Excellent Blog Cheryl. Hopefully Rafa will be well enough to continue, and that Del Potro's injury was not seriously injured either.

Great match! Notice that the commentators always insinuate abt injuries especially when it concerns Nadal, Djokovic (quite often in the past)...

Thanks Cheryl for a sensible blog. However, I do not expect Patrick McEnroe to apologise. Making these allegations against the most exciting player on tour is his way of seeking attention. Remember, this is the same guy whose only claim to fame in the tennis world is being related to John McEnroe.

I, for one, do not pay attention to the loser........................

There is no smoke without fire. Withdrawal from Wimbledon 2009 was a logical corollary from the injuries sustained earlier in the year. But then if one acts within the rules, he needs protection from unwarranted speculation. Rules are sometimes stretched too far and it is not possible for an umpire to deny medical time out citing literal adherence to rules. The fact that the opponent objects to such stretching the rules is testimony to that he feels injustice is being meted out to him. He will not protest if he also benefits equally. Umpire can pull up a player for time wasting. The player feels hurt and may rant on the umpire. If the player has a big fan following, umpire becomes a villain in the eyes of many. But system can not be allowed to be run by fans.
What motivation would a commentator derive from wrongly speculating on an event. His credibility will be affected if he is proved wrong. A commentators duty is to narrate the event as he sees it. If he has coloured eyes, he would not stay in the job for long. Stature of the player is irrelevant. They are just in their twenties and irrespective of the playing ability, they have their own methods to make use or misuse of the rules. Players can not be subjected to another moral code of conduct when there is already a code of conduct for the game. But what wrong is there if a commentator gives his version of the conduct of a player. It may not satisfy some but it might appeal to some others. Because there is no smoke without fire.

And so? Commentators are allowed to say what they want? Do you think commentators don't see things with tinted glasses? Do you think they are not biased or have their own likes and dislikes? And do you think that all commentators acted professionally?

Whoever exceeded the time allowed between points should be warned, Rafa or Delpo there is no exception. However questioning players' MTOs when they are taken within the rules, and may even affect the said players' own rhythm is simply uncalled for.

I knew you'd come around eventually. About damn time you show Del Potro proper respect. :D

Anyhow, if this is PMac who said it, are you surprised at all? Seriously...like, at all? We're talking about the same person who picked Blake over Federer in Cincinnati whenever that was- 2007 or something- when Fed had beaten the guy six times in a row.

This is also the same guy who says, EVERY SINGLE YEAR, that Isner is "poised to make a deep run here at (insert Grand Slam)." Forget Wilander and Cash speculating about the location of Fed's unit...the man's cheese has completely slid off his cracker. Period, end.

I didn't see the match, but it's surely no shocker that either Del Potro or Nadal could have called the trainer at any time for legit reasons. Both guys are always teetering on the edge of physical problems.

Not my intent to purposefully toss a former DC captain under a bus, but PMac is an unapologetic fame whore. Anyone with any clue of what goes on behind the scenes knows this. Gas-lighting two of the most famous players on earth will get him press and attention.

He's craved it his whole life- first living in the shadow of his brother, followed closely by a consistent burial by Gilbert inside the commentator's box.

Glad to say no such nastiness from dear old Beeb! As far as injuries during matches are concerned, anti-inflammatries etc can certainly control the pain during a match and enable you to continue to play as if nothing's happened. Adrenalin helps too of course. No player wants to withdraw from a match do they? and many play on only to withdraw next round, that seems quite common.
However, after the match when its all worn off, that's when you can assess the extent of the injury.

yes, Cheryl, you are completely right about everything...it was frustrating enough for us fans to see Rafa hurt, and judging by the comments we made at tennistalk at that time just about all of us were expecting Rafa to retire...instead he played through the pain and won...and I was amazed by the level of play he was able to sustain knowing how difficult it is for Rafa to perform when there are any injuries bothering him and so far we have heard of three different ones that were causing problems for Rafa...any type of heel injury is not minor and it could be very troublesome, so I fully understand Rafa's panic face when he realized something new was bothering him...I again hope he will be ok and that he will continue to fight...I have not seen him playing this good the whole year...he was simply amazing...and when I come to think what would have happened if he did not have any injury at all...no really, it makes me think how awesome and great our Rafa is indeed...

and for the commentators...well, many people have told me that they simply decide to switch the tone off because they are disgusted with the way commentators are able to play down the great champions and the way they are biased and ill behaved...But, as long as my Rafa is ok I don?t care about these miserable individuals who accomplished nothing in their own little lives...and who are they to judge athletes and their injuries...VAMOS RAFA!!!

Cheryl,

Thank you for saying what needed to be said. Rafa did not deserve those trashy comments. What was amazing, is when I watched the tennis channel's replay of the match with a British guy and Boris Becker. They said nothing about faking the injury, were sympathetic to Rafa and even showed a closeup of his feet on the court after the MTO. You could see him dragging his left foot quite clearly. They commended him for soldiering on! What a difference! Is it only the American commentators who are so idiotic?

When I watched the match again, it punctuated the ridiculous notion that Rafa was somehow given an advantage by calling the trainer and taking the MTO when he had a set point. In fact, one could say that the injury cost him the set! He lost the point and then Delpo held and Rafa called for the trainer before the tiebreak.

Anyone who lives in the real world could see the pain on Rafa's face even after he received treatment. It was there in his eyes. He was suffering and struggled to stay in the match. He should have received praise for his courage in the face of adversity.

I know PMac is a moron, but that still does not excuse his comments. He sunk to a new low and all for his own inflated ego.

When Rafa was serving for the match, the British commentator on the tennis channel said - "in the dimming light on the court, a champion shines brightly". It brought tears to my eyes. That's how it's done, PMac!

I don't even care what any commentator says about injuries. For me, when a top player calls for a MTO, then he feels pain or he's injured. Period.
They are the ones who reached the level of sportsmanship that we see today, so please give them a break. I think some commentators aren't used to the high sportsmanship the sport has these days.

