Roddick on Djokovic

[neverbeliedtoagain]

Q. When asked about his injuries today, mentioning the right ankle as opposed to the left ankle, the other day ‑‑

ANDY RODDICK: Isn't it both of them? And a back and a hip?

Q. And when he said there are too many to count.

ANDY RODDICK: And a cramp.

Q. Do you get the sense right now that he is...

ANDY RODDICK: Bird flu.

Q. Lot of things. Beijing hangover.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.

Q. He's got pretty long list of illness.

ANDY RODDICK: Anthrax. SARS. Common cough and cold.

Q. Got a lot of things going on with him.

ANDY RODDICK: Sure.

Q. Do you think he's bluffing?

ANDY RODDICK: No, I mean, I'm sure ‑‑

Q. The way you're saying it, almost means you feel like...

ANDY RODDICK: No, if it's there, it's there. There's just a lot. You know, he's either quick to call a trainer or he's the most courageous guy of all time. I think it's up for you guys to decide.

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interviews/2008-09-02/200809021220331396984.html

LOL

 

[LanceStern]

lol. Bird flu

He might pay for that though. Djokovic plays it on the safe side and makes sure those trainers are right there to keep him playing his best.

I can't wait for his match.

 

[IvanAndreevich]

Haha Roddick is being a smartass.

 

[ShooterMcMarco]

lol I wonder what Novak thinks. They were making fun of each other at AA kids day, maybe its all in good fun.

 

[Ross K]

Not for the 1st time, I hear ARod being witty and amusing... and I thought he was meant to be so awful and arrogant~?

 

[Nadal_Freak]

After that interview, I'll be rooting against Roddick. Not that I ever was a fan but those comments make me want to root against him more.

 

[rosewall4ever]

After that interview, I'll be rooting against Roddick. Not that I ever was a fan but those comments make me want to root against him more.

Surely you know that was taken in jest. His known for is dry remarks - stating the things what we all think and discuss in these boards even if its sometimes on the edge.

 

[Cfidave]

I am wondering if Roddick will be joking, when he sees Novak on the other side of the net.

 

[kairosntx]

I am wondering if Roddick will be joking, when he sees Novak on the other side of the net.

yea. so there.

He'll be so scared when he sees the Djoker on the other side of the net he'll be whizzing on himself.

 

[Telepatic]

yea. so there.

He'll be so scared when he sees the Djoker on the other side of the net he'll be whizzing on himself.

I allready see Roddick cursing chair empire for something lol

 

[Benhur]

Surely you know that was taken in jest. His known for is dry remarks - stating the things what we all think and discuss in these boards even if its sometimes on the edge.

The comments by Roddick are extremely rude and in poor taste, probably meant to rattle Djokovic, who was obviously struggling physically in the afternoon heat. There is nothing "dry" and cool in calling someone a faker in such blatant fashion - even if you think it - right before you are going to play him.

Roddick probably feels he's playing well (which he is) while Djokovic isn't playing that well. So he has a chance. So he finds it stimulating to engage in pre-match insulting potshots. Cocky as Djokovic is, I don't think he would ever engage in outright pre-match insulting like that.

Roddicks remarks are the remarks of a total jerk. I am surprised they published that.

 

[Tarsier]

I allready see Roddick cursing chair empire for something lol

For doing poorly at school, perhaps?

 

[oranges]

TCocky as Djokovic is, I don't think he would ever engage in outright pre-match insulting like that.

Funny you should say that, I thought we all know Safin is mentally unstable is pretty insulting, intended to rattle the opponent with cheap tricks. The fact that it failed miserably makes it hilarious, but no less jerkish. Examples of him playing head games abound.

 

[David L]

The comments by Roddick are extremely rude and in poor taste, probably meant to rattle Djokovic, who was obviously struggling physically in the afternoon heat. There is nothing "dry" and cool in calling someone a faker in such blatant fashion - even if you think it - right before you are going to play him.

Roddick probably feels he's playing well (which he is) while Djokovic isn't playing that well. So he has a chance. So he finds it stimulating to engage in pre-match insulting potshots. Cocky as Djokovic is, I don't think he would ever engage in outright pre-match insulting like that.

