RG Final — Djokovic/Tsitsipas

Who wins?


  • Total voters
    15
  • Poll closed .

Moxie

Multiple Major Winner
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
43,819
Reactions
14,976
Points
113
You could have posted that message so that I don't have to do it. :thinking-face:
Nobody has to. I didn't notice that you'd got that right. Apparently no one else did, either. If you want to toot your own horn, that's on you. I'm just saying it's something you do like to do. If you'd play the draw challenge, it would be more appropriate there. ;)
 

Denis

Grand Slam Champion
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
6,067
Reactions
691
Points
113
I was watching the semifinal Thursday and all I could think was, “This match may go a long time, but half of it is spent with the two of them doing their routines between points.” Sometimes with these two, the 20 minute highlight reel is good.

It's gotten a lot better in recent years.

JMDP used to be notorious too. Towelling off after being served an ace, lol!
 

roberto

Futures Player
Joined
May 20, 2017
Messages
136
Reactions
132
Points
43
I've been away from the board for a while. I know that Carol is a strong Nadal partisan, but to be stoking conspiracy theories about Novak bringing his bag to change is ridiculous--trying to denigrate Novak's victories. Remember the lesson from BAMBI: "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".....
 
  • Like
Reactions: GameSetAndMath

Jelenafan

Multiple Major Winner
Joined
Sep 15, 2013
Messages
3,699
Reactions
5,059
Points
113
Location
California, USA
Goodness I go to Yosemite over the weekend and can't get WIFI going in Curry Village, so I have to get to Glacier Point to get my first score of the match.

Sounds like a barnburner, was it???
 

Sundaymorningguy

Grand Slam Champion
Joined
Apr 15, 2013
Messages
6,385
Reactions
1,759
Points
113
Location
Norfolk, VA
I don’t think people really stop to think. I think now more than ever the powers that be are watching players like hawks given the precautions surrounding Covid and just in general, so players would have to be idiots to take any type of risk that would disqualify them. Novak was already disqualified from one slam, I doubt he is going to do anything to jeopardize his future ability to add to his legacy.
 

Front242

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
23,001
Reactions
3,936
Points
113
I don’t think people really stop to think. I think now more than ever the powers that be are watching players like hawks given the precautions surrounding Covid and just in general, so players would have to be idiots to take any type of risk that would disqualify them. Novak was already disqualified from one slam, I doubt he is going to do anything to jeopardize his future ability to add to his legacy.
Tennis doping controls are an absolute joke. They test the losing player more than the winner or at least they used to which made zero sense as if they're going out of their way to hide any dubious endangerment to their sport in the media. There is no risk if they're not exposing the top guys.
 

roberto

Futures Player
Joined
May 20, 2017
Messages
136
Reactions
132
Points
43
It's just sour grapes to whisper about Novak doping in the bathroom---seriously?? If you want to have a discussion about inequalities between the top guys and the rest of the field resource-wise (the top guys can afford huge teams) have at it---fair discussion. But let's stay away from unsubstantiated rumor mongering....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Denis and Fiero425

Front242

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
23,001
Reactions
3,936
Points
113
It's just sour grapes to whisper about Novak doping in the bathroom---seriously?? If you want to have a discussion about inequalities between the top guys and the rest of the field resource-wise (the top guys can afford huge teams) have at it---fair discussion. But let's stay away from unsubstantiated rumor mongering....
A lot has been made of him being allowed bring that big bag to the bathroom with him on YouTube comments and I also personally find it highly dubious to allow a player bring their bag with them. It should NOT be allowed as it's a very bad look for the sport when you're losing by 2 sets and leave with your big bag and come back a different player as Tsitsipas even said. Likewise his team handing him bottles should not be allowed. Those were never tested and simply handed to him and, no, I'm not joking as it's possible to micro dose PEDs into bottles very easily. The ATP are laughable to allow a player's team hand them ANYTHING mid match.



Alarm bells didn't even go off in Wilander's head...

Speaking on Eurosport, three-time Roland Garros champion Mats Wilander said Djokovic's ability to rally from difficult situations was unparalleled.

"I'm not sure what he tells himself when he is two sets to love down -- is he able to completely forget the score or is it that he has spent two hours on the court with someone and now knows exactly what he needs to do?" the Swede said.

"He pulls off the right shots at the right time, he looks fresher and fresher as the match is going on. He's so clever and he's so calm these days. He looks unbeatable in the third, fourth and fifth."