Kelli - Given what DelPo went through last year, that ANYONE would suggest he was faking is completely outrageous. Granted, they gave him slightly more credit than they did Rafa, but still. And I forgot about him picking Blake. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. :D

Like I said, I don't think it's too much to ask that they give these guys the benefit of the doubt. If they say they're hurt, then they're hurt. And if they WERE hurt and then the pain lessens, why does that make the medical time out any less legitimate? Ridiculous.

STOP PRESS: As of today, I am officially adopting use of the word, "delusional" (as excellently espoused by the great hodserve) to describe any Federista who dares question Rafa's sportsmanship.

Please consider this sufficient notice...............................

Ooops.............sorry, should read: holdserve (blooming long nails missed the keyboard character)

Great blog, Cheryl. I'm just grateful that neither guy's injuries are serious, according to the word today. And I'm thankful for the timing. Rafa could just as easily hurt his foot on a missed shot or break point down -- I don't even like to think about the accusations that would have brought on. But why would ANY player want an MTO right before a tiebreak when he'd been playing and moving so well right up to set point????

I'm also thankful that JMDP's hip is ok. That was scary and he's been through so much already. Not really a fan but I like and admire the big fella and to have a vital year chopped out of a promising career that is so short by nature... well, in the words of a blogger at the AO this year "F*** YOU, INJURIES!"

"I don't even care what any commentator says about injuries. For me, when a top player calls for a MTO, then he feels pain or he's injured. Period."
bolbol, 6/28/11 1:15 PM

too bad the same logic wasnt used when djokovic had his MTOs.

Cheryl, thanks for your views. Commentators should be sued for libel.

Just one little detail - you said 'Whatever caused the problem seemed to ease up into midway through the second set, because he was able to move less gingerly than he had before...though he still lost the set.'

Rafa won the 1st set.

Sorry, my mistake you were saying he lost the 2nd set. my bad.

mriiidula - I think there was still some backlash because when he was a young lad he admitted to using the MTO to his advantage a time or two. He's been absolved now though.

Thanks a lot Cheryl for the excellent blog

Good blog. One thing to consider is that North American sports (hockey and football in particular) are far more physical in terms of contact and players tend to play through pain without complaint - that's the tradition and culture here. in fact you never even say you have an injury to avoid opponents exploiting it. There is a stereotype that some footballers (particularly southern europeans, south americans) tend to embellish injuries and even fake them, generally to draw red cards or penalties or whatever in matches. This is sort of the reason why the american commentators insinuate that there is some gamesmanship when these players have injuries and then magically are running around 15 minutes later - it's not that they are 'faking', it's just that they make a 'big deal' out of something that is probably pretty minor. It's just a cultural thing and I doubt they would make those comments against, say, a Swede, German, or American.
Frankly I hate wathing US coverage of tennis because apart from McEnroe, the commentators keep on making stupid analogies with basketball, baseball, and football, which is really patronizing and annoying.

Bharata if thats the case then the south american players and southern european players should adapt the tradition of culture on t this issue of the northern european or northern american players. There is no room in tennis for cheating your opponents. If like yesterday MTO is clearly being misused the issue should be dealt with. First fines and if that still does not work suspension of the player must be used in orde to keep those players more in line with what is assumped proper behaviour on court.

Bharata - That's a valid point. I've certainly seen the likes of Ronaldo pretend to be desperately injured when he was barely touched. But that is a unique situation in which pretending to be hurt when one is not is actually beneficial. In this situation, pretending to be hurt with set point on your racket would be nothing short of foolish.

I just heard Darren Cahill say that the MTO was controversial because it came right before the tiebreak. He does not mention that the injury actually happened before it was sure that there WOULD be a tiebreak.

MTO clearly being misused yesterday? How do you prove that when you were sitting at your couch watching the match while the players were the one suffering the pain? So you think you know better than the trainer and the tournament referee? It is these kind of unfounded accusations that make people here sick of a poster like Sienna!

Sienna - I'm sorry but your MTO misuse argument, like the American commentators makes NO sense. Nadal got injured (OBVIOUSLY injured) on his own set point. And he signaled the chair umpire for the trainer before Del Potro held to force the tiebreaker. This means that Nadal would have taken the MTO regardless of whether he needed to play a breaker to win the set or not.

Not only that, but the MTO did NOT help Nadal. He lost the first 3 points of the breaker. Del Potro lost that breaker because he played it badly.

I suspect these baseless accusations are simply the disappointment of those who dislike Nadal who wanted Del Potro to get rid of him for the rest of field.

Fed fans should first worried about Tsonga and then Nole before worrying about Rafa. The road ahead from now on is getting difficult for Fed, especially after his reported not so good performance against Youzhny in the R4 match.

I actually watched Fed s match/Well I would like to explain why but it is clear that you will not understand. It is almost a sin nit to watch a tenns matchfeaturing Federer. But each his own.

Player takes MTO but clearly is not hampered during the rest of the match looking at all the reports on the match. For keeping up apperances (looks to me) a MRI was made the next day. Tell me what the outcome of the MRI was? Nada, nope, nothing wrong so what was the big deal with MTO. MTO should not be used for a few minutes off extra rest to try and ease the pain or something. That clearly has happened yesterday. No other way about it.

Like cheryl says, the ulterior motive for those who accuse Rafa of cheating is to get him out of the way by whatever means so that Federer can lift the trophy, should they meet in the final, because they know that Nadal will beat Federer 90% of the time.

It would appear that some people are judging Rafa by their own low standards. I feel sorry for people who are so twisted with hate, that they can't see the facts even if it hit them in the face.

Sienna, no offense but what are you going on about? What exactly do you think a medical time out is for if not to ease pain from an injury? That's why it's called TREATMENT.

In the face of evidence that the MTO was legitimate, you're grasping at straws.

is grasping at straws another way of saying one is delusional? :-)

I respectfully refuse to answer that question, phoenix. ;)

Sienna, you sound like someone who has difficulty comprehending rules and regulations because your interpretation of tennis rules are way out of line, so your best option is to keep quiet so that you don't make a fool of yourself.

