2015 Australian Open (Jan 19-Feb 1) History at stake!

[mrzz]

one i did find: a quite harsh article on espn "length didn't add up". apparently, by the end of the second set, they were taking 30/33 secs between points, and the writer (reasonably) assumes that the breaks got longer later on. the conclusion of the article (that with swiss timing, so to say, the match would have lasted 50 mins less, because Fed usually takes around 15 secs between points) is a little crude, as of course we have to respect that this was a long and grueling match, and that AO heat is probably gonna slow everyone down.

There's a subtlety here. Let's say that on average they were taking not 33, but 30 seconds. And let's say we are talking ATP and the limit is 25 seconds. One may say that ok, it is just 5 seconds. The problem is that this is on average. There are surely some outliers pulling the average up (the classic example of the case after a long, extenuating point), but there are surely a lot of points were the time between them is quite short, like after an ace/service winner, a double fault, a 3 shots rally, etc. In those cases the time will be probably within the 10-15 seconds range. All that to say something obvious for those familiarized with probability distributions: the standard deviation of this set must be around at least 10 seconds, which means that these guys were taking, roughly in 30, 35% of the time, around 40 seconds between points. This is twice what you can afford in GS play, and in this case, I must agree with the critics: it is a clear rule violation that directly benefits the offender.

On a secondary note, the article's author argument on the line that "if it was Federer serving" is quite silly... it was not, different players, different style, period. If Federer wants to serve in three seconds, good for him...

 

[Carol]

2009.

Yep, I meant 2009, it was the best match that I have seen in the AO

And the final was pretty good too (Rafa vs Roger) also long match and very good played :clap

 

[Vince Evert]

Interesting replies guys.

I have had a Google search and found this interesting article on the 'Let, Second, Serve' website titled Time Between Points and Nadal-Djokovic Matches. Date: 27 April 2013. Great read if you like Stats.

http://www.letsecondserve.com/2013/04/time-between-points-and-nadal-djokovic.html

The stats for the 2012 Australian Open final were -

AO Djokovic d. Nadal, 57 64 62 67(5) 75 Hardcourt
369 (Total Points)
5:53 (Duration)
57.40 (Time/Points was in Play)

Someone mentioned earlier the 2011 U.S. Open final (A Great match BTW,) -

USO Djokovic d. Nadal, 62 64 67(3) 61 Hardcourt
268 (Total Points)
4:10 (Duration)
55.97 (Time/Points)

 

[Vince Evert]

Here's what it says about their ' 09 Madrid Final -

Nadal d. Djokovic, 36 76(5) 76(9) (Clay)
245 (Total points)
4:03 (Duration )
59.51 (Time/ Points was in actual play)

 

[Vince Evert]

Quote: 'The tour decided to crack down on slow play in large part because of these two. Their six-hour Australian Open final was the catalyst, but their 4-hour, three-set Madrid semi in 2009 also lives in plodding-play infamy as well. Their points are long, of course, but in the past, when they faced each other, they seemed liberated to take even longer between them than they did against anyone else'.

I look forward to the day when both these (time wasters) champions are gone from the game.

 

[Carol]

Quote: 'The tour decided to crack down on slow play in large part because of these two. Their six-hour Australian Open final was the catalyst, but their 4-hour, three-set Madrid semi in 2009 also lives in plodding-play infamy as well. Their points are long, of course, but in the past, when they faced each other, they seemed liberated to take even longer between them than they did against anyone else'.

I look forward to the day when both these (time wasters) champions are gone from the game.

Mr.T. You can tell that you don't like too much these greatest players, too bad, even that Federer is not my fav and some times his matches bore me I hope that he can still play for long time, when he decides to retire I'm going to miss him. I wish that Rafa, Novak Muzz and Roger would be able to play for ever but.....just .the naturalize (age) can beat them:cry[/code]

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think it is sad to see any comment from a tennis fan in general 'belittling one of the greatest players to ever play the game' in Rafa Nadal.Yes we all have our personal favourite players,also there are certain things that do annoy us in their games.

Rafa Nadal's stats stand alone in my instances.It will be a sad day in tennis when he finally decides to retire from the sport.It will also be a sad day in tennis when Roger Federer also decides to retire from the sport.I am not a personal fan of Federer,still as a tennis fan I credit him for what he has brought to the game of tennis,both on and off the court.

 

[mrzz]

Using the data above (good finding, MrT, altough I disagree with your last sentence), considering the 1 minute break every two games and every six points on the tie-break, and giving an extra minute between sets, in both cases we have around 33,3 seconds between points (!), on average.

 

[Vince Evert]

I certainly DO NOT dislike Nadal and Djokovic but the above letsecondserve article demonstrates that as good as champions that they are, they're also two of the greatest time wasters. That's not what tennis should be about.

 

[Vince Evert]

Roger's no timewaster. GO ROGER, LOL..

 

[Carol]

I certainly DO NOT dislike Nadal and Djokovic but the above letsecondserve article demonstrates that as good as champions that they are, they're also two of the greatest time wasters. That's not what tennis should be about.

And do you really think that to take 20 or 25 seconds can make the difference between to win or to lose a match? I don't think so. You should ask McEnroe and Connors how long they took between the points just complaining against the Umpire zzzzzzz LOL

 

[Kirijax]

If there is a problem with taking too much time, then that is on the chair umpires. There is a rule for time between points. Enforce it. Don't let them break it for the first four hours and then suddenly start calling them out for time violations because you're tired and want to hurry home. If I were Djokovic or Nadal and battling my guts out, of course I'm going to stretch the time out as much as possible. But if the players knew the umpire would call it right from the beginning, then that would change the whole dynamic of the match, keep players honest, and be better for the fans who are watching.