^
Nothing strange about getting fresher after being dead as a dodo for 2 sets but let's just compliment him and ignore it 'cos the media are too scared to question anything.
 

MargaretMcAleer

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 30, 2013
Messages
47,101
Reactions
31,019
Points
113
A lot has been made of him being allowed bring that big bag to the bathroom with him on YouTube comments and I also personally find it highly dubious to allow a player bring their bag with them. It should NOT be allowed as it's a very bad look for the sport when you're losing by 2 sets and leave with your big bag and come back a different player as Tsitsipas even said. Likewise his team handing him bottles should not be allowed. Those were never tested and simply handed to him and, no, I'm not joking as it's possible to micro dose PEDs into bottles very easily. The ATP are laughable to allow a player's team hand them ANYTHING mid match.



Alarm bells didn't even go off in Wilander's head...

Speaking on Eurosport, three-time Roland Garros champion Mats Wilander said Djokovic's ability to rally from difficult situations was unparalleled.

"I'm not sure what he tells himself when he is two sets to love down -- is he able to completely forget the score or is it that he has spent two hours on the court with someone and now knows exactly what he needs to do?" the Swede said.

"He pulls off the right shots at the right time, he looks fresher and fresher as the match is going on. He's so clever and he's so calm these days. He looks unbeatable in the third, fourth and fifth."

^
Nothing strange about getting fresher after being dead as a dodo for 2 sets but let's just compliment him and ignore it 'cos the media are too scared to question anything.

Front,
Would Novak and Stefanos have urine tests after their match?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fiero425

Front242

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
23,001
Reactions
3,936
Points
113
Front,
Would Novak and Stefanos have urine tests after their match?
Not sure what the testing criteria is now but blood catches more than urine and micro dosing might even be enough for performance enhancement mid match and simply sweated out. Knowing the ATP they don't test them right after the match and if they asked if they could go for a bathroom break even before the trophy presentation, for example, they wouldn't even put 2 and 2 together and say sure. That's how bad they are.
 

MargaretMcAleer

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 30, 2013
Messages
47,101
Reactions
31,019
Points
113
Not sure what the testing criteria is now but blood catches more than urine and micro dosing might even be enough for performance enhancement mid match and simply sweated out. Knowing the ATP they don't test them right after the match and if they asked if they could go for a bathroom break even before the trophy presentation, for example, they wouldn't even put 2 and 2 together and say sure. That's how bad they are.
Thanks
 

roberto

Futures Player
Joined
May 20, 2017
Messages
136
Reactions
132
Points
43
Again--interesting speculation but ZERO proof or evidence. Doesn't the bag contain a change of clothes? Would you prefer to have players start carrying socks, shorts, shirts, etc in their hands? And if he WERE trying to dope, couldn't he simply have something in his pocket which would be a lot less obvious? I think folks need to be more gracious----congratulate the winner--and stop looking for excuses why their guy lost to a better player that day.....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Denis

Front242

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
23,001
Reactions
3,936
Points
113
This backs up what I said about the losing player only being tested though and not sure if that's changed but it was a pathetic way of doing things.

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/ot...-rarely-taken-after-they-win-a-game-1.2569966

The drug-testing process in tennis is coming under increasing scrutiny after a number of leading players this week indicated they are tested during tournaments only when they lose.

Britain’s Heather Watson said she has been tested after a win only once in her career.

“I got tested after I won once and it was awful,” she said. “I couldn’t go to the bathroom and I had to wait all evening and I had a match the next day. That’s only happened once. I think when you’re winning it’s not really fair [to be tested]. But, let’s say I’ve been tested about 50 times, I’d say 49 times were after a loss.”

^ Truly laughable.
 

Front242

The GOAT
Joined
Apr 14, 2013
Messages
23,001
Reactions
3,936
Points
113
Again--interesting speculation but ZERO proof or evidence. Doesn't the bag contain a change of clothes? Would you prefer to have players start carrying socks, shorts, shirts, etc in their hands? And if he WERE trying to dope, couldn't he simply have something in his pocket which would be a lot less obvious? I think folks need to be more gracious----congratulate the winner--and stop looking for excuses why their guy lost to a better player that day.....
I've no issue with players coming back and winning. The issue here is the manner in which the complete lack of energy changed to bundles of energy after being down 2 sets in 28C peak day time sunshine...it doesn't add up.

And no one has any idea what is in his bag...
 
Last edited: