Playing While Injured vs Tanking

[innoVAShaun]

Is playing a league match while injured, another form of tanking?

I just heard a story about someone spraining their ankle during singles match. Apparently, he lost the first set 4-6 and won the first game of the second set when the injury happened. Everyone insisted he retire the match, but he refused. He obviously lost the second set 1-6 not getting another game.

Thoughts?

 

[Fairhit]

Is playing a league match while injured, another form of tanking?

I just heard a story about someone spraining their ankle during singles match. Apparently, he lost the first set 4-6 and won the first game of the second set when the injury happened. Everyone insisted he retire the match, but he refused. He obviously lost the second set 1-6 not getting another game.

Thoughts?

I've never retired, I've finished like 3 matches while injured but I would retire if the injury is bad enough. I don't think is like tanking, is more a pride thing, to give everything I can.

 

[ErrorMachine]

Oof so bad he couldn’t win another game? Probably better to go home and treat it.
My problem is mental and find myself losing focus and tanking. I’m working on trying to stay with it and playing hard every point.

Then there’s purpose tanking to avoid defaults.

 

[PRS]

I would not consider it a form of tanking.

 

[Moon Shooter]

I wouldn't consider it tanking at all. But yes it can certainly tank your rating if you play on after a sprain or muscle spasm. In our area we have to play teams that are up to 2.5 hours away so we usually do double headers. I have sprained an ankle and had my calf muscles start spasming during matches. The sprain was ok, it just swelled up like an orange after the match. But the calf muscles definitely effected my play. If your team is still in the running for post season I think you just stand there and play on if you can - especially if it is doubles. But if you are out of the running then I suppose it makes more sense to call it quits.

 

[Cashman]

Don’t understand people who play injured. Unless you’re getting paid there is zero reason to risk further damage to your body.

 

[J011yroger]

Don’t understand people who play injured. Unless you’re getting paid there is zero reason to risk further damage to your body.

If I never played hurt I would have played my last match at age 14.

J

 

[Jono123]

If you play injured, you'll remain injured. It's a false economy.

 

[ChaelAZ]

I've never retired, I've finished like 3 matches while injured but I would retire if the injury is bad enough. I don't think is like tanking, is more a pride thing, to give everything I can.

I've played with tweaks and other stuff, but I did have to stop at almost the end of a dubs match that was going back and forth and was close, so really didn't want to quit - I rolled an ankle and tried taping, but within about five minutes it ballooned and I couldn't even walk.

 

[Roforot]

I wouldn't consider it tanking at all. But yes it can certainly tank your rating if you play on after a sprain or muscle spasm. In our area we have to play teams that are up to 2.5 hours away so we usually do double headers. I have sprained an ankle and had my calf muscles start spasming during matches. The sprain was ok, it just swelled up like an orange after the match. But the calf muscles definitely effected my play. If your team is still in the running for post season I think you just stand there and play on if you can - especially if it is doubles. But if you are out of the running then I suppose it makes more sense to call it quits.

Spasming can be something you can work through. There's that Cramps away, and I've also heard of people using Tobasco sauce under the tongue to shock the system.
I'd hate to default (or receive) a match where someone drove that far out! I feel if you're trying your best, it's not tanking. Injuries suck and most of us get bored or miss tennis so we probably come back before we're 100% healed.

 

[Fairhit]

I've played with tweaks and other stuff, but I did have to stop at almost the end of a dubs match that was going back and forth and was close, so really didn't want to quit - I rolled an ankle and tried taping, but within about five minutes it ballooned and I couldn't even walk.

If I get that level of injury, I would certainly stop.

 

[nyta2]

Don’t understand people who play injured. Unless you’re getting paid there is zero reason to risk further damage to your body.

i've done it to save a default, at 3rd dubs, with someone who will cover most of the court
obviously depends on the nature of the injury.

 

[Cashman]

If I never played hurt I would have played my last match at age 14.

J

You are a professional though!

If tennis is your meal ticket it’s different to the rest of us scrubs

 

[J_R_B]

I would not consider it a form of tanking.

I agree. Tanking would be if you faked injuries to limp around and lose the last 8 games of multiple matches to tank your rating. One match that you finish out despite being legitimately injured should be fairly meaningless in the long run. I twice finished matches left handed after aggregating tennis elbow and lost both, but I certainly wasn't tanking anything. I actually played a full match LH while I was still out with the TE later in the season and won when we didn't have enough guys for a full lineup (although the guy I played was a 3.5 playing up, not a 4.0 opponent).