Rafa - Time between the points

[KAndersonFan]

LOL @ Dilettante and ProgressoR. Almost only worthwhile posts in this thread. :lol:

 

[Matt H.]

in the tv coverage on FSN last night, the commentators indicated that Tsonga was asking the chair to check Rafa's time because he was taking so long.

FSN put up an actual timer on the screen for a couple points and one of them was 43 seconds.

Out of curiosity i grabbed my iphone and timed a couple of his service games on the stopwatch. His quickest time in 3 games was 25 seconds. Most were in the 30's.

 

[ksbh]

Trivia question for all- what will the Federer lovers be busy doing over the next few days?

Correct answers will get the member a free copy of Federer's fans latest book "Time is the essence!"

 

[drakulie]

This is Rafa giving Veronquem a few pesetas for a job well done here on TTW. Notice Rafa's expression like " here's the money, get the f*ck outa here!".

Too funny!

Probably just 50 cents. He can only hope no one tells Agassi

LOL.

 

[Telepatic]

Seriously, I like Nadal and his game but he should really stop time wasting, its 50 freaking seconds..pff

 

[Dilettante]

You have spelt this word incorrectly.

Oh, here's Mr. Anglo-Saxon-Knowitall mocking me for being a non-English-speaking individual... what a cheap shot. I don't mind if I can't spell correctly in Spanish either, your attitude is still atrocious and (drumroll please!) racist!!!

OK, that's it, I've finally said it.

And in this case, you appear to have had caps lock inadvertently selected.

Not as serious as you having your straitjacket's locks inadvertently unselected.

(please note the omission of the e above is deliberate, for reasons you should now be clear with)

Deliberate? I deduce from your typing that you lack a finger in one of your hands... let us just figure out how did you lose that finger and where.



...Ok, that was gross, but your puerile attitude forced me to lower myself to this childish level of interaction.

 

[swordtennis]

Other players do it such as Delpotro. Not just Nadal. Nadal is just cronic with it. It is part of his "game".
Yes one of the reasons Nadal, his "camp" and his fans should never fool anyone. Also why I fall asleep during his matches. zzzzzzzz.
It is definately a momentum killer. It is cheating. It also offers Nadal an upper hand.
Now it also the Officials and the organizations fault. They are not doing their job.
Yes they dont cover up for anyone? LOL! Wonder what other forms of corruption there is within....

 

[vive le beau jeu !]

This is Rafa giving Veronquem a few pesetas for a job well done here on TTW. Notice Rafa's expression like " here's the money, get the f*ck outa here!".

thx for the laugh !!!

 

[bolo]

The umpire can quiet down the crowd 10-15 seconds before the allowed timelimit is over. In most cases a "please be quiet" is effective within 1, 2 seconds.
If some crowd really is unwilling to be quiet you'll have a problem whetever you have a enforced timelimit or not.

A timelimit of lets say 40 seconds would be easily enough for long points.
Under those rules a player could do 30 seconds nothing else than take some deep breaths and still have 10 seconds left to serve.

I think if you increased it a bit that might solve most of the long point problems. But I guarantee you that once you increase the time limit some % of players will start serving closer to the new time limit (lendl supposedly mastered taking the maximum amount of time alloted for each serve). So now while you no longer get nadal taking 50 secs. for some points you have taken a whole new set of players closer to the 40 sec. mark for all of their serving points. Overall it still might be worth it but only if there are a non trivial amount of players like nadal on the tour.

I thought during the WTF I read an article that said they were conisdering a time clock, I wonder what's been happening since.

 

[edmondsm]

The way I see it, if his opponents complain about how long he takes to serve..they should do the same thing. Take advantage of it, make Nadal wait.

That makes no sense. Some guys like to play fast. There is no rule against playing too fast, just against playing too slow.

 

[edmondsm]

It's the winning that really bothers them. Time wasting is just a vent of their frustration.

 

[CMM]

Some guys like to play fast.