STOP PRESS: As of today, I am officially adopting use of the word, "delusional" (as excellently espoused by the great hodserve) to describe any Federista who dares question Rafa's sportsmanship.

Please consider this sufficient notice...............................

rafaisthebest, 6/28/11 1:50 PM

Talk about one delusional emulating another, it's here. This Fed fan couldn't care less wheter hyou or holdserve claim we're deulusinal, as I'm of the firm belief that the ones who are calling us delusional are iIN FACT delusional. Got it, fangirl, rafaisthebest?

I just think its inappropriate to use an MTO for pain relief. Is it true that he needed to get taped? Don't the top players tape on forehand? I know Fed does. When players reach a certain age and are in the so called decline years it is better to be safe then sorry.

You cannot see this one completely free of your favortism towards Nadal. I only take a different stence on the matter and just because you don't like the outcome I'm grasping at straws? Honestly I cannot see why. You uall should not jump to the gun so quickly when someone has a different view. The feeling you get is just a little like living in a communist country. And I actually do not know how that can feel but you give such a good notion of it....

Sienna, Why don't you complain to the ATP?

Sienna, do you even understand the concept of pain? Pain is a symptom that something is wrong, no one suffers pain all by itself. Pain is not an illness or injury, it is a symptom of illness or injury.

If you have pain in your mouth you go and ask the dentist to look at it, if you have pain in your foot you go to the doctor. Don't you even understand that?

...better yet, complain to Chairman Mao :-)

So at least Sienna is accepting that Rafa was in pain, it's just that she doesn't understand what pain is.

Is an MTO for an actual injury or can be used if a player is just feeling pain and wants it to be checked?This is not a rhetorical question, it's one that I've had some queries about for quite some time. for instance, if a player takes the court, fully well knowing he/she is in pain from a niggle, then why play? also, if one takes the court with a niggle, then aren't we to assume that the pain is considered by the player to be inconsequential, hence, it's the reason he's playing? Then, if that's the case, why take an MTO for an existing pain?

So Nadaline Nadal did take the MTO only for painrelief. Clearly that should not have been allowed, but since the ref cannot look into the mind of a player and see if he fakes because he just needs ten minutes rest. therefor it is upto the players to not use MTO for that reason. Verry unfair and unsportsmanslike. You alway critice Fed for his behaviour. I have never seen him use MTO in that way.

Sienna, it is not differing viewpoints that is the problem. It's that I truly don't understand what you're saying. A medical timeout is offered by the ATP to treat injuries and illness during a match so that players can continue playing if at all possible.

Are you asserting that no player should ever get medical assistance during a match?

Incidentally, Nadal was taped up before he came out. he always is.

So Nadaline Nadal did take the MTO only for painrelief. Clearly that should not have been allowed, but since the ref cannot look into the mind of a player and see if he fakes because he just needs ten minutes rest. therefor it is upto the players to not use MTO for that reason. Verry unfair and unsportsmanslike. You alway critice Fed for his behaviour. I have never seen him use MTO in that way.

You know Sienna, I can never make head or tail of anything you say, so let's leave it here.

It's no use trying to convince me that Rafa broke the rules, complain to the ATP or sue Rafa.

scoretracker - The ATP cannot take a hard line on the pre-existing, new injury issue. They can't. It is in their best interest to have players take the court to see if they can play. Take Murray at Roland Garros. He went into most of his matches at the end of the tournament in pain, looking to play because it was a Slam and hoping that the injury wouldn't get worse. It certainly would not have been better for the tournament if Murray had pulled out of his quarterfinal match.

Also, suppose that one's knee is in some pain, but during the match some movement, fall, slip, etc...makes it worse. Should that player be penalized by not receiving treatment?

The rules aren't perfect, but they're the best they can be. There are so many injuries in tennis anyway, I don't think the ATP is looking for ways to make them worse.

Sienna - Nadal took the MTO for an injury that caused pain just like Del Potro took the MTO for an injury that caused pain. I still don't understand what you're saying. Can you give me an example of a time a player would feel pain withOUT an injury to cause it? Any example at all?

Ha, seriously I'm waiting for Fed to take an MTO and see what sienna has to say! Just remember what happened to Delpo during the match after he complained about Rafa's MTO? He got his own MTO, he must be embarrassed by his own bad behavior earlier on. I'm waiting to see sienna embarrassing herself!

Cheryl since you asked.
It's a allowed for the player to take MTO when his ankle or kne is sprained!
Whenever like here was quite obvious there was no sprain so the match should have continued and taping is any should have occured during the changeovers. It is actually not so difficult to understand/ And I believe my english is up to level required for you to understand.
Nadal choose not to tape his ankle before the match. He took a risk and it should have been picked up by the docter during axamining tthe injury in the first minute.

I find this all so amusing...............!!!

On one hand, Nadal haters go on and on and on about how his career will be short-lived bcos he is prone to injury, how he will never be able to play as long as Roger has currently bcos of the wear and tear of his style of play........yet...........when Rafa actually gets injured and sorts treatment, then he is accused of faking and cheating!!!!!!...................

I dont know ANYONE in the WORLD who makes people froth at the mouth like Rafa does, simply bcos he is the BEST at his craft!!!!

I must add I'm not one wishing for injury upon players, it's just that Fed has his back problem. He did called the trainer in a few tines to rub his back during his match against Murray during TMC 2008. I wonder would sienna and the fed fans think he was disturbing Murray's rhythm then, or he was trying to steal some rest as Murray had ran him ragged.

During changeovers Luckystar.... Do not lie! Nadal should only be allowed to have treatment during changeover. It is quit simple explanation.

