2022 ATP General News

[MargaretMcAleer]

Starting at Roland Garos this year,all four Grand Slams will use a 10 point-tie-break to decide final sets when the score reaches six games all.

 

[Moxie]

No, it stinks of fish, and not only for the reason @tented suggested, but also because it would start a trend of placing private political views under scrutiny for athletes if they want to compete anywhere. There’s something sinister and Big Brother-ly about it. Okay, imagine we say that this is an exceptional moment (it isn’t, but imagine), then of course every little political cause will become equally exceptional in future, and sports will be just another thing in life that’s poisoned by modern tribal politics, political posturing, and virtue signalling.

If a Russian player began to troll people with pro-Putin tweets celebrating the violence against Ukraine, which is what the chess grandmaster Sergey Karjakin is doing, then they could be looked at, but even then, the fact that this isn’t actually a crime would have to be remembered. They’d face a hostile crowd but we’d show the tyrants that in the west even despicable views are allowed to be expressed. In fact the best way to let people know how despicable they are, is to let them be held up in the light, and be clearly seen.

The fact that this is even being considered shows the toxic influence of cancel culture is reaching everywhere. Purity tests have no place in sports.

I’m glad to see the WTA are once again knocking it out of the park, by seeing the moral implications of this. They’re really to be admired for all their stances lately.

WTA head Steve Simon says players should not be banned from tournaments because of politics

I saw Jon Wertheim's tweet with the news, earlier ago, and his only commentary is "Slippery meet Slope." If they sent that out as a trial balloon, hopefully it has been shot down by now. (Sorry, perhaps a poor metaphor right now.) I said elsewhere here that I thought it was terrible that they banned Russian and Belarussian athletes from the Paralympics. Clearly THAT told Putin off, eh? But yeah, this is thought police stuff. I thought about the what-if someone were actively supporting Putin, (not knowing your example of that Chess master,) but still I agree with you...when did tennis get in the politics game? They could do with dealing with their own internal politics, like how to deal with the several issues involving Alexander Zverev before they branch out.

 

[Moxie]

Starting at Roland Garos this year,all four Grand Slams will use a 10 point-tie-break to decide final sets when the score reaches six games all.

I don't mind if they make the Slams consistent, but I think at the finals should play beyond 6-6 before a TB.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I don't mind if they make the Slams consistent, but I think at the finals should play beyond 6-6 before a TB.

Agree

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Seeing they cut off the original post of starting this year at Roland Garos, all four Grand Slams will use a 10 point tie break to decided final sets when the score reaches six games all.
Apparently this is a trial for 12 months....

 

[Kieran]

I saw Jon Wertheim's tweet with the news, earlier ago, and his only commentary is "Slippery meet Slope." If they sent that out as a trial balloon, hopefully it has been shot down by now. (Sorry, perhaps a poor metaphor right now.) I said elsewhere here that I thought it was terrible that they banned Russian and Belarussian athletes from the Paralympics. Clearly THAT told Putin off, eh? But yeah, this is thought police stuff. I thought about the what-if someone were actively supporting Putin, (not knowing your example of that Chess master,) but still I agree with you...when did tennis get in the politics game? They could do with dealing with their own internal politics, like how to deal with the several issues involving Alexander Zverev before they branch out.

Yeah I agree with that. You see, I think that the BLM taking the knee stuff has stuck a foot in the door for this kind of stuff, and it’s a pity. We may agree or disagree with taking the knee, but what we can’t disagree on is that it opened the door for empty gesture politics to be seen at sporting events. In the UK, it got to the extent where when some black players chose not to take the knee, it becomes a debate. And the debate is similar to what we’re talking about here, but what isn’t open to debate is that this brought politics into sport. And that was a pity. Then we had fans asking about Palestine, what about this-issue too, and that-issue as well, and none of it has a place in sports - and even though they’re all unrelated, and varying degrees of seriousness, the fact is that politics used sports as a way to enforce an ideology, a mono-culture of behaviour that sports people have to adhere to, or else be discussed about, even be accused of racism.

Now I know these aren’t “the same things” - but they are, if we’re serious about keeping politics out of sports. And the fear now is that athletes will face even more of this form of interrogation of their private thoughts, and I agree with you, it has to stop. It placed unbeatable and unfair burdens on players whose only desire, largely, is the naturally selfish one, to become the best they can be at their game.

The likes of the chess player, reading his Twitter feed only confirms what most of us think about Putin..

 

[tented]

Novak Djokovic clear to defend French Open title, tournament organizers say

 

[tented]

More on the Wimbledon/Russia topic:

Daniil Medvedev: UK government wants assurances that Russian tennis star is not a supporter of Vladimir Putin

 

[tented]

Starting at Roland Garos this year,all four Grand Slams will use a 10 point-tie-break to decide final sets when the score reaches six games all.

Here’s an article about it:

Final sets in all four tennis grand slams to be decided by 10-point tie-break

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Here’s an article about it:

Final sets in all four tennis grand slams to be decided by 10-point tie-break

Thanks...my computer would not allow my to post the link

 

[Jelenafan]

Here’s an article about it:

Final sets in all four tennis grand slams to be decided by 10-point tie-break

While we are at it, if they want all the Majors consistent, abolish the "whites only" attire rule for Wimbledon. It's archaic and stupid at this point.

