Injury cheating?

junior · Intermediate Club Player

Injury cheating?

indiana · Tennis legend

The world dislikes Novak. Rightly so.

junior · Intermediate Club Player

Still doesn't make his actions or others right and within sportsmanship realm. From what I've seen this week, Evans was exhausted from the tournament he won the week before and still suffered 5 sets. Sinner as well, 5 hours but it was Shapalov arguing and fighting for his rights to go to the bathroom for third time when he was under pressure. Berretini has just withdrawn from a very winnable match after hurting himself vs Kachanov.

However Rafa dodged 3/4 difficult matches in the ATP Cup and has since destroyed 4 guys without even sweating even after "changing his serve". And as Novak has had a much harder draw, he was suffering and then was injured but then takes care of Raonic yesterday.

emmsie69 · Top national player

junior wrote:
Still doesn't make his actions or others right and within sportsmanship realm. From what I've seen this week, Evans was exhausted from the tournament he won the week before and still suffered 5 sets. Sinner as well, 5 hours but it was Shapalov arguing and fighting for his rights to go to the bathroom for third time when he was under pressure. Berretini has just withdrawn from a very winnable match after hurting himself vs Kachanov.

However Rafa dodged 3/4 difficult matches in the ATP Cup and has since destroyed 4 guys without even sweating even after "changing his serve". And as Novak has had a much harder draw, he was suffering and then was injured but then takes care of Raonic yesterday.

I didn't really read past the headlines of this story although I knew there was more to it than a flat refusal, good on the umpire for calling him out.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Given that
(a) you're only allowed two bathroom breaks for the whole a five set match
(b) Shapo asked for the break at the end of a set so hardly at a key moment
(c) and it was something to do with him getting treatment that meant he couldn't have the bathroom break (from AO Site: "Shapovalov received treatment on his left shoulder between sets, which meant he was denied a request to go off court for a toilet break"),
I don't think that was gamesmanship, just a player who wanted an empty bladder before he started the final set.

junior · Intermediate Club Player

Coincidence then it was just after having lost the fourth set from being a break up and not wanting to disrupt things and keep Sinner on court all night. Is just one example, Federer medical time out vs Nadal in the final a few years ago, Medvedev vs Stefanos the original match/fight, Nadal's "Banana stuck in throat" excuse........

Elegant Point · Satellite level

Djoko didn't seem to hold back in the racket smashing incident in his match vs Zverev......obviously endorphins kicking in to mask any pain from injury?? I don't really want either of them to win hmm

Bagel · Lower Club Player

indiana wrote:
The world dislikes Novak. Rightly so.

The world should also dislike Nadull!

SuperT · Futures level

I've just watched some of the Novak match and I can't believe he has an abdominal tear. Other players with the same injury were just rolling the ball into play as they could barely serve whereas Novak wins by serving aces for fun. It just doesn't make sense. As for smashing his racket.....

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Djokovic into the semi final.

Definitely injured. disbelief

junior · Intermediate Club Player

Has it been made worse as he's had a much more difficult draw with some sort of resilience? As opposed to Nadal who has just crunched sad looking midcarders in straight sets? Before smashing Stefanos as well tomorrow?

What is the solution? Fines? ATP phsyiotherapists on hand to officially sign off on injuries? Does it not fall into the venues/tournament and federation organizations "duty of care" to refuse injured players to play? If Novak is playing injured and then sustains career ending injury on Thursday who's responsible under the law of tort?

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Both Novak and Rafa arent 100% fit coming into this for me. As much as Novak is very unlikeable particularly these days with his COVID stance its a great effort from both to still be able to do enough to progress. I discounted a Novak v Rafa final but it would be fascinating to see given the circumstances.

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

On the topic of injuries. I notice that the challenger in Chile this week has had a high number of walkovers in the doubles tournament. 7 walkovers so far. With the number 1 seeds with 3 to get to the final without hitting a ball!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Madadman wrote:
On the topic of injuries. I notice that the challenger in Chile this week has had a high number of walkovers in the doubles tournament. 7 walkovers so far. With the number 1 seeds with 3 to get to the final without hitting a ball!

I heard it was linked to the Cordoba ATP 250 event and many players getting into qualies there although ive not checked the details. Not real injuries as you rightly suggest!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Yeah, looking at Cordoba qualies draw , many of the injured pairs have someone from the pair in Cordoba qualies .