New thread for a new season!
New (renamed) thread here!
Monfils plays Djokovic in R16 in Brisbane. Combined age of 75.
Maybe tennis needs to just come up with a centralised system where players are only allowed to get any medication through the WTA/ATP itself and then there can be no mistakes caused by taking medication .
The Sinner and Swiatek issue is just a terrible look for the sport.
I'd also question the whole performance enhancing aspect of stuff players are being banned for , getting a painkilling tablet during a match is the ultimate performance enhancer yet its perfectly legal
Some of this stuff seems incredibly mild that you'd almost question what is the point of banning for it at all , it's not like EPO or steroids.
Surprised nobody else posted the news, but Swiatek failed a drug test test back in August for Trimetazidine, and was initially provisionally suspended. Wasn't able to play most of the Asian swing, but is now finishing up a one month suspension. Claims they were able to prove it came from a contaminated medication, but who really knows.
https://x.com/Tennis/status/1862148592028303519?t=tV00Jzgg0F789g0yyK1_iw&s=19
Well this is an odd one. Andy Murray has joined Djoko's coaching team, will work with him during the off season and at the Australian Open.
https://x.com/DjokerNole/status/1860352532813414908?t=uHKJwL2GBW06m8TrAUuJGQ&s=19
Very disappointing performance from Alcaraz seemingly, lot of unforced errors.
And as we head into the final week before Turin, and not knowing whether Djokovic will compete if he does qualify, here's what the others must do to to ensure that they pass Djokovic in the rankings.
Ruud - Get to the semifinal of Moselle
Rublev - Win Moselle
De Minaur - Win Belgrade. If he gets to final he'll be level on points with Djokovic, but I think Djokovic then would be placed 8th based on having more points from Slams/1000s.
Big win for Draper against Fritz that's 7 wins on the spin now…you would think fatigue and his previous fitness issues might catch up with him soon...hope not bit we will see, de minaur next
Draper takes title in Vienna eventually! Biggest title so far for him.
Draper taken first set and now up a break in second against Khachanov...would be his first atp500 title.
Another good win for Draper against Musetti, into the final in Vienna up to number 15 in the provisional world rankings.
Agree re. Thiem. Had the game to win much more and was probably on his way to doing that if not for the injury. Around 2019-2020 he really started to separate himself from the rest of the pack and started to challenge the Big 3. Was entertaining to watch too, big powerful shots but had guile as well. His ATP finals match vs. Djokovic in 2020 lives long in the memory.
2024 will be remembered as a rough year for tennis. Thiem, Murray and, of course, Nadal are huge losses to the tour, despite their recent struggles.
Goodbye Dominic Thiem. One of my favourites of the recent players. Should have won far more really. Pity an injury finished him.
Sinner pretty dominant against Djokovic in Shanghai final.
7-6 (7-4) 6-3
Absolute legend. They simply don't make them like they used to, and Alcaraz and Sinner (as good as they are) are testament to that.
We were spoilt during the Big3 era with some classic matches that transcended tennis. I remember my whole family gathered around watching Wimbledon 2008. Similar with French Open semi 2013, Australian Open 12, 17 & 22. Poor US open always suffered due to time zones 😅
I grew up watching Nadal (and the Big 3). My love of tennis started, and in some ways, will most likely end with him. I still have a passing interest, but it's just not the same for me now. Fond memories will live on though. Nothing makes you feel old like the ageing (and retiring) of your sporting idols!
Nadal is retiring after the Davis Cup finals
https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/ckgv9n5jj8jo
Not a surprise I guess, though I did think he might try hang on for one more clay season.
Tiafoe not holding back 😶
Looks like De Minaur is out for the rest of the season and will miss out on Turin.
Wish I could've watched it! No idea why the final was on a Wednesday. Same thing with Tokyo yesterday being bizarrely scheduled on a Tuesday.
some dust up in Bejing final. Sinner 2 points from taking the title, goes to a tiebreak and Carlos comes back from 3-0 down to win it. Brilliant match
Jack Draper retired from another match...
Jacob Fearnley through to another challenger final 22-1 record on challenger events this year. If he wins this final he will be inside top 100.
Don't think anything is gonna happen with Sinner tbh. WADA appealed the clearances of both Tobi Amusan and Norah Jeruto (both far more obvious dopers than Sinner) and they got nowhere, so I don't expect anything to happen here.
WADA appealing the Sinner decision to CAS, requesting a 1-2 year suspension.
Another good win for Jack Draper against Hubert Hurkacz, if he keeps this up he has a decent chance of making the ATP finals.
(delete)
US Open thread
Reading up on it they say that this is used to treat skin abrasions and burns and it available over the counter in Italy. Then you read up on Clostebol Acetate and that it is used to promote muscle growth without the masculine side effects. I guess it all depends on how much was in his system and then again there was enough there to show up on a drugs test. Not sure how much of this stuff would be in a cream that it would show up on a drugs test?
Dan Evans got suspended for 12 months for using cocaine. There does seem to be double standards and then there were always the rumours about Nadal
That's a slippery slope though Jack. Might sound like a good idea at the start but before you know it, you're not getting vaccinated, worshiping rocks and getting kicked out of Oz 🙂.
He should definitely be suspended for the US Open at a minimum now that this has come out , it's a dreadful look for Tennis coming into the tournament.
Maybe it was a genuine mistake (although I'm beginning to doubt it) but I don't understand why these professional athletes aren't more careful about even slight infractions of the drug policy and not even make the slightest mistake.
I think if I was a pro athlete I'd be afraid to use anything that came from a medicine cabinet/pharmacy for fear of something like this happening and having your reputation damaged and just use nothing but natural remedies for all minor issues.
