Should have Djokovic gotten a code violation for not trying?

[Zaragoza]

I watched the match,like many other people here I guess, and I have to say Djokovic´s attitude on the court was disgusting. He didn´t try, not even at 50% like in Vienna. Santoro didn´t play an extraordinary match to beat him 6-3 6-2, he did nothing special. If I was Davydenko I would be really upset, at least he tried it for one set and a half against Cilic but Djokovic didn´t show any desire to win the match from the start. He was basically walking on the court. I think he should have gotten a code violation for not trying. Not pretending to take credit off Santoro but Djokovic´s performance today wasn´t professional. I started liking him as a tennis player but I cannot admire someone who doesn´t try his best on every match.

 

[ninman]

So a top 8 player loses, and automatically they are not trying. If Djokovic gets one, then Federer and Nadal should also get one for their matches against Nalbandian.

 

[jmsx521]

Should a player, who is down 0-5, 0-40, try to fight to get back in the set, which is literally impossible, or try to recuperate for the next set? Where is really the borderline of not trying?

 

[ninman]

Federer already admitted to "not trying" against Volandri. He said he was losing and he was thinking, "I'm losing, but so what?" I other words he gave up.

 

[Zaragoza]

So a top 8 player loses, and automatically they are not trying. If Djokovic gets one, then Federer and Nadal should also get one for their matches against Nalbandian.

You admit on the poll that you didn´t watch the match. Good. Nadal and Federer tried but Nalbandian was the better player whereas Djokovic didn´t take this match seriously even if he took rest last week. There is a big difference.

 

[Zaragoza]

Should a player, who is down 0-5, 0-40, try to fight to get back in the set, which is literally impossible, or try to recuperate for the next set? Where is really the borderline of not trying?

It would be normal to don´t try so hard in the next point but we are talking about the whole match here, it´s a totally different situation.

 

[malakas]

I watched the match,like many other people here I guess, and I have to say Djokovic´s attitude on the court was disgusting. He didn´t try, not even at 50% like in Vienna. Santoro didn´t play an extraordinary match to beat him 6-3 6-2, he did nothing special. If I was Davydenko I would be really upset, at least he tried it for one set and a half against Cilic but Djokovic didn´t show any desire to win the match from the start. He was basically walking on the court. I think he should have gotten a code violation for not trying. Not pretending to take credit off Santoro but Djokovic´s performance today wasn´t professional. I started liking him as a tennis player but I cannot admire someone who doesn´t try his best on every match.

I didn't watch the match,but it's interesting Z that he gave you such an impression.Even if he didn't try,I seriously doubt that he would ever be given a code-violation though..

 

[anointedone]

It is possible alot of guys dont even really want to be at Paris and they have their own way of dealing with that. It may not be the nicest way either.

 

[malakas]

I didn't watch the match,but it's interesting Z that he gave you such an impression.Even if he didn't try,I seriously doubt that he would ever be given a code-violation though..

Just read more reports about it.It wasn't enought,that the little attention-seeker turned up wearing a Batman mask,but he so obviously tanked!! and he ends up not only collecting 500.000$ but aids his buddy Murray signifantly in his TMC effort.
If the ATP tried to be fair,they should fine him. for lack of effort.

 

[plain jane]

i voted yes mainly because it was done to davydenko and i thought it was unfair but i really think this fining for not trying thing is a bit ridiculous. i just found it disgusting the way djokovic did it (i didn't watch the davydenko match)

 

[Moose Malloy]

Djokovic is a better actor than Davydenko, so that's why he won't be fined. He's not stupid enough to just double-fault away 3 games in a row(like Davydenko). Davydenko wasn't even trying to pretend he wasn't tanking, while Djokovic was more subtle(like hitting bad approaches so Santoro can hit easy winners), an umpire can't get involved, since it isn't as obvious.

Have any of you read Mac's book? He talks about how to tank without looking like you're tanking. Fits the Santoro match to a tee. Most pros know how to make an opponent look good.

 

[plain jane]

Djokovic is a better actor than Davydenko, so that's why he won't be fined. He's not stupid enough to just double-fault away 3 games in a row(like Davydenko). Davydenko wasn't even trying to pretend he wasn't tanking, while Djokovic was more subtle(like hitting bad approaches so Santoro can hit easy winners), an umpire can't get involved, since it isn't as obvious.

Have any of you read Mac's book? He talks about how to tank without looking like you're tanking. Fits the Santoro match to a tee. Most pros know how to make an opponent look good.

But it was obvious to everyone that djoko was tanking!

 

[Moose Malloy]

But it was obvious to everyone that djoko was tanking!

But there's still 'reasonable doubt' (for an umpire at least) Novak was actually moving & hitting, pretending to try etc, while Davydenko just hit double-fault after double-fault, and walked side to side watching aces go by.

Plus Novak shook his head, talked to himself, etc. That fake frustration makes it look you are trying in some way. Davydenko was expressionless, as always.

I agree Novak tanked, but its of the garden-variety type(probably happens several times during any event), not the "I'm not gonna even try to fake it" display that Davydenko put on. That kind of tank is rare.

