2018 Australian Open, Melbourne - ATP GRAND SLAM

[Moxie]

Had no idea. I don't think I ever heard you mention being a fan.

You haven't been paying attention. Frankly, I didn't know A-P was. That shows you how limp the fan-bases are for the 2nd tier. I guess it's time for a new poll.

 

[kskate2]

You haven't been paying attention. Frankly, I didn't know A-P was. That shows you how limp the fan-bases are for the 2nd tier. I guess it's time for a new poll.

That's true. I don't always pay attention.

 

[kskate2]

Little Diego takes the first set

 

[Moxie]

What would you call a policy that legally allows athletes to take banned substances. I'd call it many things, including fucking retarded and legal cheating.

I'm not naive about doping, I'd say you are crazy if you think all athletes are taking PED's. And also I remember that you don't even care if they are cheating which I find again, fucking retarded. I don't know if it's a difference in culture but I will just say there is no one in this country that would bat an eye if Lance was murdered today...no one.

You seem a bit freaked out and irrational. (Murder?!) I think we touched a sensitive spot.

 

[Moxie]

Fantastic TB from Nadal. Worthy opponent.

 

[Denis]

Mayer is a stylish player. Tough luck for him to face Nadal.

 

[DarthFed]

You seem a bit freaked out and irrational. (Murder?!) I think we touched a sensitive spot.

It's not irrational. I'm just pointing out to BS that perhaps the best known drug cheat in this country is so shamed that, yes, only his family and the police would be upset to see him go in that way. I and others have had the discussion with him before and he's admitted he doesn't care if athletes are doping.

 

[DarthFed]

I'd ask you which they are, but I don't really care. But it's telling that THAT'S what you pulled out of my post. You have no response. Clearly. Roger pulls off a nearly-immediate and miraculous come-back, and you think it's perfectly normal. Nadal pulls one off, at 10 years younger, and you figure that means he dopes. Irony? Inconsistency? I'd say so.

2004-2007 and 2009 were all better years. Anyways I actually haven't accused or been suspicious of Rafa based on how he returned from injury. I just pointed out the TUE use which clearly is a sensitive subject for the Rafa fans as it should be. It wasn't his return in 2013 but rather his injury break. Notice he didn't play any warmups and barely any tennis going into this event this year while in 2013 he cited a tummy ache 3 weeks before the event and withdrew because he wasn't going to have enough practice coming in? I wonder what changed . Guess it's better to be 31 without practice than 26 without practice.

 

[mrzz]

Watched the highlights of the Nadal-Mayer match. Technically wise, high quality... but do you people who saw the match had the same impression that both players seemed a bit lethargic? Well, Mayer has always been a bit slow (if he was faster for sure he would have been top 10), but Nadal is exactly the opposite (and I am judging Nadal by his own standards). Also, it seemed that Nadal was using way more side spin than usual -- with good effects. But, sometimes, that was his only choice given that he could not position himself properly for the shot. Was it the highlights selections or someone else got the same impression?

 

[atttomole]

Dimitrov wins after a five set dogfight with a qualifier. He thought it was going be a walk in the park.

 

[isabelle]

Jowill / Shapo was the match of the day for me, I enjoyed this marathon very much

 

[brokenshoelace]

What would you call a policy that legally allows athletes to take banned substances. I'd call it many things, including fucking retarded and legal cheating.

I'm not naive about doping, I'd say you are crazy if you think all athletes are taking PED's. And also I remember that you don't even care if they are cheating which I find again, fucking retarded. I don't know if it's a difference in culture but I will just say there is no one in this country that would bat an eye if Lance was murdered today...no one.

I said I don't care because I genuinely believe everyone is doing it. Yes, I believe athletes at the highest level, especially in certain sports, are all looking to gain an edge and that includes tennis. But my larger point was that PEDs should be allowed because: A) Many of them actually are. Remember, PEDs literally stand for performance enhancing drugs. These athletes are taking all sorts of legal performance enhancers and the reason why some are legal and some aren't is completely arbitrary (how else to explain a drug being legal for years then suddenly banned). So you either ban everything, which is impossible, or you just don't care and let them take whatever. And honestly, why not? This is not body building or professional wrestling. None of these guys are going to die due to PED use. Let's be real about that. They're not taking it to have the body of a Greek God. They're mainly doing it for quicker recovery, dealing with injuries, etc... so if it helps, why the hell not?