Roddicks remarks are the remarks of a total jerk. I am surprised they published that.

Open your eyes. Djokovic has a reputation for exaggerating his various 'ailments'. Federer commented on it during Davis Cup. Monfils experienced it in their US Open match. Hell, even Djokovic admitted it in that post match interview. The reputation is well deserved. Roddick is just having a good humoured poke. Robredo also commented on it after their match.

Q. You sound like you don't believe Djokovic's ailments . Is that true?

TOMMY ROBREDO: That's not that I don't believe. I have pain, as well. I was running like hell and my feet were burning but I say nothing, no? I think that if you're not fit enough, then don't play.

But after every time he was asking for a trainer, he was running like hell and he was making the shot, but he does what he does a lot of times.

So I think we should take care a lot more of these things, because one thing is that if you fell down like I did, I can have blood and it's normal that trainer gets in because there's blood or whatever. But for having pain, I had pain, as well, all over my body because I think I run a lot more than him, and I said nothing, no?

So did I trust him? No. No. I think he took his time because he did it because he was a little bit more tired and that's a part of the game. It help him a lot.

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interviews/2008-09-02/200809021220393941461.html

 

[gj011]

The comments by Roddick are extremely rude and in poor taste, probably meant to rattle Djokovic, who was obviously struggling physically in the afternoon heat. There is nothing "dry" and cool in calling someone a faker in such blatant fashion - even if you think it - right before you are going to play him.

Roddick probably feels he's playing well (which he is) while Djokovic isn't playing that well. So he has a chance. So he finds it stimulating to engage in pre-match insulting potshots. Cocky as Djokovic is, I don't think he would ever engage in outright pre-match insulting like that.

Roddicks remarks are the remarks of a total jerk. I am surprised they published that.

Agreed completely. Roddick is showing again that he is a jerk and bad sport. People here are tolerating this only because he is american and this junk is about Djokovic.

Could you people imagine reaction on this board if for example Djokovic said something like this about Federer.

 

[Andres]

Hahahahaha!
ARod rocks! :lol:

 

[zagor]

Hope Djokovic reads this,should be some bad blood between them now and that should make the match all the more exciting.Can't wait :twisted:.

 

[David L]

Agreed completely. Roddick is showing again that he is a jerk and bad sport. People here are tolerating this only because he is american and this junk is about Djokovic.

Could you people imagine reaction on this board if for example Djokovic said something like this about Federer.

But Federer's behaviour does not warrant these comments. If Federer behaved like Djokovic, I doubt many would have a problem with it.

 

[Islandtennis]

Oh you are right. The Joker would never make fun of another player. He has so much respect for everyone on tour. That is so wrong for Andy to do.

 

[Benhur]

Funny you should say that, I thought we all know Safin is mentally unstable is pretty insulting, intended to rattle the opponent with cheap tricks. The fact that it failed miserably makes it hilarious, but no less jerkish. Examples of him playing head games abound.

Saying Safin is "mentally unstable" can be excused as the phrase of someone for whom English is not a native language, when what he clearly is trying to say is that Safin is mentally very inconsistent, which is pretty uncontroversial. He clearly was not trying to say that Safin is a raving psychopath or anything like that.

Roddick doesn't know how Djokovic was feeling physically, and there is nothing witty in calling him a faker so openly. If calling a trainer is allowed by the rules, then it is legal. Just as legal as a timeout in other sports. The specific reason is irrelevant. Even if you call the trainer because you are exhausted or you are not breathing well, or just because you feel like having your back massaged, there is nothing wrong with it as long as it is within the rules.

There is room for discussion as to whether trainer timeouts should be allowed in tennis at all, and how strictly the rules should be enforced. But as long as timeouts are allowed, it is idle to second guess the motives when a player asks for a trainer. The important thing is whether the rules are being broken or not. If they are, the empire has the responsibility to ensure they aren't broken. If they aren't being broken, the player is doing nothing wrong.

 

[tournaking]

Robredo commented on djoko's injury time out's in a post match interview aswell.

 

[Blue Drop]

Until Djerkovic changes his ways, he'll get comments like this. Given the number of his peers who have made similar comments, it's hard to argue that Roddick is being rude.

 

[Benhur]

Open your eyes. Djokovic has a reputation for exaggerating his various 'ailments'. Federer commented on it during Davis Cup. Monfils experienced it in their US Open match. Hell, even Djokovic admitted it in that post match interview. The reputation is well deserved. Roddick is just having a good humoured poke. Robredo also commented on it after their match.

The comments by Robredo are completely different. He doesn't doubt Djokovic was having pains and problems. He says he himself was in pain too. He just doesn't think this should be cause for calling a trainer. He seems to say that the rules are wrong as they are. Maybe the are, but that's not Djokovic's fault. If the rules allow a player to call a trainer, he can call a trainer. If they allow him a three minute timeout or whatever it is, they can use it for whatever they want. If the other guy is also suffering but prefers to take the suffering quietly, because he feels more manly, only to mention it afterwards, then that's what he prefers. Good for him that he can be so stoic. But I don't find it difficult to believe that playing a long match in conditions where the courtside temperature is well in the 90s may cause some real physical problems to some people. No need to fake.

In fact, hiding your pain, like Robredo says he chose to do, is also faking, isn't it?
Am not a fan of either Djokovic or Roddick, but those comments were pretty nasty.

 

[cknobman]

While ARod may have sounded like a jerk I completely agree with what he and Tommy Robredo, and 90% of the rest of the tour have to say about Djokovic.

He uses the trainer crap way to often and plays these injuries big time. The calling for injury timeouts seems purposeful to disrupt the flow of the match and gain time to rest when tired.

Also I think it gives Djokovic the perfect setup. If he loses its because he wasnt feeling well and had a hard time but if he wins then he overcame a hard struggle and sticks his chest out like he "willed" his way through it.

Djokovic is a joke literally. He may have some talent and ability but combined with his sportsmanship and personality he just ruins it.

 

[oranges]

Saying Safin is "mentally unstable" can be excused as the phrase of someone for whom English is not a native language, when what he clearly is trying to say is that Safin is mentally very inconsistent, which is pretty uncontroversial. He clearly was not trying to say that Safin is a raving psychopath or anything like that.

No, it's got nothing to do with him not being a native speaker, it's Joker stupidly hoping that would somehow have the desired same effect. We all know he didn't mean it in the psychopath sense, but the aim was clearly to put the pressure on him in the hope that would be one of those days. It was a head game and a stupid one at that.

Roddick doesn't know how Djokovic was feeling physically, and there is nothing witty in calling him a faker so openly. If calling a trainer is allowed by the rules, then it is legal. Just as legal as a timeout in other sports. The specific reason is irrelevant. Even if you call the trainer because you are exhausted or you are not breathing well, or just because you feel like having your back massaged, there is nothing wrong with it as long as it is within the rules.

Well, if you feel all of Djokovic medical timeouts are warranted, you're undoubtedly a minority. You're supposed to call them only when you have genuine medical problem, not when you'd like a break and some massage. Roddick joked about it, big deal, it's not against the rules either and he has not even directly accused him. I find it amusing given the situation.

There is room for discussion as to whether trainer timeouts should be allowed in tennis at all, and how strictly the rules should be enforced. But as long as timeouts are allowed, it is idle to second guess the motives when a player asks for a trainer. The important thing is whether the rules are being broken or not. If they are, the empire has the responsibility to ensure they aren't broken. If they aren't being broken, the player is doing nothing wrong.

It is idle to speculate about it in the sense whether and what to do formally because it is practically impossible to determine anything with certainty, but we as tennis fans do not have to have "proof" of anything. I have little doubt that he's manipulating the rules when it suits him to gain an advantage. Too much "circumstantial evidence". It might be formally within the rules, but few would agree it's perfectly OK as a strategy.