 

[Deleted member 3771]

sometimes a player wakes up not feeling so great and gets blown off the court. Joker always tries his hardest, especially with the bg money on the line at the masters. So I think it was just a case of Santoro outplaying him on the day. If joker wasnt feeling so well for whatever reason, too bad, it happens.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Joker always tries his hardest, especially with the bg money on the line at the masters.

Joker got a nice piece of the bonus pool for just showing up in Paris(since he played all 9 masters) That was his main reason for playing Paris. Its not exactly a quick flight to Shanghai from Paris, now this loss gives him time to prepare.

 

[JLyon]

give him a break guys he was on medication after having his wisdom teeth removed. That is not a fun surgery and throws you for a loop, but of course all the pros here chose not to play Paris I assume since your all Top 20 in the world. He probably would have been better not playing and not having a bunch of internet geeks bashing him.

 

[Moose Malloy]

He probably would have been better not playing and not having a bunch of internet geeks bashing him.

The commentators implied he tanked as well. I'm sure many in the media will as well.

Do you think its a coincidence that most of the top 10 skipped Paris last year & this year most are showing up? There was no bonus pool last year, this year there is.

This will not be the last tank this week I predict, Shanghai is too far away for Paris to get treated with respect by the top players(Fed basically said this last year). The situation will get better when the masters cup moves to London next year.

 

[jmsx521]

Djokovic is a better actor...

...Novak was actually moving & hitting, pretending to try etc ... Plus Novak shook his head, talked to himself, etc. That fake frustration makes it look you are trying in some way...

Being friends with Robert DeNiro is paying off!

 

[psamp14]

i didnt watch the match but saw the headline citing djokovic weakened by his wisdom teeth pulled out....

i dont know if he should have gotten a code violation for not trying though...i've had my wisdom teeth extracted and its pretty painful afterwards....at least he didnt withdraw for that reason plus some fake injury....he played and lost to the magician santoro

the code violation to davydenko last week was also rather unexpected...sometimes players just get a little down if they are not feeling too well and mentally are tiring out in the middle of a match....code violation for not trying...cmon

 

[illkhiboy]

But there's still 'reasonable doubt' (for an umpire at least) Novak was actually moving & hitting, pretending to try etc, while Davydenko just hit double-fault after double-fault, and walked side to side watching aces go by.

Plus Novak shook his head, talked to himself, etc. That fake frustration makes it look you are trying in some way. Davydenko was expressionless, as always.

I agree Novak tanked, but its of the garden-variety type(probably happens several times during any event), not the "I'm not gonna even try to fake it" display that Davydenko put on. That kind of tank is rare.

How can you be so sure that Djokovic tanked?

 

[Federer's pet goat Leanne]

In that match that Davydenko retired in the third set, did he just double faulted in the second set and didn't try to do much?

 

[iamke55]

No, his career is done. Look at the age of his opponent.

 

[Ripper]

No, his career is done. Look at the age of his opponent.

I agree, he should retire

Seriously, he's kind of nuts.

 

[Nadal_Freak]

Djokovic is done. Might as well retire after that performance.

 

[pcpshortbus]

i hadnt heard of davydenko tanking... i looked it up on youtube and apparently hes done it before. or so the ref said. http://youtube.com/watch?v=0wLtfNlsoCk

 

[Chauvalito]

Djokovic is a better actor than Davydenko, so that's why he won't be fined. He's not stupid enough to just double-fault away 3 games in a row(like Davydenko). Davydenko wasn't even trying to pretend he wasn't tanking, while Djokovic was more subtle(like hitting bad approaches so Santoro can hit easy winners), an umpire can't get involved, since it isn't as obvious.

Have any of you read Mac's book? He talks about how to tank without looking like you're tanking. Fits the Santoro match to a tee. Most pros know how to make an opponent look good.

Thats the sad thing, I watched the highlights on ATP masters series TV and it looked like Djokovic was tanking.

I thought his acting was quite bad...which means Davydenko must have been downright obvious...

 

[Chauvalito]

The umpire might not have wanted to give a code violation becasue Santoro is French, and they are playign in France.

I dont know how much this is taken into consideration, but I think Djokovic was doing well enough too fool the crowd, which might have been part of the reason there was no code violation given.

The mood for the match was happy, wheras with the Davydenko match as you can see from wathing the youtube video, the crowd was already starting to boo him.

 

[Morrissey]

Djokovic is a better actor than Davydenko, so that's why he won't be fined. He's not stupid enough to just double-fault away 3 games in a row(like Davydenko). Davydenko wasn't even trying to pretend he wasn't tanking, while Djokovic was more subtle(like hitting bad approaches so Santoro can hit easy winners), an umpire can't get involved, since it isn't as obvious.

Have any of you read Mac's book? He talks about how to tank without looking like you're tanking. Fits the Santoro match to a tee. Most pros know how to make an opponent look good.

Kinda like when Roddick plays anyone in the top 10? Those pathetic approach shots, the sad thing is he's actually trying.