Cheryl, thanks for your response. I think one little difference with Murray is that he didn't take any MTOs for his existing abkle pain, and it's why I'm somewhat in a gray area here concerning existing injuries. I think most NON-Nadal tennis fans feel that he exploits the MTOs in a manner that's beneficial to only him, but one that hinders the opponent. It's the reason that they have balked at this current MTO. For example, I read on one site that Nadal took an MTO in his match against Mueller, which was similar to his MTO yesterday. I didn't see the match, so I don't know what happeneend, but the poster claims that it's Nadal's way whenever he feels pressured by an opponent, especially a big server, coz he has problems with them, and wants to slow him down, and/or to break his opponent's momentum. Whether Nadal does this on purpose or NOT, only he knows within his heart if the MTO is valid or just gamesmanship. Another reason most non-Nadal fans feel he's not being truthful is the FACT that he has the most MTOs on the tour presently. It used to be a toss-up between Novak and Nadal as to who does it the most, but now it appears that Novak has stopped, and Nadal continues to do so without restraint.

I personally don't care if the players take MTOs, but I also don't like if the rules are being exploited to gain an advantage over the opponent. For instance, in the 2008 AO final, Novak played Tsonga, can we say that the MTO taken by Novak for a rubdown of his leg was due to an injury? He was standing there laughing and talking to the trainer while being rubbed down. I think it was one of the reasons why fans found it hard to believe him after that incident, and then, later, Novak acknowledged that he did take MTOs to give him an assist. When one player comes out and acknowledges that he has done that sort of thing, then it casts a doubt on the others when they habitually take MTOs. Anyway, I'm happy for Wimbledon that the No.1 player is fine, and can continue to play. His absence would have made the tournament less exciting IMO, and there would be comments that so and so won coz nadal was not playing. If Nadal loses at any time during subsequent matches, it won't be because he's nursing an existing injury, as his MRI was all good.

Sienna, I'm going to try this one more time and then I give up. An ankle sprain isn't the only kind of injury there is. I think it was fairly clear for both Nadal and Del Potro that they both thought their injuries were more serious than they turned out to be. For a spectator or a chair umpire or the ATP to try to make a determination of how bad an injury must be before they allow a time out is simply not possible to regulate. Nadal said he thought he might have broken his foot. Should he have kept playing if it truly had been a fracture? I'm sorry, but that's foolishness.

Also, Nadal's ankle WAS taped. They cut it away and put different padding, etc there to try to protect the heel.

So sienna setting the rules for how MTOs should be taken? So MTOs only for sprained ankles and knees? What about Delpo sustaining a fall and looked like injuring his hips? How do one know if there's a sprain or not if the trainer is not called in to examine? By mere watching over the tv screen? Rafa did have his ankle guard on but it was too tight that he removed it during the match. It's not like he didn't do any precautionary work in the beginning. Again sienna and her baseless accusations! When someone is in pain, how would he know of the seriousness if he can't get the trainer to assess the extent of the injury.

All these discussions are pointless actually, as the umpire and the tournament referee have the discretion to decide whether MTO is allowed. I remember Murray called for the trainer during his match against Rafa in Monte Carlo, not during changeover and it was disallowed as his MTO was for a pre-existing condition; so the umpire is the one who enforces the rules, not fans like us. So stop judging thr players based on our own likes and dislikes.

Rafa's MRI was not 'all good'. Its nothing too serious, but there is an inflammation the around his peroneal tendons, and that is what caused the pain in the foot at a certain movement he made. The bandage he had before was a bit too tight maybe and caused him pain before, so he wanted to get rid of it, which wasn't a good idea either. And when he took the MTO he just wanted to make sure if he could play on or not because he wasn't sure.
What is people's problem here? Rafa never does that for the reason some here assume. Maybe its your own bad thoughts which make you think that way. Rafa doesn't.

scoretracker -- I'm fairly sure that Nadal's treatment during the Muller match was not a true MTO. It was taken on a changeover and as soon as time was up, the trainer left.

Also, if Murray HAD taken a MTO during the FO, I doubt anyone would have had trouble with it.

As for your last assertion...i go back to my original premise. The timing of the MTO was NOT beneficial to Nadal in the slightest. He was up set point when he got injured and called for the trainer before that game was even over. If he had won the set, as he was poised to do, the time out would have come with Rafa up a set.

It's probably time to admit that it was a legit MTO.

BTW, Sienna....Roger was happy to admit that he abused the bathroom break rule against Davydenko last year at the AO. So if you are going to point fingers, better spread the love evenly.

I think most NON-Nadal tennis fans feel that he exploits the MTOs in a manner that's beneficial to only him, but one that hinders the opponent.
scoretracker , 6/28/11 10:36 PM

Are you saying that other players take MTOs for their opponents benefit? Are you Fedfans thinking straight? Your blinkers are blinding me.

scoretracker, do a whip round of The Rafa Hatred Organization and sue him for breaking the rules.

Sienna I don't lie. Fed's a pre-existing condition therefore he can't take MTO. Do note that some people are accusing Rafa of disturbing Fed's momentum during the recent FO final when Rafa called for the trainer, and the trainer came only during the changeover and some Fed fans made a fuss out of it. Why didn't they apply the same logic when Fed called for the trainer??

Also, Rafa's MTO is NOT for a pre-existing condition and that's why it's allowed! Same with Delpo's MTO. Do get the facts right sienna, instead of holding on to your biased views!

As luckystar pointed out, everyone expected Rafa's body to pack up by the age of 25 so why are they surprised that he takes the most MTOs?

Cheryl, I get what you're saying, but some feel that it's somewhat a similar situation. don't shoot the messenger. I'm giving info I read on another site and the way some feel about the MTOs. I think it's a case of where people feel you cry foul too many times.

Nadline, I DON'T hate Nadal. I like all of the players, and I'm not bashing him. I'm relating here what I've seen written elsewhere and how some fans view the MTOs he takes, that's all. Why do you have to turn things around and vent so much? It stagnates a discussion coz then we're just fighting and not discussing. Have a nice day. BTW, didn't you read that I'm happy he's still palying? It's more , I'm sure, you would do for Fed, considering you can't resist taking jabs at him at will, even though he's n ot in the conversation a lot of times.

If all it takes for Rafa to beat Federer is for Rafa to have his foot taped during a changeover, then Federer stands NO chance of ever beating Rafa.

If all it takes for Rafa to beat Federer is for Rafa to have his foot taped during a changeover, then Federer stands NO chance of ever beating Rafa.

nadline, 6/28/11 10:55 PM


And your point IS? How did that analogy come into play? I give up, I can't have a rational discussion with you are you're off the charts with your analogies and comments.

I'm now of the opinion that it's pointless trying to make a point or having a discussion with any ONE of you, as there are too many of you coming from all angles, with name callikng and ridiculous statements. Have a nice day.

Exactly nadline. This is the most ridiculous accusation I've ever heard about Rafa disturbing Fed's rhythm! Even calling the trainer in during changeover to cut and loosen some taping could disturb Fed's rhythm, when Fed was sitting there resting during the changeover! Some Fed fans are just desperate finding excuses for why Fed lost again to Rafa, simple as that!
Just like they are unhappy that Delpo didn't do them and their Fed a favor by beating Rafa and clear one major obstacle for Fed to win the title here and so started accusing Rafa of faking his injury to disturb his opponent's rhythm!(the fact that Rafa started the tiebreak by losing the first three points told me Rafa's own rhythm was affected, not Delpo's).

To listen to some people Rafa only has to wipe his nose for his opponents to lose their rythm. They'll soon be accusing Rafa of changing his shirt so that the wolf whistles would make his opponents envy his sex appeal and lose their concentration.

great blog and totally agree with your summary....Bravo for this current crop of courageous and talented players. Scoot f Atl.

Cheryl, thank you so much for standing up for truth and justice. It is a wonderful thing to have someone like you that will address this important issue. You will in all likelihood be the only writer who dares to call out the commentators who are guilty of spreading false allegations against Rafa. It?s character assassination, pure and simple, and in a just world the perpetrators would be prosecuted for slander and libel and punished severely.

It's shocking how wrong and ridiculously biased Patrick McEnroe is. John McEnroe is no better. He has been fair to Rafa in the past but suddenly seems to have done a turnaround which is kind of strange.

It really does seem as if they were all hoping that Del Potro could take out Rafa so their favorites could win and when they saw that Rafa could soldier on and still pull out a win they were deeply, deeply disappointed and needed to take out their frustrations by making up these false and totally irrational accusations. The commentators all knew, without a doubt, that Rafa sustained the injury when he hit the winner to earn a break point. Anyone could see Rafa was not moving that well, missing easy shots to go down 0-3 in the tiebreak. If they were honest they would admit that no one takes a strategic ?dubious? MTO when they have just got a break point to win the set and they would also have realized that Rafa?s pain/injury was a possible factor in his losing the second set. They seemed to be laboring under the belief that if you needed an MTO you shouldn?t be able to move, yet somehow none of these guys found it a problem that Andy Murray played the entire time at Roland Garros, supposedly on a sprained ankle and yet ran like a rabbit and got to just about every drop shot with no problem.

It doesn?t seem as if ESPN has any rule whatsoever about commentators not showing bias. John McEnroe even said he hoped that Delpo would break serve (just to see what happens, he claimed) when Rafa was serving for the match and that he regretted that his wish wouldn?t be coming true!!! How outrageous to hear Patrick McEnroe telling us he knows that the players are thinking negative thoughts like his own about Rafa even though none of them say anything and even though those same players just voted to give Rafa the sportsmanship award.

It was extremely false and rude of McEnroe also to pile on with more accusations about Rafa taking too long and keeping Del Potro waiting to leave the court. McEnroe and Delpo both know that every single winner takes time to salute the crowd after the match, throw out some wrist bands etc. and that Rafa always takes off his wet shirt at the end of a match. Rafa did nothing more than that and was clearly hurrying in order not to keep Del Potro waiting. In fact Rafa was hurrying so much to accommodate Delpo that he left behind a pair of his shoes. A ball boy picked them up and started running off to give them to Rafa but stopped, not sure how to deal with the situation. Yet McEnroe and Mary Carillo were busy snickering about how Rafa was keeping Delpo waiting even at the end of the match! Del Potro was the ill-mannered one, standing there rolling his eyes as he waited. He should have sat in his chair until Rafa was ready or left on his own. It?s funny that he seemed to act like he was doing Rafa a courtesy by waiting to leave together when all he was doing was pressuring Rafa and acting impatient about it. Not a great way to be courteous.

The commentators want it both ways. They imply that Rafa is lying, was not really hurting and is just a hypochondriac or needs to pretend to be injured to take the pressure off yet at the same time they are saying he could well lose against Fish because he?s injured. Which is it? The jerks can?t make up their minds, it seems.

It?s awful that someone as kind, honest and respectful of others as Rafa gets this horrible and undeserved treatment. As you mentioned, Federer himself admitted he took an unnecessary but strategic bathroom break to cool off Davydenko when he was losing but I have never heard one negative remark from any commentator about this cheating. The hate and lies about Rafa seem to come mostly from those who have never been able to stomach the fact that Federer has been dethroned by Rafa. I find myself wondering if in the past all the fans of top players behaved as badly when their favorites fell from the top or if it is just Federer fans that are so rabidly hateful and the internet now allows us to know how vicious and jealous so many of them are.

The state of tennis commentary in the U.S. is pathetic. Too often the commentators sound like snide high school teens in a clique tearing down the outsiders. It is totally refreshing and preferable to hear British commentary on the live streams. They don?t fill every second with blather and they are fairer and behave more like adults. Sadly, I don?t expect any change here and it?s a shame that we must suffer these fools or listen in silence without hearing the racket striking the ball or the crowd noises.

Thanks Rocky for confirming that Delpo did roll his eyes when he was waiting for Rafa to walk off together. I think there is a rivalry growing there and this will motivate Delpo to get better as he will not want to be in that position again i.e. losing to Rafa.

This can only be good for tennis as rivalries make tennis so much more interesting. I would love to see a rematch in New York!

numero, I saw the impatience too. He looked like he wanted to run over and kick Rafa right in his sore heel.

That being said, supposedly the two are good friends off the court.

Well cut Delpo some slack. I'd be disappointed if he were all cheery having just lost. He'll be back and hopefully better.

I agree with Rocky about Delpo waiting for Rafa. He should sit there and wait for Rafa to be ready, if not then be a bit more patient instead of rolling his eyes and waited impatiently. Not everyone must go according to Delpo's pace, especially Rafa has many things to pack into his bag, eg his shirts, rackets etc. Rafa made the mistake of going according to Delpo's pace, ie waiting for Delpo to be ready to receive serve, while Rafa was serving and got a warning from
the umpire for time violation.

It seems that Rafa has to develop many rivalries, one with Nole, one with Murray and now one with Delpo. Nole and Rafa have already proven their worth against Delpo at FO and Wimbledon respectively, so it's now either Fed's or Murray's turn to face off with Delpo at the coming USO. Maybe Fed should face off with Delpo in New York to prove that he can deal with Delpo after losing twice to Delpo in a row.

lucky,

Depending on how good he is (and his rank) he may face 2 or 3 of the four in New York. :)

Yep, now he faces one of the top four in the fourth round, come USO, he may face one of them in the QF stage. He's a hand full for all the top four guys, not only for Rafa, as he has the game and mental toughness to deal with the top four guys and makes lives difficult for them. He not only beat Rafa in 2009 but also Fed in the same year. He didn't get to meet Nole in 2009 after the USO, though he did lose to Murray at Canada and the WTF in 2009.

Fed only beat DelPotro 5 times before that USO 2009 win. He's done it before, and he can do it again. I like both guys and it won't be much fun if that has to happen.

Thanks for this great piece, Cheryl. I was appalled at Patrick McEnroe on ESPN this morning when he started ranting about Rafa being a hypochondriac (and I think it was no accident that the rant came right after Rafa pulled out of Davis Cup, McEnroe's very reason for living.) Rafa is a class act and deserves some respect -- thanks for adding some sound thinking into the conversation.

Rafa has also beaten Delpo four times prior to Canada 2009, that does not mean that he'll always beat Delpo as proven by his three losses to Delpo before Rafa get back at him this year, twice. Likewise for Fed, Fed had beaten Delpo five times, with the last win being a close affair at the FO 2009, prior to USO 2009 but not since. So it's time that Fed proves he still can beat Delpo now, just like what Nole and Rafa have proven.

this is something uncalled for and unprofessional. i cant imagine a good commentator airing his baseless accusations. was he there on court? did he feel the pain to be saying all these?

forgive me, but its the american commentators who just lash out at nadal.. they should take a crash course with vijay amritraj, who never discounted on any player's ability or disability.

"Nadal felt significant pain in his left foot in the first set and initially worried it might be broken; he had to miss the French Open and Wimbledon in 2004 when he fractured that foot"..
so, Rafa is being questioned for taking MTO when he felt pain and was obviously terrified that it could be the same issue as in 2004? Only idiots would judge him for taking that MTO and on his own set point...I think some people here are so afraid of Rafa breaking Fed's records that they will look for anything as cheap as this to make false accusations and to put him down...well, it's not that Rafa cares about any of it!

VAMOS RAFA!!!

Cheryl,
BTW, Sienna....Roger was happy to admit that he abused the bathroom break rule against Davydenko last year at the AO. So if you are going to point fingers, better spread the love evenly.

So in order for you to explain why the MTO used by Nadal was correct you start insulting Fed.
He did not say to abuse the bathroom rule if so he should be peanalised for it. He used a bathroom break or do you think he didn't go for #1 or # 2. I suppose the officials will not go as fas as to actually look if something was deliverd if a bathroom break is taken.
He later explained that the break helped with the sun not shining over the sideline of the court. I suppose they should check if a player actually did his businees in the bathroom.

It is not the samething though. You try to bring Fed down in order to clear free your fave. Bathroom break was hold afetr set. MTO was held during set. There is a big difference. I am very sorry that you do not understand the difference in stops during a set or after a set.

Actually, what I believe he said was something to the effect that the sun was in his eyes, so he thought that was the opportune time to take a bathroom break. Perfectly within the rules, but by your definition it would seem that should not be allowed. No?

"This can only be good for tennis as rivalries make tennis so much more interesting. I would love to see a rematch in New York!" - numero , 6/29/11 2:34 AM

Indeed, Rafa needs a new rival since Fed is already in decline...AndyM and Nole are already there, Delpo is getting there, Soda has been there, and let's see what this new kid in the block Atomic can offer.

cheryl,

I thought you might like to know that a member of vamos brigade has tweeted your blog to Patrick McEnroe. There was a good deal of appreciation for it on the forum.

There is also a diagnosis of pinching and swelling of the peroneal tendons in Rafa's left foot. This is what is causing the pain in the heel of his left foot. The articles posted there are from El Pais.com and El Mundo.com and the translation was done by forum member nou.amic.

The Spanish Tennis Federation's Doctor Ignacio Munoz explained the issue of the pinching of the peroneal tendons in Rafa's foot causing the sharp heel pain.

Also, Mattias Karen, AP sports writer, wrote an article in which he said that Rafa's foot was numbed with anesthetic pain killing injections in order to continue playing.

I thought people might be interested in this latest information. So there is something going on, but it can be managed to allow Rafa to play.

Yes NNY I've read it from another forum. It's some kind of pinched nerve problem so there's still pain but nothing as serious as we first thought. He numbed the pain before playing in the QF today. Some people are quick to jump at him without knowing what's going on and accused him of cheating or faking injury just because they saw him running OK today. Those stupid commentators owed Rafa an apology for crucifying him about taking the MTO for gamesmanship purpose.

Shameful behavior by some commentators, I hope they get bombarded by the fans and are forced to admit their mistakes and apologise publicly for their stupid comments. I'm disappointed especially with John Mac, he should know Rafa better than to doubt him in this manner.

