Coup Droit wrote:

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JonH comes home wrote:

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Coup Droit wrote:

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I still believe that two-set tennis might be the answer
Of course it's limiting
But not as limiting as constant injury
And it may really help to put a lid on the constant injury
(Of course, let's hope she's just got a bug. But......)

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 I  am sure this is a stupid question!! What is two set tennis? She is playing best of 3 sets now, do you mean play first two sets and withdraw at that point, regardless, if it is one set all?

Would that even be allowed if happening as a regular thing?

Or do you mean something else by two set tennis?!

  

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Yes, I mean retire at the end of the first set if you lose it

And retire at the end of the second set if you've won the first set and lost the second 

It actually is a strategy that some coaches use for players who need to learn to focus

It's a good learning exercise i.e. rather than teaching the 'fight, grind, you can work your way back', it teaches the 'don't put yourself in a position where you need to fight - act like it's a one-set shoot out'

And it can be very effective - you don't 'allow' yourself to lose that first set, or the second

Obviously it's not the same argument for Fran

But the reasoning is similar - if your body is fragile, teach yourself to win in two or not at all 

And there's nothing to stop you - you can retire whenever you like

 

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 Ok, that is interesting. Are you aware of any players on the pro circuit that use this approach? 

I imagine the betting markets would go into a slight head scratching exercise around how to deal with a player who adopted this approach!

Lambda wrote:

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I astounded such disrepectful and unsporting behaviour can even be suggested. Failure to complete a match without a medical reason is an aggravated behaviour offence with a big fine and the potential for a suspension. I'm retiring after losing the 1st set on the off chance my body might not be able to complete a 3 set match is not going to be an acceptable medical reason. Nor is it in her DNA to do so. And if she puts that on the media statement she has to submit on retiring from a match, that's just going to get her a whole load of abuse.

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I must admit, my thinking was along these lines, as well as the TIU (if it still exists) having a few comments to make! 

But, obviously, Fran isnt suggesting these things or as far as we know considered it - so it is just CD theorising really, and probably with a slight tongue in her cheek

I love the outrage this generated

But my point would be that, Lambda and others, this IS a medical reason i.e. it's someone with a serious medical condition whose body cannot take the full rigours of long matches and you're simply taking prevenative action, as many do when they have a small tweak or niggle

Because I'm absolutely sure that Fran, even on her very best day, is not completely pain free (hardly any player is, and Fran - not a chance)

So it is perfectly acceptable to retire, for me, on medical grounds, even every time you lost the first set

And it does not 'offend' her opponent (I'm sure the oppoenent will be very happy )

The only possible people who lose out are the paying crowd/TV fans - which aren't a lot at the level of matches she's doing and it's just possible her team could make an exception for finals

And as to the 'ethics' or the 'spirit' of fair play - well, it's not 'fair' that Fran has this nasty condition and if this is what she'd have to do, to give herself a fighting chance, I have no problem

And, yes, of course, just to be clear, this is 100% MY view, not Fran's (but if she's off for another 6 months here, there and everywhere, after hard matches - well, Fran, here's an idea and you're welcome ! )

Coup Droit wrote:

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I love the outrage this generated

But my point would be that, Lambda and others, this IS a medical reason i.e. it's someone with a serious medical condition whose body cannot take the full rigours of long matches and you're simply taking prevenative action, as many do when they have a small tweak or niggle

Because I'm absolutely sure that Fran, even on her very best day, is not completely pain free (hardly any player is, and Fran - not a chance)

So it is perfectly acceptable to retire, for me, on medical grounds, even every time you lost the first set

And it does not 'offend' her opponent (I'm sure the oppoenent will be very happy )

The only possible people who lose out are the paying crowd/TV fans - which aren't a lot at the level of matches she's doing and it's just possible her team could make an exception for finals

And as to the 'ethics' or the 'spirit' of fair play - well, it's not 'fair' that Fran has this nasty condition and if this is what she'd have to do, to give herself a fighting chance, I have no problem

And, yes, of course, just to be clear, this is 100% MY view, not Fran's (but if she's off for another 6 months here, there and everywhere, after hard matches - well, Fran, here's an idea and you're welcome ! )

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 Maybe the real answer is that such a person basically will never be fit enough to compete properly on the pro tennis circuit?

So basically just play fewer tournaments?

 

Well Fran is playing in Columbia today, so draw what you will from her retirement in Bolivia.
My own feeling is that she is unable to maintain a high enough level of fitness to play long three setters on clay. This match lasted just over two hours though, which is not particularly long for three sets.

This is weird. I have never posted before, and never saw a box to write in when replying when I tried to post .. so now I'm replying to my blank post .. Anyhow .. I love to read this forum, although never post. I thought I would do now though as there has been some speculation on Fran's retirement. I was watching the match and she was playing well, not much sign of injury .. then after a few minutes not watching, I returned to see she was limping .. essentially it looked like she had a 'dead 'leg' so maybe she had cramp. I didn't notice a trainer on court for a massage, which I thought strange. Aa few games later, she couldn't even jog, so a gentle lob over the net fro her opponent was enough to win the point. I couldn't see why she didn't retire sooner and it seemed she retired during the last probable game. Hope that helps

 

B00thy wrote:

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This is weird. I have never posted before, and never saw a box to write in when replying when I tried to post .. so now I'm replying to my blank post .. Anyhow .. I love to read this forum, although never post. I thought I would do now though as there has been some speculation on Fran's retirement. I was watching the match and she was playing well, not much sign of injury .. then after a few minutes not watching, I returned to see she was limping .. essentially it looked like she had a 'dead 'leg' so maybe she had cramp. I didn't notice a trainer on court for a massage, which I thought strange. Aa few games later, she couldn't even jog, so a gentle lob over the net fro her opponent was enough to win the point. I couldn't see why she didn't retire sooner and it seemed she retired during the last probable game. Hope that helps

 

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 As Indy says - welcome - and this is an example of how it works. it produces the line above when you use the quote button and, like me, you just type below. 

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https://britishtennis.activeboard.com/t71287790/october-2024-player-of-the-month-vote/

 

forgive me if you know this, these take place monthly and can be found in the general section along with other relevant related stuff. Give it a go - the more the merrier!