Those guys should quit taking roids. :evil:

 

[tacou]

this is not a new topic but I think it's very relevant after last night's match. I am a big Nadal fan but also really like Tsonga, and it was ashame to see Tsonga argue with the umpire about Nadal's time wasting, have the umpire say "I have the watch I'll take care of it" and doing nothing for another 10 games or so while Nadal consistently went over.

The only argument for Nadal is that umpires never call players on this and it is not the players job to call themselves. However, when the opponent calls Nadal out on it the umpire really needs to step up.

 

[swordtennis]

LOL! What the heck is that?

 

[Rippy]

If this is true then why do they continue to support him and fill the stands.

Do people approve of crime in America? If not, why do they still live there?

 

[KAndersonFan]

Do people approve of crime in America? If not, why do they still live there?

Their money is stolen and they can't travel.

 

[Rippy]

Their money is stolen and they can't travel.

Heh... I was thinking more that just because people like a place doesn't mean it can't have problems. Just cause people like Nadal and go and watch him, doesn't mean he's completely flawless with no issues.

 

[NamRanger]

I have no problem with Nadal taking time on his serve; I have a problem when he's obviously stalling the server and attempting to break his serving rhythm. It's good manners to play to the pace of the server within a reasonable amount of time, and I think most guys do serve at a reasonable speed. Nadal on the other hand sometimes does his whole "water bottle" ritual, then "towels off", and then "adjusts socks and wrist bands", then "wedgie pulling", etc. on his RETURN game, which is just flagrantly unsportsmanlike.

 

[abmk]

Probably just 50 cents. He can only hope no one tells Agassi

ha ha, nice one that

 

[Halba]

The time rule should be abolished. Nadal likes to take his time and he should be allowed to do so without the constant hue and cry from critics.

leave him be. he needs time to recover from the gruelling style.

 

[JennyS]

The best way to watch Nadal matches is to record it on DVR, start one hour later and fastforward in between the points and during commercials. Of course, you usually wind up catching up to live coverage if the match is too long

 

[dcdoorknob]

LOL @ Dilettante and ProgressoR. Almost only worthwhile posts in this thread. :lol:

Agreed (except without the almost)

Futile though they may be.

 

[jgn1013]

Remember last year Nadal vs Djoker clay court...they took like 5 hrs to play 3 sets... wtf! why do they need to dry off after an ace?

 

[P_Agony]

It's the winning that really bothers them. Time wasting is just a vent of their frustration.

Nah, it really is the time wasting that bothers us, and apparently some of the players too. It's not only Nadal, but he's the worst (along with Djokovic), and as the #2 player in the world, he should set the example, not break the rules. Of course, it's up to the umpires to make sure the rules aren't being abused. They don't do their job properly.

 

[TennisandMusic]

Nah, it really is the time wasting that bothers us, and apparently some of the players too. It's not only Nadal, but he's the worst (along with Djokovic), and as the #2 player in the world, he should set the example, not break the rules. Of course, it's up to the umpires to make sure the rules aren't being abused. They don't do their job properly.

Berdych and Verdasco are both going over the time limit in their match. Upset?

 

[P_Agony]

Check out the exo he lost before RG(one set 6-4),he was taking his time there as well. And butt picking as well

Well, I didn't watch that one, but look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzs9m2JHkjI

Nadal was serving quickly and barely took any time. Why can't he do this now is beyond me.

 

[P_Agony]

Berdych and Verdasco are both going over the time limit in their match. Upset?

Berdych I haven't notcied. Verdasco and Delpo are serial time abusers, but not as big as Nadal and Djokovic. Davy has a pretty long service motion but I think he's well within the time limit.

 

[TennisandMusic]

Berdych I haven't notcied. Verdasco and Delpo are serial time abusers, but not as big as Nadal and Djokovic. Davy has a pretty long service motion but I think he's well within the time limit.

I'm looking at the numbers. Everyone goes over. Nadal averaged 31 seconds last night, which along with his other match that he did that, was the longest in some time. He generally sticks around 25 seconds like the entire tour outside of Federer and Roddick. I take special notice now because of the whiners, and it's simply a moot point these days. I do agree he took too long in the last couple of matches, but I imagine he will go back to normal soon.

 

[P_Agony]

His average today was 31 seconds. 6 seconds over. Yeah he was taking a long time at times, and he was doing it in the last match at times quite a bit...that said, he has been fine outside of those last two matches, averaging the same amount of time as people he is playing at around 25 seconds.

Also just about EVERYONE outside of Roddick and Federer go over the time limit. Just look at the stats on the tennistv.com matches. But he really shouldn't be taking 50 seconds between points like he did against whoever that other opponent was. Maybe it was against Nalbandian?

I'm sorry, but you are simply wrong or in denial. it's not rarely at all, it happens every match, at first it was on crucial points, now it's almost every point. Nadal's service games take so long even if he's not losing a single point in them.

 

[TennisandMusic]

uh-huh.And who is this everyone?
and how often do they abuse the rules?

Didn't see this before. Everyone is everyone. The "rules" are broken in every single match according to the actual statistics shown on every match. I can't help it if you're not using tennistv.com

 

[P_Agony]

I'm looking at the numbers. Everyone goes over. Nadal averaged 31 seconds last night, which along with his other match that he did that, was the longest in some time. He generally sticks around 25 seconds like the entire tour outside of Federer and Roddick. I take special notice now because of the whiners, and it's simply a moot point these days. I do agree he took too long in the last couple of matches, but I imagine he will go back to normal soon.

There's so much wrong in this post, it's clear that you cannot be even remotley objective. It's fine if you're biased and like Nadal, but don't twist the facts to your liking. It's better to not post at all and stay quiet like most Nadal fans who know this is a thread about a serious issue.

 

[TennisandMusic]

I'm sorry, but you are simply wrong or in denial. it's not rarely at all, it happens every match, at first it was on crucial points, now it's almost every point. Nadal's service games take so long even if he's not losing a single point in them.

Errr....no you are wrong or in denial. I am going based on the measured and posted numbers, timed down to the tenth of a second. I have no "opinion" on how long people take, I just look at the numbers. Yes there were TIMES when he went really long like 50 seconds, but that was just a handful of times at moments where the match was intense with the crowd going nuts. Just about every player does this though at some point.

Again. This isn't a rules issue, or a fairness issue, because every player does it. This is still a "Nadal beats Federer and that ticks people off" issue.

 

[TennisandMusic]

There's so much wrong in this post, it's clear that you cannot be even remotley objective. It's fine if you're biased and like Nadal, but don't twist the facts to your liking. It's better to not post at all and stay quiet like most Nadal fans who know this is a thread about a serious issue.

Do you need screen caps from matches to prove the point? Please don't insist I am wrong, when you are not sitting here and staring at the numbers like I do during these matches. Please please please, go to tennistv.com and you can use the same real life facts that I do. Not conjecture, not opinion, and certainly not bias.

 

[TennisandMusic]

Here is Berdych's current "time wasting" standard. Care to comment? Nadal averaged less than 2 seconds longer last night just FYI.

 

[TennisandMusic]

And here is Verdasco, the one you called out for being a notorious time waster. Doing better than Berdych, whom you called fast. Notice that both players are breaking the rules though on just about every point. For the record, Nadal usually is around Verdasco's time here, and I know this because, once again, I see this on every single tennis match I watch.

 

[NamRanger]

And here is Verdasco, the one you called out for being a notorious time waster. Doing better than Berdych, whom you called fast. Notice that both players are breaking the rules though on just about every point. For the record, Nadal usually is around Verdasco's time here, and I know this because, once again, I see this on every single tennis match I watch.

It's not how often they do it on average, they really don't. It's often how Nadal does it on important points such as critical points on his opponents' serve. This happens often on break points or 30 all. He also tends to do this on his own serve too (although he's a little better on his serve now adays).