Some people keep jumping at Rafa's MTOs when they can't think rationally. The FO final for example, there was no MTO, just a trainer attending to Rafa's feet during changeover; the MTO during that Petz match last year, Rafa was clearly having the momentum with him before the trainer was called. His MTO before the tiebreak had clearly disturbed his own momentum that he lost the first three points in the tiebreak to Delpo, in addition to his movement being hampered. Delpo had his chances to win the tie break, he was leading in the tiebreak at 6-5 too before Rafa surged ahead to 7-6. It's Delpo's own double fault at set point that do him in. It's his own fault for not holding his nerve at that crucial moment, just like Muller who double fault to give the set to Rafa in one of the tie breaks.

It appears to me it's mostly American sports commentators who lead the chorus in the Rafa "MTO's, gamesmanship, unsportsmanlike behaviour business".........why is that? And it appers the American tennis public pick up on this because most of the discussion about this MTO is on American blogs! And none of them are talking about Delpo's MTO....................very strange.

I have not heard a single negative comment from the players on tour themselves...........one of the American commentators asked Mardy Fish a leading negative question about Rafa and Mardy would not be drawn into it! Bless him...............professional to the core, and he is American.

I wonder why only the American commentators behave like this, vested interest in Rafa's QF match against Fish maybe, for fear that Rafa will call injury time out against Fish maybe?

I hope going forward Rafa seriously would cut down on his schedule, let his body has more rest and cut down on the chances of getting injuries or injury scares. He certainly would do us, his fans, a favor for doing so as we are all worried that he can't continue playing due to injury/ies.

Overall I'm not happy about what happen to Rafa this year, since the beginning of the year when he had his virus infection. Though that virus infection was unfortunate, I feel that had he had more rest during the off season last year, his body resistance would be strong enough to fight off the infection, instead of letting it hurt his fitness. One problem led to another, injury followed during AO and he missed his chance of a Rafa slam. His game, especially his serve and his backhand were off after his injury break in Feb, and that certainly affected him at IW, especially in the final against Nole where we saw his serves collapsed. His fitness was put to the test during that hot afternoon Miami final and it turned out Nole was even fitter than him even under the hot sun, and Rafa said afterwards that he had nothing left. Having lost two straight finals to the same player, it's no wonder he had confidence issue when facing the same player in another two finals, this time on clay his favorite surface. His road to the FO title was much harder than the years before and he's fortunate that he could play his best when it mattered most. He's injury prone, especially when it come to his knee, his ankle and his foot, as all these areas suffered some serious injuries in the past during his career. So a change of surface, from clay to grass might have caused him to strain some muscles here and there and here he had his pinched nerve problem at the ankle.

I hope after Wimbledon, he can have his five weeks of good rest, seek all the necessary treatments that he needs and get ready for the remaining season. I really hope he can at least win the WTF this year and complete his resume. Come the next year, please Rafa, cut down on the schedule, play either Barca or Madrid but not both, maybe even cut down on one hard court masters to cater for the Olympics. Not getting any younger, Rafa, so please take care of your body, no more of these MTOs, injuries or whatever that get us worried and that allow your distractors to jump on you and hurt your reputation. I'm really sick of hearing all these gamesmanship and faking accusations. Would really want Rafa to speed up when serving, and avoid the time violation warnings.

luckystar,

You make some excellent points about other times when Rafa had to take MTO's in matches. The other issue that has been overlooked is that this is the foot that Rafa had such a errible problem with early in his career. I think he played a match not realizing that he had a broken foot and it took like eight months to heal. He missed two slams that year I believe. Please correct me if my memory is incorrect.

The doctor from the Spanish Tennis Federation mentioned Rafa's past history with his left foot, explaining why Rafa was so upset and worried. He thought it was the same thing that happened in 2004. If you feel any kind of sharp, intense, acute pain, you are supposed to get it checked out immediately. Rafa did the right thing. He can't afford to play through these injuries anymore. He has done so in the past and we all know how that turned out.er

I thank you for pointing out the facts of the tiebreak. Delpo had his chances, even after Rafa took that MTO. He had a 3-0 lead and couldn't hold onto it. He also glared at Rafa when he saw that he could move, as if to say - you weren't really hurt. It was quite obvious. He let himself get upset and lost his concentration. So he double faulted the tiebreak away.

rafaisthebest,

I agree with you abou the American commentators. On the tennis channel it was like watching a different matc. God bless Mark Petchek and Tim Henman for the respect and admiration they showed Rafa throughout that match.

I don't know which one of them said it, but I loved this one last comment - "in the waning light, a champion burns bright". That brought tears to my eyes.

@scoretracker, 6/28/11 10:36 PM
---I read on one site that Nadal took an MTO....the poster claims that it's Nadal's way whenever he feels pressured by an opponent,...to break his opponent's momentum.---

On one site? It's a permanent refrain of Fedfans-liars everywhere (where they are not banned ).

---I personally don't care if the players take MTOs---
Then stop to write rubbish about Rafa!

@luckystar, 6/30/11 6:51 AM
---Come the next year, please Rafa, cut down on the schedule---

Don't wish Rafa to get penalized again for not playing as many tournaments as needed according the ATP rules.

Augustina, all I wish is for Rafa to defend his Wimbledon title to get his 11th slam, hold on to his no.1 position to get his 3rd year end no.1 and also wins the WTF, all else to me will be bonus. Even if he's no longer no.1 next year, as long as he can win at least on slam each year to keep him going in the tours, I think we should be happy for him. Next year he can skip one Masters tournament as he has past the 600 match plays mark, by 2013, he should be already twelve years in the tours and can skip another one Masters. So it's up to him to arrange his schedule, and he may skip some 500 or 250 events, especially if he's no longer bothered with his no.1 ranking. As he grows older and with his injury history, I hope he'll lighten his schedule so that we can enjoy his game without worrying about his fitness or injury issue. Also the best thing would be he'll silence all these crap talks about his fake injuries and gamesmanship.

lucky,

I didn't see your other post before I put mine up. I think that Rafa simply has no choice but to listen to his body. He is also dealing with a right knee issue that flared up in the third set with Muller. He supposedly is receiving infiltration for the knee. So he's got a few things going on. This transition from clay to grass is hard on his body. Then he plays Queens and has virtually no days off after a tough win at RG. His body cannot take it anymore. I am hearing that he may get another platelet treatment for the knee after Wimbledon.

