2016 Tennis Thread

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by troutman

Can she become a good doubles player?

nope. She's a ball-basher. Can't volley at all, no finesse.

[GirlySports]

Garcia-Lopez def Pospisil 76 62 (on freaking grass, awful)

Shapovalov def. Sidorenko 36 64 75 (awesome!)

[CofR]

Maria Sharapova: Russian banned for two years for failed drugs test
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/36482288

[GirlySports]

Moscow Challenger 2nd round.

Diez def. (8) Rublev 76 63
Popko def. Shapovalov 63 61

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by CofR

Maria Sharapova: Russian banned for two years for failed drugs test
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/36482288

Interesting that the ITF wanted four years. Sharapova is appealing the two year suspension, methinks it will be reduced, but I like the fact that a pretty harsh penalty was handed down.

[Mango]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Interesting that the ITF wanted four years. Sharapova is appealing the two year suspension, methinks it will be reduced, but I like the fact that a pretty harsh penalty was handed down.

It certainly sets a bench mark and teaches the players, along with their team, that it's crucial to never assume. Research, research, and more.

Martina Hingis was given a two-year ban back in 2007 after they found cocaine metabolite in her system. She argued she didn't take it on purpose and that it was a case of apparent contamination.

Sharapova admitted she took meldonium, but she allegedly wasn't aware that it was now on the banned list.

[Senator Clay Davis]

No shocker after he dropped out of the French, but Rafa is also out for Wimbledon.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I know, that's why I'm basing my belief on Felix on his game and not his results. His baseline game for someone who isn't even old enough to drive is remarkably advanced. He has tremendous defensive skills and he has that Novak-like ability to turn defense into offense. He's still realistically two years away from being a full time tour player (still not physically ready mostly), but he has absolutely enormous potential. I know Peliwo had a nice junior career, but I never saw most tennis experts really high on him like I do with most experts on Felix. Consensus is pretty strong he's one of the most talented youngsters in the world.

I definitely agree with that, however, the jump from junior to the pro ranks is steeper than we've ever seen before now. It's easier to dominate smaller, weaker junior players when they aren't able to overpower your game. Felix will be finding out right away that there are probably at least 50-60 pros that will be harder, more accurate and consistent hitters than anyone he's played so far in his career. I hope he can work with the right coaching right out of the gates to ensure he has the right mindset from day one.

Peliwo should still have easily been able to carve out a career inside the top 100 based on his junior resume. I would pin his inability to adjust to the pro game as the number one reason he struggled so mightily. Now he is constantly playing catch-up against faster, more seasoned players and will likely never have much of a career in singles long term.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Interesting that the ITF wanted four years. Sharapova is appealing the two year suspension, methinks it will be reduced, but I like the fact that a pretty harsh penalty was handed down.

I don't know if I agree with that. Like it or not she is good for the sport and one of the few players that can challenge Williams right now on a consistent basis. Its not like there are numerous contenders constantly knocking on the door in women's tennis.

Why not levy a very large financial fine to her and her team and hand down a full year suspension meaning she will lose all her ranking points and start from ground one when she returns? If it happens again, then you make it a lifetime ban. 2 years at this point effectively ends her career for what is potentially nothing more than a silly error in judgement.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Like it or not she is good for the sport and one of the few players that can challenge Williams right now on a consistent basis.

Sugarpova is 2-19 against Serena, and hasn't won against her in 12 years. yes that's right, the last time Maria scored a victory, we were partying on the Red Mile. even in her diminished state you can argue her star power is still important to the WTA, but her ability to challenge the best certainly isn't part of that anymore.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

I don't know if I agree with that. Like it or not she is good for the sport and one of the few players that can challenge Williams right now on a consistent basis. Its not like there are numerous contenders constantly knocking on the door in women's tennis.

Why not levy a very large financial fine to her and her team and hand down a full year suspension meaning she will lose all her ranking points and start from ground one when she returns? If it happens again, then you make it a lifetime ban. 2 years at this point effectively ends her career for what is potentially nothing more than a silly error in judgement.

Maybe it's just semantics, but from what I've read, neither Maria nor her team bothered to even open the e-mail that listed the new substances that are on the banned list. Athletes need to take responsibility about what they are putting into their bodies so I think it goes a little further than a silly error in judgment.

Edit: From March 9, 2016

A report in the Times of London says that Sharapova had no fewer than five instances to learn about meldonium being added as an illegal substances. The newspaper says that in December, the International Tennis Federation and the Women’s Tennis Association issued a combined five separate warnings to tennis players—Sharapova included—that the drug would be added as a banned substance. That followed a general notice from the World Anti-Doping Agency in September.

http://fortune.com/2016/03/09/maria-...-test-warning/

[dash_pinched]

Thiem beats Fed in Stuttgart at the Mercedes Cup (3-6, 7-6(7), 6-4)

http://www.tsn.ca/thiem-beats-federe...s-cup-1.505552

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Moscow Challenger 2nd round.

Diez def. (8) Rublev 76 63
Popko def. Shapovalov 63 61

Quarterfinal
Diez def. Popko 76 63

meets (2) Khachanov later today.

These are big points, up to #219 in the live rankings. That is on the borderline of Wimbledon qualifying.

[GirlySports]

Diez won his semifinal earlier today! (rain yesterday). Ranking up to #199

He's in the final which is being streamed right now!
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/atp-challenger-tour (click on Moscow center court)

He just lost the first set to the #1 seed Kukushkin

[GirlySports]

This Week.

Milos is at Queen's Club in England.
Vasek has a qualifying match tomorrow to get into Queen's
Genie is in Mallorca for a grass court tournament in Spain (sounds weird). She can't get into Birmingham where everyone else is.

Diez is in Blois, France challenger on clay after losing in the Moscow final.

[GirlySports]

Vasek qualified so everyone's in action on Tuesday

Vasek vs Young
Milos vs Krygios (1st round!)
Genie vs Kovacic
Diez vs Gonzalez

[Mango]

Genie update:

Tennis Canada ‏@TennisCanada
Bouchard comes from 2-5 down in the 2nd set to defeat Kovinic in straights 6-2, 7-5 & get her 1st win on grass. Sevastova next. #CdnTennis

[dash_pinched]

Hey, Vasek won his match today at the AEGON Championships tourney in London (3-6, 7-5, 6-3) over Tobias Kamke of Germany.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by dash_pinched

Hey, Vasek won his match today at the AEGON Championships tourney in London (3-6, 7-5, 6-3) over Tobias Kamke of Germany.

That was the qualifying match. Hes currently down a set to Donald Young which is currently delayed by rain

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

That was the qualifying match. Hes currently down a set to Donald Young which is currently delayed by rain

D'oh, my bad, thanks for the correction.