He tends to slow down on critical points, but who doesn't. The degree to which he does it though is ridiculous though, and that is why some of us have a problem with it (as well as some players). If you watch how long he takes during points like 30 all, 15-30, deuce, or breakpoints, you will find that all of a sudden Nadal's time wasting habits go into overdrive mode, especially if he is returning.

 

[TennisandMusic]

It's not how often they do it on average, they really don't. It's often how Nadal does it on important points such as critical points on his opponents' serve. This happens often on break points or 30 all. He also tends to do this on his own serve too (although he's a little better on his serve now adays).



He tends to slow down on critical points, but who doesn't. The degree to which he does it though is ridiculous though, and that is why some of us have a problem with it (as well as some players). If you watch how long he takes during points like 30 all, 15-30, deuce, or breakpoints, you will find that all of a sudden Nadal's time wasting habits go into overdrive mode, especially if he is returning.

Umm...I have to disagree here. You can't stall the server when he's going to serve. Something like that gets called on. I've never seen anyone complain "I want to serve, get to the line!"

You just can't argue with the facts and the numbers that are posted on every single match played out. It's still a Nadal wins issue, and that's it. Tsonga was his normal cocky self until he started losing last night, then it was "No, no, no, no, no!" to the umpire. Kinda sad really.

Anytime Nadal starts winning, people start whining.

 

[NamRanger]

Umm...I have to disagree here. You can't stall the server when he's going to serve. Something like that gets called on. I've never seen anyone complain "I want to serve, get to the line!"

You just can't argue with the facts and the numbers that are posted on every single match played out. It's still a Nadal wins issue, and that's it. Tsonga was his normal cocky self until he started losing last night, then it was "No, no, no, no, no!" to the umpire. Kinda sad really.

Anytime Nadal starts winning, people start whining.

Hilarious. You can't stall the server when he's going to serve? You must be kidding me right? Remember this whole charade?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwvgnYDTTQ0


Or how about Nadal taking over a minute and a half to do a water bottle ritual over a mini change over in his tiebreak vs Roddick last year, when Roddick was about to serve?

Nadal also stalled Agassi and Federer on multiple occasions, so I don't see where you get this ridiculous notion that you can't stall the server. Sharapova is notorious for doing this, as is Nadal. Hell, Mary Pierce is another player that does it too, redoing her hair inbetween points.




Actually that did happen. Agassi after a long point stepped up to the line after making Nadal run around the court like a rabbit, and Nadal simply just went off and basically did his little rituals, and Agassi was asking why Nadal was not playing to the pace of the server. I guess you don't watch that much tennis or you would have remembered that. Or maybe you have selective memory? Agassi is pretty bad about being unreasonable, but I'm just pointing you out an example of Nadal stalling a person attempting to serve.

 

[swordtennis]

Here is a 100% objective fact: I most always fall asleep during Nadals matches or turn them off especially the ones where he gets pressured. It is becuase of the lulls in the action due the time offenses. I very rarely if ever fall asleep during tennis matches. Just Nadals when he gets tight. he does it on his serve and return games. zzzzzzzz.
I hate it and it turns Fans off to the game. The officials are a joke now.

 

[swordtennis]

Hilarious. You can't stall the server when he's going to serve? You must be kidding me right? Remember this whole charade?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwvgnYDTTQ0


Or how about Nadal taking over a minute and a half to do a water bottle ritual over a mini change over in his tiebreak vs Roddick last year, when Roddick was about to serve?

Nadal also stalled Agassi and Federer on multiple occasions, so I don't see where you get this ridiculous notion that you can't stall the server. Sharapova is notorious for doing this, as is Nadal. Hell, Mary Pierce is another player that does it too, redoing her hair inbetween points.




Actually that did happen. Agassi after a long point stepped up to the line after making Nadal run around the court like a rabbit, and Nadal simply just went off and basically did his little rituals, and Agassi was asking why Nadal was not playing to the pace of the server. I guess you don't watch that much tennis or you would have remembered that. Or maybe you have selective memory? Agassi is pretty bad about being unreasonable, but I'm just pointing you out an example of Nadal stalling a person attempting to serve.

O my 4got about Mary. During the french open a few years back I had to turn the tv off. I think I remember that Agassi incident...

 

[JennyS]

Imagine a mixed doubles match where Nadal and Pierce played Djokovic and Sharapova.

 

[ReturnWinner]

Nadal has been doing this since 05 even earlier too. I do not know why journalists neverk ask him about this.

 

[TMF]

Imagine a mixed doubles match where Nadal and Pierce played Djokovic and Sharapova.

You can go to Disneyland, then fly back and still have time to see the final set. Haha

 

[JennyS]

You can go to Disneyland, then fly back and still have time to see the final set. Haha

Haha, how true

 

[P_Agony]

Errr....no you are wrong or in denial. I am going based on the measured and posted numbers, timed down to the tenth of a second. I have no "opinion" on how long people take, I just look at the numbers. Yes there were TIMES when he went really long like 50 seconds, but that was just a handful of times at moments where the match was intense with the crowd going nuts. Just about every player does this though at some point.

Again. This isn't a rules issue, or a fairness issue, because every player does it. This is still a "Nadal beats Federer and that ticks people off" issue.

No, it's not. It's Nadal cheating that ticks people off. And righfuly so. Apparently Tsonga is the newest member of that club. They should make a Facebook group like "I too am sick of Nadal wasting so much time between points".

 

[Emelia21]

Nadal has been doing this since 05 even earlier too. I do not know why journalists neverk ask him about this.

Maybe the journalists don't care :neutral: like you do?

 

[slow_duster]

I like the "shot clock" idea. If you dont serve before clock runs out of time, it counts as a fault. Rafa would have to pick faster!!!!!!!

 

[ReturnWinner]

Maybe the journalists don't care :neutral: like you do?

Tv commentators care as they talk about that very often. I mean the people who interview Nadal, I guess They don't want to make "Rafa" feel umcomfortable.

 

[rk_sports]

Though at times it does seem Rafa does it in a rather deliberate fashion!

Just wondering.. does the umpire really clock the time between points?

 

[TheTruth]

lets see...

i have not read this thread but my guess is:

- Op posts about the Real FACT: Nadal Breaks the rules by spending to much time.

- A Few *******s (Veronique, Truth, Bolo et. al.) acuse him of being a hater and that it makes no sense whatsoever, and that if umpires do not enforce than it's ok, and the only guy wrong is Carlos Ramos that calls nadal on time wasting, but he only does that because he is portuguese, so he is envyous...

- one or two Federetes Start singing on the Nadal is a Pusher\ButPicker\Timewaster song and that if they were on court they would do this and that and a whole shebang, so much that Nadal would leave the court in a stretcher...

- Zagor is the only guy who posts anything worth reading

- namelessone, one of the few bearable Nadal fans posts a big block of text who most people misinterpret....

- CMM posts a nice picture of nadal trying to prove he is not what people say...

-Gorecki jumps in and leaves a witty remark

- Drakulie does the same but funnier...


am i in the right track?

No. If you're going to speak for The Truth, then say what The Truth said in addition, and why. I think the time wasting garbage was started by Federer because Nadal was beating him. Fed made sure to "leave it out there" in numerous interviews, planting a seed so to speak. And yeah, people may say Agassi started it, but he was a sore loser too, so it's the same thing. Still, it was Federer who kept this mess going.

I've watched tennis for a long time and I know for a fact this strict adherence to a few seconds is a recent phenomena. It's never been a part of the game, because a few seconds here and there does not constitute cheating. Ask Woodrow, the professional umpire, he says all the players go over time, so it's obvious that it's nitpicking by disgruntled, unhappy people, imo.

Now, that's The Truth speaking for herself, not Gorecki putting words in her mouth.

Uh...no, to the bolded.
(Takes a bow)