Why so much tanking in the men's game?

[Rickson]

In amateur play and in the women's game, players try to beat each other every game, but in the ATP, the men tank every receiving game for the remainder of the set if they get just 1 break. The lack of effort is despicable and obvious and I believe there should be some fines handed out for tanking receiving games.

 

[mowcopian]

you have to admit though when the shots go in there pretty awesome

 

[Rickson]

you have to admit though when the shots go in there pretty awesome

You mean when they take some risks? Yeah, sometimes.

 

[Mr. Blond]

I have wondered myself why they tank so much, I figured it was something to do with the serves they were getting. I have never seen a live professional match, so I was just puzzled.

 

[tennissavy]

One big reason for this is that the women usually have better serve returns than the men, in general.

 

[emcee]

Also women play only 3 sets.

It's not really "tanking" to half-heartedly play receiving games if they're up a break. If so, then Pete Sampras must be the biggest tanker of all time but we all know it's really Marat Safin!

 

[HyperHorse]

To conserve ENERGY, Rickson....
DUH.... i thought that's pretty obvious...

 

[Koaske]

Players tend to get more nervous in the end of each set so it MIGHT be easier to break there... Women don't have better serve returns than men, men just have better serves!

 

[sureshs]

Men should receive less pay than women because of this tanking.

 

[MagicMT]

Fed and Nadal don't. they love to hand out bagels. that's one reason why they are so dominant.

 

[Rickson]

Fed and Nadal don't. they love to hand out bagels. that's one reason why they are so dominant.

While they're not as obvious about it as Roddick, they do it too.

 

[Steve Huff]

Tanking?! Like HH said, they're conserving energy. It's a stadegy that they feel best helps them WIN. Tanking is when you're down 2 sets to love and just stand there as the other guys 80 mph 2nd serve zips by you. Or, in Safin's case, when he reaches out and catches the serve, even though it was good. Safin DID get fined for tanking in that particular match.

 

[tennisboy87]

They're not tanking. They're just conserving energy. Sampras used to get one break and then just coast on his serve the rest of the set.

 

[shawn1122]

It's called playing smart...unless you get broken.

 

[Rickson]

They're not tanking. They're just conserving energy.

That's tanking!

 

[textbook strokes]

Claycourters don't usually tank, except Gaudio maybe. The rely in fierce competition and breaks. Go clay!!