 

[David L]

The comments by Robredo are completely different. He doesn't doubt Djokovic was having pains and problems. He says he himself was in pain too. He just doesn't think this should be cause for calling a trainer. He seems to say that the rules are wrong as they are. Maybe the are, but that's not Djokovic's fault. If the rules allow a player to call a trainer, he can call a trainer. If they allow him a three minute timeout or whatever it is, they can use it for whatever they want. If the other guy is also suffering but prefers to take the suffering quietly, because he feels more manly, only to mention it afterwards, then that's what he prefers. Good for him that he can be so stoic. But I don't find it difficult to believe that playing a long match in conditions where the courtside temperature is well in the 90s may cause some real physical problems to some people. No need to fake.

In fact, hiding your pain, like Robredo says he chose to do, is also faking, isn't it?
Am not a fan of either Djokovic or Roddick, but those comments were pretty nasty.

Oh but he does doubt Djokovic is being genuine. You must have missed this quote right at the bottom. Injury time outs are meant for injuries, not because you are feeling tired or want to disrupt your opponents flow. If we are simply talking about calling the trainer, sure he can call one, but there is a spirit in which the game can be played. For some it is with honest and integrity, for others it is to win by any means necessary. I wouldn't blame those who choose to play with integrity for taking umbrage with those how adopt more Machiavellian methods.

Tommy Robredo: So did I trust him? No. No. I think he took his time because he did it because he was a little bit more tired and that's a part of the game. It help him a lot.

 

[Benhur]

While ARod may have sounded like a jerk I completely agree with what he and Tommy Robredo, and 90% of the rest of the tour have to say about Djokovic.

He uses the trainer crap way to often and plays these injuries big time. The calling for injury timeouts seems purposeful to disrupt the flow of the match and gain time to rest when tired.

Also I think it gives Djokovic the perfect setup. If he loses its because he wasnt feeling well and had a hard time but if he wins then he overcame a hard struggle and sticks his chest out like he "willed" his way through it.

Djokovic is a joke literally. He may have some talent and ability but combined with his sportsmanship and personality he just ruins it.

What there needs to be is a clear rule consistently enforced as to how many times the trainer can be called and how much of a timeout you can take once the trainer gets there.
Personally, if a player wants something done to him by a trainer during the 90 second changeover, I don't see any problem with that, no matter how often they do it, as they don't exceed the 90 seconds. Nor do I see anything wrong with one timeout per match, provided it has a specified length and it is enforced. I never heard of the notion of a team "abusing" the timeouts in other sports by just using them up.

One timeout per match seems reasonable. No need to justify it.

If other players feel that asking for a timeout may help them win a match, they are stupid not to do it.

 

[carlos djackal]

This is funny...

 

[gj011]

Oh but he does doubt Djokovic is being genuine. You must have missed this quote right at the bottom. Injury time outs are meant for injuries, not because you are feeling tired or want to disrupt your opponents flow. If we are simply talking about calling the trainer, sure he can call one, but there is a spirit in which the game can be played. For some it is with honest and integrity, for others it is to win by any means necessary. I wouldn't blame those who choose to play with integrity for taking umbrage with those how adopt more Machiavellian methods.

Tommy Robredo: So did I trust him? No. No. I think he took his time because he did it because he was a little bit more tired and that's a part of the game. It help him a lot.

Integrity and honesty? Are we talking about Roddick or Robredo integrity and honesty here? Roddick won his only slam because of the bad call, while I hope everybody remembers Robredo's cheating in Hamburg against Kohlschreiber. Is that the integrity of the game these two "are trying to protect".

Is it honest for Federer to take timeout to clip his toenails (AO against Tipsarevic) or for Nadal to regroup (Hamburg final), but it is not honest from Djokovic to take a timeout when he hurts his hip or is having a breathing problems.

Lots of BS and double standards here.

 

[David L]

What there needs to be is a clear rule consistently enforced as to how many times the trainer can be called and how much of a timeout you can take once the trainer gets there.
Personally, if a player wants something done to him by a trainer during the 90 second changeover, I don't see any problem with that, no matter how often they do it, as they don't exceed the 90 seconds. Nor do I see anything wrong with one timeout per match, provided it has a specified length and it is enforced. I never heard of the notion of a team "abusing" the timeouts in other sports by just using them up.