 

[Moxie]

While we are at it, if they want all the Majors consistent, abolish the "whites only" attire rule for Wimbledon. It's archaic and stupid at this point.

I don't think you'll win that one. Wimbledon and tradition, etc.

 

[Jelenafan]

I don't think you'll win that one. Wimbledon and tradition, etc.

HANG tradition....!! ; )

 

[Moxie]

Yeah I agree with that. You see, I think that the BLM taking the knee stuff has stuck a foot in the door for this kind of stuff, and it’s a pity. We may agree or disagree with taking the knee, but what we can’t disagree on is that it opened the door for empty gesture politics to be seen at sporting events. In the UK, it got to the extent where when some black players chose not to take the knee, it becomes a debate. And the debate is similar to what we’re talking about here, but what isn’t open to debate is that this brought politics into sport. And that was a pity. Then we had fans asking about Palestine, what about this-issue too, and that-issue as well, and none of it has a place in sports - and even though they’re all unrelated, and varying degrees of seriousness, the fact is that politics used sports as a way to enforce an ideology, a mono-culture of behaviour that sports people have to adhere to, or else be discussed about, even be accused of racism.

Now I know these aren’t “the same things” - but they are, if we’re serious about keeping politics out of sports. And the fear now is that athletes will face even more of this form of interrogation of their private thoughts, and I agree with you, it has to stop. It placed unbeatable and unfair burdens on players whose only desire, largely, is the naturally selfish one, to become the best they can be at their game.

The likes of the chess player, reading his Twitter feed only confirms what most of us think about Putin..

I don't actually agree with you that "taking the knee" brought politics into sports. You could go back to the Black Power gesture in Mexico City. Or Jesse Owens "beating Hitler" in Berlin. Etc. But what I really don't agree with is that athletes expressing their political opinions is in any way similar to tournaments suppressing their opinions. Or asking them to declare them.

 

[Fiero425]

Agree

I liked it back in '76 when Borg won in str. sets! Keeping the draw on my own, it appeared he took a # of sets 9-7, 8-6, or 9-8 playing TB @ 8 all!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I don't actually agree with you that "taking the knee" brought politics into sports. You could go back to the Black Power gesture in Mexico City. Or Jesse Owens "beating Hitler" in Berlin. Etc. But what I really don't agree with is that athletes expressing their political opinions is in any way similar to tournaments suppressing their opinions. Or asking them to declare them.

Medvedev said just recently he does not know how longer he will play on the tour,given the current circumstances,if they do decide to impose their opinions,I could see Medvedev not playing Wimbledon at all.I empathize with him and all the Russian players both ATP and WTA

 

[Moxie]

Medvedev said just recently he does not know how longer he will play on the tour,given the current circumstances,if they do decide to impose their opinions,I could see Medvedev not playing Wimbledon at all.I empathize with him and all the Russian players both ATP and WTA

I heard this. He also said he didn't know long he'd play after the way he was treated (his opinion) by the crowd in the final at the AO. Is it me, or does this seem a bit whiny from a guy who was just #1 and is making a very good living from tennis?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I heard this. He also said he didn't know long he'd play after the way he was treated (his opinion) by the crowd in the final at the AO. Is it me, or does this seem a bit whiny from a guy who was just #1 and is making a very good living from tennis?

I think being treated badly by fans and a war between Russia and Ukraine is like chalk and cheese.It has to have a impact mentally.Just my opinion.BTW you know my feelings on him the way he carried on at the AO

 

[Kieran]

I don't actually agree with you that "taking the knee" brought politics into sports. You could go back to the Black Power gesture in Mexico City. Or Jesse Owens "beating Hitler" in Berlin. Etc. But what I really don't agree with is that athletes expressing their political opinions is in any way similar to tournaments suppressing their opinions. Or asking them to declare them.

Absolutely, people who refused to take the knee were challenged for their private views on race, and on BLM, and people were accused of racism for criticising that highly controversial group, which is both a bizarre and problematical proposition. This has no place in sports. I have no problem with people taking the knee, but I have a huge problem that they expected others to do likewise before a game, and challenge them if they refuse.

Hitler is a good mention here. He brought politics into the Olympics. And we always can see from him why what he does is not a good idea to imitate. But there have been good examples too, like the great Jesse Owens, who defied the tyrant.

Ideologies can also be tyrannical, and we’ve allowed politics and activism to take the main stage in sports. It’s hardly a surprise that politicians now think they can threaten players to express their opinions on the war…

 

[Kieran]

Medvedev said just recently he does not know how longer he will play on the tour,given the current circumstances,if they do decide to impose their opinions,I could see Medvedev not playing Wimbledon at all.I empathize with him and all the Russian players both ATP and WTA

I think all the Russian players must be feeling the strain, and I have great sympathy for them. I think a helpful gesture would be if they weren’t personally feeling threatened by politicians in the “Free West…”