British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

christ · Futures level

RE: Weeks 27 & 28 - The Championships, Wimbledon (grass) - main draw

9vicman · Futures qualifying

I don't see the value of making more of it. Neither Sinner nor Swiatek were found to have knowingly committed drugs offences. Yes, they committed violations and served shoer bans but are now clear to compete. As are Marin Cilic, Sara Errani, Dan Evans and several others.

I accept that there will always be people who don't want players returning to the sport following a drug violation of any type, but WADA regulations are there to ensure all players are treated as fairly as possible.

indiana · Tennis legend

christ wrote:
RainDelay wrote:
The year that both mens and women's champions had served drugs bans.
Yes. Not a good luck for tennis.
I'm sure that a lot more would have been made of this in the traditional drug sports, like athletics and cycling, but here it has passed almost without comment as the establishment appear happy with the "accidental/ inadvertent" excuse(s).

It is perhaps possible to be over-cynical. Yes, some cases aren't handled very well by the authorities but from what I have read re the supposed circumstances, and more particularly the levels involved, these two cases do indeed appesr to have been inadvert so were dealt with as such. And so fair that not more hss been made against them ( though procedural and consistency questions have been asked ).

FWIW I think we have a very good Championships with two great singles winners.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

I think that drug rules have to be changed, now that such teeny teeny levels can be detected.

The rules were not drawn up with these advances in technology in mind

Players have talked about freaking out because they are sitting near someone who is spraying themselves with insect repellent.

And, taking it to be true, getting a massage from someone with a cut on their finger with a bit of spray on it, and testing positive from the transfer of that little bit of spray, is daft

To me, they should keep the rules as they are in terms of (supposed) zero tolerance but set the minimum amount not as zero but as whatever microgram level is needed to cover tiny contaminations

9vicman · Futures qualifying

My understanding is that under the next redrafting of the WADA Code changes will be made to the extent that Sinner or Swiatek (or both?) wouldn't have committed a violation. Agree that levels need looking at.

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

I do wonder if Sinner's drugs ban did him a favour - having a three month break so he's fresher for the rest of the season. There's so much pressure on the players these day to play all year round and it's relentless.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Helen40 wrote:
I do wonder if Sinner's drugs ban did him a favour - having a three month break so he's fresher for the rest of the season. There's so much pressure on the players these day to play all year round and it's relentless.

good point - I hadn't really thought of that

Julia Carrot · All-time great

Sinner was excellent in the final, he was a deserving winner. I am happy for him. Alcaraz was very gracious also.

Can I see Jack near their level? Well. glimpses yes, but their consistency is extraordinary, and jack just doesn't have that.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Julia Carrot wrote:
Sinner was excellent in the final, he was a deserving winner. I am happy for him. Alcaraz was very gracious also.

Can I see Jack near their level? Well. glimpses yes, but their consistency is extraordinary, and jack just doesn't have that.

I got very excited about Jack at the AO and IW events and predicted a slam for him this season. Hardcourt is still his best surface and I think he can go deep and cause trouble, but on this form, from Sinner and Carlos, not so sure I am at all confident like I was!!

B00thy · Strong Club Player

Helen40 wrote:
I do wonder if Sinner's drugs ban did him a favour - having a three month break so he's fresher for the rest of the season. There's so much pressure on the players these day to play all year round and it's relentless.

That is a great point .. did he miss any of what would have been 'mandatory' events?

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

B00thy wrote:
Helen40 wrote:
I do wonder if Sinner's drugs ban did him a favour - having a three month break so he's fresher for the rest of the season. There's so much pressure on the players these day to play all year round and it's relentless.
That is a great point .. did he miss any of what would have been 'mandatory' events?

He missed Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo (not mandatory?) and Madrid, came back for Rome. So missed out on a few thousand potential points but it wasnt enough to knock his ranking at all

B00thy · Strong Club Player

JonH comes home wrote:
Julia Carrot wrote:
Sinner was excellent in the final, he was a deserving winner. I am happy for him. Alcaraz was very gracious also.

Can I see Jack near their level? Well. glimpses yes, but their consistency is extraordinary, and jack just doesn't have that.
I got very excited about Jack at the AO and IW events and predicted a slam for him this season. Hardcourt is still his best surface and I think he can go deep and cause trouble, but on this form, from Sinner and Carlos, not so sure I am at all confident like I was!!

I can remember Andy's level being at an incredible level, but when he was up against one of the big 3, he just didn't have it .. and it was against them that he realised what he needed to do to raise his level. Jack is at a very high level but he has faults in his game that can be improved upon, and raising his percentages is essential if he is to get to the next level. But he has quite a way to go mentally. I can see Jack improving is percentages but I'm not sure if he realises yet what he needs to do, to improve his mental state

B00thy · Strong Club Player

JonH comes home wrote:
B00thy wrote:
Helen40 wrote:
I do wonder if Sinner's drugs ban did him a favour - having a three month break so he's fresher for the rest of the season. There's so much pressure on the players these day to play all year round and it's relentless.
That is a great point .. did he miss any of what would have been 'mandatory' events?
He missed Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo (not mandatory?) and Madrid, came back for Rome. So missed out on a few thousand potential points but it wasnt enough to knock his ranking at all

I reckon others would love to have opted out of one or more of these to retain freshness

indiana · Tennis legend

But surely other players could rest and also just take mandatory zeros to replace whatever points they earned in these 3 tournaments ( Monte Carlo is indeed not a mandatory ) last year. I don't think they would be subject to any further penalties?

I had already heard in discussions about players' complaints about too heavy a schedule, folk saying "well they are not forced to play all those tournaments" and, while maybe more thinking of other tournaments, that could include mandatories

Indeed some top players do just miss out mandatories on occasion. Some experienced top players actually don't even have to take the mandatory zero 'penalty' for them all, for whatever difference that makes, since they build up some sort of credit regarding minimum madatories to be played ( I don't know all the rules on this though ).

Anyone can opt to not play for 3 or 4 months if they want to!! Ultimately they choose to play and earn money and ranking points.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes. If you don't want to play, don't play.

Serena played a pretty limited schedule most of the time.

Mandatory means the points count as mandatory - it doesn't mean it's an offence if you don't play it.

It's a business decision.