There is a rule. Enforce it.

 

[the AntiPusher]

Its funny when I was a little kid I Never concern myself the draw, even through the Sampras years, Never a concern.. Now with Rafa, there is always so much drama with this guy.. :nono

 

[Fiero425]

If there is a problem with taking too much time, then that is on the chair umpires. There is a rule for time between points. Enforce it. Don't let them break it for the first four hours and then suddenly start calling them out for time violations because you're tired and want to hurry home. If I were Djokovic or Nadal and battling my guts out, of course I'm going to stretch the time out as much as possible. But if the players knew the umpire would call it right from the beginning, then that would change the whole dynamic of the match, keep players honest, and be better for the fans who are watching.

There is a rule. Enforce it.

Just jumping in, I'm still trying to recover from the 2012 AO! I watched it live after being up all day! I believe Nadal has always been a time-waster and Nole only started to do it in retaliation! Rafa likes to control the tempo of matches; no big secret he's abused his status for years! It's only been lately he's actually stopped complaining about being "called" on his stalling tactic! Nadal has abused the rules going back years where Roger may have won on clay if not for stalling and working the system on several occasions! Great players don't need to do stuff like that! Borg never ran "game" and stepped up to the line with time to spare! It's the reason I'll never give credit to Rafa and his accomplishments because of his lack of sportsmanship at times when he feels in jeopardy of losing; even to a friend like a DC team mates! With friends like him, not sure I'd need any enemies! :angel: :dodgy: :cover

 

[brokenshoelace]

I look forward to the day when both these (time wasters) champions are gone from the game.

Yes, who cares about watching great tennis? That takes a backseat to not having to wait an extra 8 seconds in between points.

 

[Kieran]

Roger's no timewaster. GO ROGER, LOL..

I dunno, I remember watching Roger play Rafa once and there was as much as 33 seconds between points when Rafa was serving. Oh, and I suppose you think it's okay for Roger to hold up Rafa like that, leaving him scratching and tugging his shorts and fixing his hair until Federer is ready to receive serve? :devil

 

[Vince Evert]

I look forward to the day when both these (time wasters) champions are gone from the game.

Yes, who cares about watching great tennis? That takes a backseat to not having to wait an extra 8 seconds in between points.

LOL you consider time-wasters and gamesmanship between the two 'great' for the game do you ? If you bothered to read the aforementioned letsecondserve article, you might understand.

 

[kskate2]

If there is a problem with taking too much time, then that is on the chair umpires. There is a rule for time between points. Enforce it. Don't let them break it for the first four hours and then suddenly start calling them out for time violations because you're tired and want to hurry home. If I were Djokovic or Nadal and battling my guts out, of course I'm going to stretch the time out as much as possible. But if the players knew the umpire would call it right from the beginning, then that would change the whole dynamic of the match, keep players honest, and be better for the fans who are watching.

There is a rule. Enforce it.

Just jumping in, I'm still trying to recover from the 2012 AO! I watched it live after being up all day! I believe Nadal has always been a time-waster and Nole only started to do it in retaliation! Rafa likes to control the tempo of matches; no big secret he's abused his status for years! It's only been lately he's actually stopped complaining about being "called" on his stalling tactic! Nadal has abused the rules going back years where Roger may have won on clay if not for stalling and working the system on several occasions! Great players don't need to do stuff like that! Borg never ran "game" and stepped up to the line with time to spare! It's the reason I'll never give credit to Rafa and his accomplishments because of his lack of sportsmanship at times when he feels in jeopardy of losing; even to a friend like a DC team mates! With friends like him, not sure I'd need any enemies! :angel: :dodgy: :cover

Don't be ridiculous. You actually believe Novak curtailed his regimen to get back at Nadal! :lolz: The whole thing is laughable. No one told Novak to bounce the ball 16, uh my bad, 17, uh my bad again, 18 times. Or have you conveniently forgotten he came on the tour doing that. He's actually reduced it to 5-6 times over the last few years because it had been talked about so much.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

If there is a problem with taking too much time, then that is on the chair umpires. There is a rule for time between points. Enforce it. Don't let them break it for the first four hours and then suddenly start calling them out for time violations because you're tired and want to hurry home. If I were Djokovic or Nadal and battling my guts out, of course I'm going to stretch the time out as much as possible. But if the players knew the umpire would call it right from the beginning, then that would change the whole dynamic of the match, keep players honest, and be better for the fans who are watching.

There is a rule. Enforce it.

Just jumping in, I'm still trying to recover from the 2012 AO! I watched it live after being up all day! I believe Nadal has always been a time-waster and Nole only started to do it in retaliation! Rafa likes to control the tempo of matches; no big secret he's abused his status for years! It's only been lately he's actually stopped complaining about being "called" on his stalling tactic! Nadal has abused the rules going back years where Roger may have won on clay if not for stalling and working the system on several occasions! Great players don't need to do stuff like that! Borg never ran "game" and stepped up to the line with time to spare! It's the reason I'll never give credit to Rafa and his accomplishments because of his lack of sportsmanship at times when he feels in jeopardy of losing; even to a friend like a DC team mates! With friends like him, not sure I'd need any enemies! :angel: :dodgy: :cover

Don't be ridiculous. You actually believe Novak curtailed his regimen to get back at Nadal! :lolz: The whole thing is laughable. No one told Novak to bounce the ball 16, uh my bad, 17, uh my bad again, 18 times. Or have you conveniently forgotten he came on the tour doing that. He's actually reduced it to 5-6 times over the last few years because it had been talked about so much.

Actually I counted once,Novak bounced the ball 22 times,a record..of course that was awhile ago,yes he has corrected it...

 

[kskate2]

^ So my bad again, 22 times. Thanks for the correction Nista!