One timeout per match seems reasonable. No need to justify it.

If other players feel that asking for a timeout may help them win a match, they are stupid not to do it.

Yes, but these are not general time outs like in basketball. They are meant to be for injuries.

 

[David L]

Integrity and honesty? Are we talking about Roddick or Robredo integrity and honesty here? Roddick won his only slam because of the bad call, while I hope everybody remembers Robredo's cheating in Hamburg against Kohlschreiber. Is that the integrity of the game these two "are trying to protect".

Is it honest for Federer to take timeout to clip his toenails (AO against Tipsarevic) or for Nadal to regroup (Hamburg final), but it is not honest from Djokovic to take a timeout when he hurts his hip or is having a breathing problems.

Lots of BS and double standards here.

If there is a problem with some aspect of your body, fine, but if we are just talking about general fatigue or a tactical ploy, you shouldn't be taking a time out. Most of the other players don't seem to abuse the time out rules, but Djokovic has become infamous for this amongst fans and players.

 

[coloskier]

Personally, I think that ANYONE who takes an injury timeout should be penalized a game. Getting hurt is part of playing tennis and the person who isn't hurt shouldn't be penalized because his opponent is hurt. Take away a game for an injury timeout and you will see all this stuff disappear.

 

[FloridaAG]

Not a Roddick fan - but I think it is funny. Djoker is always complaining about some physical ailment - so he has a built in excuse any time he loses.

 

[Oui c'est moi.]

Boy who cried wolf.

This time i think his injuries have been genuine but he's apparently faked so many it's become easy to poke fun at him.
I hope you learnt your lesson Novak.

 

[FD3S]

"Roddick won his only slam because of the bad call"

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=215709

Read page 10, about halfway through when Moose starts posting. At any rate, saying Roddick won solely because of this is ridiculous.

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

Good idea to get inside his head like that. Joker will think: "I'll show this guy..." and will try to overhit etc...

 

[norcal]

All you Roddick haters need to buy a sense of humor. I think Joker will take it in the spirit it was delivered - in jest.

Bird flu? SARS? Hilarious, that's why Roddick is the best interview in tennis. You guys can keep your robotic, cliched interview drones - so boring.

 

[Benhur]

Personally, I think that ANYONE who takes an injury timeout should be penalized a game. Getting hurt is part of playing tennis and the person who isn't hurt shouldn't be penalized because his opponent is hurt. Take away a game for an injury timeout and you will see all this stuff disappear.

Well, at least that would be a clear rule. Though a game might be too much. Perhaps a point.

The important thing is that as long as a timeout is allowed, the reason why a player takes it should be irrelevant. There is no way to define "injury" precisely. And even if you could, there are no instruments that allow you to measure whether a player is feeling pain where he says he is, or how much pain exactly. The result is enormous vagueness about this injury notion. The only practical way to go about this is to say: you get one timeout of so many minutes. You can use it for whatever reason. Or to say: you get no timeouts whatsoever. Or to say: you get a timeout with a point penalty. But something clear and easily enforceable. "Injury" is too vague a notion on which to base a timeout. Are cramps an injury? Is severe shortness of breath an injury? Is pain an injury? If so, how do you measure it?

The way things stand now, it is understood you get one injury timeout. It is also understood the nature or even the reality of the "injury" is not considered at all, because it can't.

 

[rommil]

All you Roddick haters need to buy a sense of humor. I think Joker will take it in the spirit it was delivered - in jest.

Bird flu? SARS? Hilarious, that's why Roddick is the best interview in tennis. You guys can keep your robotic, cliched interview drones - so boring.

Knowing that he is playing Djokovic, this was made in jest. If it were a lowly player, Roddick would probably have meant it differently. Errr.... I wouldn't go as far as naming Roddick the best interview. Safin is more "naturally" funny.

 

[random guy]

Many people have complained about Djoker time-outs and not necessarily after a defeat. After a Davis cup tie in which Federer beat the crap out of Nole he said that he didn't like the thing about calling a trainer and the next thing you know the guy is running like a "rabbit". And Robredo was a lot more harsh in spanish, saying that Djokovic is a "clown" and "always is something wrong with his health when he loses a set". So, I'm with Roddick on this one.

 

[el sergento]

To all you Djoker apologists:

"THOU DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH!"


The kid is pure talent but where there's smoke there's fire and his antics are soiling whatever good he could bring to a game dearly in need of a popularity boost. He clearly abuses the rules, uses the injury time outs to disrupt his opponents rhythm and to rest his body. Kafelnikov famously played an insane amount of matches a year and yet I don't recall him ever receiving medical treatments on court.

How is tennis to grow in popularity in North America, where spectators are used to watching football players get crushed and keep playing or hockey players picking up their own teeth and staying on the ice, when the #3 player in the world needs some massage therapy every other set just to finish a match??

I hope Novak listens to Roddicks comments and realizes that EVERYONE is on to him and that given his game he doesn't need to revert to cheap tricks to win tournaments.

 

[mentalcase]

Birdflu?! Brilliant!

I think I'll cheer for Roddick!

 

[Raoul_Duke]

I'm a Joker fan but I don't mind these comments. I don't feel bitterness in his words. Some healthy laughter.

Though, bitterness comes after the match ...

 

[jgn1013]

I like jokers game but not his antic's..

 

[Morrissey]

I don't think Roddick will be scared. He practically had a warmup match tonight with Gonzo being Gonzo. Fresh, hungry and ready vs a weary and "supposedly" injured Joker. Roddick in 4 kids. Z and I will be there to check it out during the changeovers. But I gotta go with Roddick on this one. And it's definitely not because I like him.

 

[Ossric]

Agreed completely. Roddick is showing again that he is a jerk and bad sport. People here are tolerating this only because he is american and this junk is about Djokovic.

Could you people imagine reaction on this board if for example Djokovic said something like this about Federer.

I'm supporting it because it's funny and Djokovic is getting old with his out of shape, call the trainer because he's winded routine. He's going to get medical timeouts changed single-handedly.

Roddick just doesn't sugar coat things to try and appear pristine to the media. He calls it how he sees it. If being honest makes you a jerk then so be it. But being fake makes you a coward.

 

[ohplease]

Kudos to Roddick for calling it like it is. In fact, the first time The Joke gained any attention at all, it was for pulling this kind of garbage with his match w/Monfils (and ADMITTING to it afterwords, no less).

Yes, the kid has talent, but him and his brood make the darkest days of Lleyton Hewitt's reign look like freaking Camelot.

 

[Oui c'est moi.]

him and his brood make the darkest days of Lleyton Hewitt's reign look like freaking Camelot.

Hahaha.

...

 

[jgn1013]

Kudos to Roddick for calling it like it is. In fact, the first time The Joke gained any attention at all, it was for pulling this kind of garbage with his match w/Monfils (and ADMITTING to it afterwords, no less).

Yes, the kid has talent, but him and his brood make the darkest days of Lleyton Hewitt's reign look like freaking Camelot.

I also agree, if you are OUT OF SHAPE then don't play. Hasn't he pulled the breathing, cramping, injury in multiple matches this year?

 

[Ossric]

Integrity and honesty? Are we talking about Roddick or Robredo integrity and honesty here? Roddick won his only slam because of the bad call, while I hope everybody remembers Robredo's cheating in Hamburg against Kohlschreiber. Is that the integrity of the game these two "are trying to protect".

Is it honest for Federer to take timeout to clip his toenails (AO against Tipsarevic) or for Nadal to regroup (Hamburg final), but it is not honest from Djokovic to take a timeout when he hurts his hip or is having a breathing problems.

Lots of BS and double standards here.

The problem is not that he's done it. It's the frequency.

His medical timeout stats blow anyone else on the mens tour's out of the water.

That and it's always the same thing. If he had just a bad injury he wouldn't be able to play at the level he plays at. He calls them because he's winded or because he's playing like crap and wants to regroup.

If you're too blind to see it's pure gamesmanship you're the one losing out here.