 

[brokenshoelace]

I get 6th best since he has had 5 better seasons.

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. I'm counting 4. Not disputing your overall point but I'm genuinely curious. You think he played better in 2009 than he did last year? I don't think so. Obviously he reached the final of all 4 majors that year but as far as level of play goes I think he was better last year. 2009 was a very weird year for Roger, level wise.

 

[britbox]

Disagree BS, because if you removed any boundaries... then yes, you would have people dying and some would go further than others to get the edge.

When EPO was unchecked in cycling, you had a lot of cyclists dying... we know what heavy steroid use can also do.

 

[DarthFed]

The

2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. I'm counting 4. Not disputing your overall point but I'm genuinely curious. You think he played better in 2009 than he did last year? I don't think so. Obviously he reached the final of all 4 majors that year but as far as level of play goes I think he was better last year. 2009 was a very weird year for Roger, level wise.

I was mainly going as far as overall accomplishments. I do agree that Roger was better last year for the most part than 2009 or at the very least he was more consistent. It was really a bad first 4.5 months in 2009, not sure he even won a tournament before Madrid, but he did go on a tear after that until he had a surprisingly bad Fall season.

But also it should be mentioned that Roger was able to play full seasons in the other years. It wasn't stamina or physicality that was driving his play last year like Moxie would suggest. Who knows what would've happened if he played the clay season last year but I'm glad we didn't find out.

 

[DarthFed]

I said I don't care because I genuinely believe everyone is doing it. Yes, I believe athletes at the highest level, especially in certain sports, are all looking to gain an edge and that includes tennis. But my larger point was that PEDs should be allowed because: A) Many of them actually are. Remember, PEDs literally stand for performance enhancing drugs. These athletes are taking all sorts of legal performance enhancers and the reason why some are legal and some aren't is completely arbitrary (how else to explain a drug being legal for years then suddenly banned). So you either ban everything, which is impossible, or you just don't care and let them take whatever. And honestly, why not? This is not body building or professional wrestling. None of these guys are going to die due to PED use. Let's be real about that. They're not taking it to have the body of a Greek God. They're mainly doing it for quicker recovery, dealing with injuries, etc... so if it helps, why the hell not?

People can still die from PED use. Also PED's that go on and off the banned list are often due to new research. They aren't just throwing darts. But obviously tennis is a very relaxed sport on PED's. Those that get busted we don't usually hear about and when we do hear about it they have been let off after making a bogus excuse.

 

[Fiero425]

The

I was mainly going as far as overall accomplishments. I do agree that Roger was better last year for the most part than 2009 or at the very least he was more consistent. It was really a bad first 4.5 months in 2009, not sure he even won a tournament before Madrid, but he did go on a tear after that until he had a surprisingly bad Fall season.

Roger had a lot of assistance in holding onto a #1 ranking in '09; so much HELP! Rafa injured and out for months, Soderling knocking Nadal out of the FO, and Roddick choking away his lone chance to win that Wimbledon final! Losing that match to Del PO at the USO was telling! I thought Roger was in decline as a matter of fact! He burned so brightly with 3 seasons out of 4 winning 3 majors, I figured he would be lucky to win a couple more; esp. with Rafa making him his pigeon! I was going to be made right until this past season when he inexplicably was rejuvenated by something winning 2 more majors after 5 years of futility against Nole and Rafa in the game! :whistle:

 

[britbox]

^ Roger had so much help because Rafa lost to players?? Shock, horror... isn't that how sport works?

 

[brokenshoelace]

Disagree BS, because if you removed any boundaries... then yes, you would have people dying and some would go further than others to get the edge.

When EPO was unchecked in cycling, you had a lot of cyclists dying... we know what heavy steroid use can also do.

Of course. There's scientific data backing that up which I cannot dispute. However, tennis is not athletics nor is it cycling. I agree it's very tricky and a slippery slope, but I'm actually among those who believe that tennis' "relaxed" stance on PEDs is actually a good, realistic, pragmatic approach.

 

[Fiero425]

^ Roger had so much help because Rafa lost to players?? Shock, horror... isn't that how sport works?

I only mentioned that FO which aided Roger so much to give him the "Career GS!" Now Rafa's trying to achieve the "Double CGS" w/ OG in singles and doubles! He'll have that over Roger anyway! Nole has a chance to at least get a "DCGS" if he wins Paris one more time! Roger can't even attempt it since it's for the best he skip the clay court season! :whistle: