by first one and then the other. I'm cool with it, completely. This is a competition not a quilting bee, let feathers get ruffled, let feels get bruised. The winner is the one that handles the controversy the best while playing superb tennis.
 
True Fanerer said:
You do like your drama. Do your thing.
Click to expand...
jm1980 said:
Why report drama at all?
Click to expand...

Well drama is something you can discuss and it actually gets discussed in the media. I find drama more fun and interesting than threads like ‘who would win between peak Rod Laver and peak Roger Federer’ and ‘do you think DSLR camera Sound disturbs players’.
 
Did she look injured though? I see she was 2-5 down and called for the MTO? Then won the next two games which started this whole incident.

Just seems like the usual emotions from a tennis player when they lose concentration and momemtum when they obviously fail to take advantage of an injury/MTO, which happens soooooo often.
 
Anastasia also crossed over to Sloanes side of the court so she could argue with Sloane. No warnings given.

In fact the umpire turned to Sloane who was sitting and said "can you stop?" Rather than address Anastasia's aggressive behavior.
 
Ann said:
To me it seemed like neither of them like each other and every incident was blown out of proportion by first one and then the other. I'm cool with it, completely. This is a competition not a quilting bee, let feathers get ruffled, let feels get bruised. The winner is the one that handles the controversy the best while playing superb tennis.
Click to expand...

If Sloane or Serena would have started a verbal altercation with another player abd theb crossed the net to the other players side of the court to continue the argument, people here would be calling for their arrest and calling them violent and aggressive.

Certain players do it and it's nbd
 
Soianka said:
If Sloane or Serena would have started a verbal altercation with another player abd theb crossed the net to the other players side of the court to continue the argument, people here would be calling for their arrest and calling them violent and aggressive.

Certain players do it and it's nbd
Click to expand...
And why oh why do we think that is... (no answer needed the isms tend to all be grouped together in people)
 
Soianka said:
If Sloane or Serena would have started a verbal altercation with another player abd theb crossed the net to the other players side of the court to continue the argument, people here would be calling for their arrest and calling them violent and aggressive.

Certain players do it and it's nbd
Click to expand...

It looks like Sloane did start the verbal altercation there. She walked past her own chair, and when the umpire first intervened it's to move her back.
 
reaper said:
It looks like Sloane did start the verbal altercation there. She walked past her own chair, and when the umpire first intervened it's to move her back.
Click to expand...
Think the other chick said "can you stop being disrespectful" after the set was finished which then lead to Sloane going over and starting the back and forth... Sloane with the "What's disrespectul is yada yada yada......."
 
I have had mosquito bites that hurt more than that alleged “smash”.

Girl needs to drink some concrete and harden up. Try catching a cricket ball at 150kms. Now THAT hurts.
 
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