He will have to build in some time off if he is to continue playing. I do want to see him win Wimbledon and his 11th slam. It would be great to see him finish the year at #1 again. Any more slam wins will just be a bonus. Winning the WTF would be nice.

I worry that Rafa won't be able to play much longer if he continues like this. I want to see him around for as long as possible.

@luckystar, 6/30/11 8:09 AM
---he'll silence all these crap talks about his fake injuries and gamesmanship.---

Nothing will silence Rafa's enemies - Fedfans ! Because Rafa is and will be dominating Fed!

@Nativenewyorker, 6/30/11 8:27 AM
--- I am hearing that he may get another platelet treatment for the knee after Wimbledon---

So far, Rafa has recieved less PRP treatments than needed. Last year, he received two treatments for his left knee and one - for his right knee. Three treatments are needed. So, it's normal, if he'll receive more treatments.

Speaking of TV commentators, they are paid for what they are talking.
He who pays the piper, calls the tune. I am wondering who are these Fedfans, who 'call the tune' ?

I really enjoy reading this blog, for its balanced and reasoned approach. This is a great article, but one I disagree with. First things first. Both Nadal and Del Potro have a history of calling for MTOs during matches. To me, though, that is not the real issue.

The issue is that Nadal received his MTO at such a crucial point during the set. I think either he or the umpire could have raised the question of receiving this MTO after the tiebreak. This article does not mention that the match was stopped for *eight minutes* right before the tiebreak. Whatever Nadal intended, that was a great disservice to Del Potro. Whether Del Potro could have won the tiebreak without the MTO is a different question. Nadal disrupted the match and that obviously set off his opponent. If this were any other player (lets say, Federer), I?d be far more inclined to give the benefit of the doubt. The truth is that Nadal has a history, especially at Wimbledon, of calling for MTOs when he is in tight situations during a difficult match. One can view this either as a genuine injury concern or as a way for him to recoup/break his opponent?s momentum. Based on what I saw, I?m more inclined to see this as a mix of both, with more of the latter. And that Nadal?s alleged foot injury actually turned out to be nothing more than a bad tape job, well?I throw up my hands. You win, Nadal. You win.

Yes, Del Potro did take a MTO during Nadal?s service game. Maybe I?m biased because I actually saw Delpo take a bad fall on the court, and thus am much more inclined to believe his MTO was 100% credible. The same cannot be said for Nadal. Patrick McEnroe is actually one of the biggest Rafa fans out there, to the point where he seems to prefer Nadal over Federer. For me, he was right and justified to at least question Nadal.

I don?t know why this incident angered me so much, it?s probably because I?ve been a fan of BOTH players and I wanted to see a beautiful match. It definitely was a hard-contested match where Del Potro ultimately did not take advantage of his opportunities. If it had been a cleanly contested match I?d give Nadal full credit, but I don?t think he fully deserves that in this case. Just for a little perspective, lets compare Nadal to Federer with respect to the MTO issue. Not in recent memory has Federer, during an important match, ever taken a MTO for what ultimately turned out to be a non-injury. Federer may have had the odd ?bathroom break? (Nadal, not to be outdone, went to the bathroom as well during his match with Del Potro, right after the MTO and the tiebreak). But Federer never dealt with the MTO side. For that Federer deserves a lot ofcredit, because his victories are never tarnished by ?Well, he pulled a sly one there on his opponent and won the match? speculations.

In short, I side more with Jon Wertheim?s take on Nadal, because I think he comprehensively acknowledges the grounds for suspicion:

?Here's what I do know, though. Especially for a player who speaks so often about fair play and sportsmanship and congeniality, Nadal makes some curious decisions. There's his chronic tardiness getting to the court. His chronic delays between points. His grunting. And his various and sundry calls to the trainer. I still say that, on balance, Nadal is, overwhelmingly, a force of good. But he may want to think about some his actions and how they're perceived in the context of fair play.?

Here are my thoughts: I do not consider Rafa a cheat, but he also wasn't facing a situation where a crippling injury had occurred - on those grounds, why was play stopped at such a crucial juncture? I don't really have a problem with it at all - except that when most people highlight these things, it's one set of standards for Fedal and a completely different set of standards for the rest. If Nadal gets to do it at such a crucial point in a match - everyone should be allowed to, regardless of the situation. Not so long ago, everyone was jumping on Fognini for what he did at the FO, the very same people are defending Rafa. Blatant double standards.

Here are my thoughts: I do not consider Rafa a cheat, but he also wasn't facing a situation where a crippling injury had occurred - on those grounds, why was play stopped at such a crucial juncture?

samprallica
, 6/30/11 6:35 PM


Thank you samprallica on your above thoughts.....................

I notice you did not mention Delpo's MTO or timing thereof.................what are your thoughts on this?

Thanks

Yes, Del Potro did take a MTO during Nadal?s service game. Maybe I?m biased because I actually saw Delpo take a bad fall on the court, and thus am much more inclined to believe his MTO was 100% credible.
Bojan
, 6/30/11 11:13 AM

I hear you loud and clear, Bojan..........................you SAW Delpo take a BAD fall and ego, his MTO was 100% credible. Therefore, by inference, you did not SEE blood oozing from Rafa's foot or the said foot contorted at an angle where it was on the same side as his butt..........his MTO was not, therefore, 100% credible.

Aha..........very scientific.

Cheryl, this is a great post.

Rafa pushes his body to the limit both in training and play. He has a physical style of play and runs after every ball. He plays more matches than most because he wins more than most in an already demanding schedule. He has already expressed this often, by the way, so if he does (or any other player does) whatever he can to make sure he isn't injured when he feels a sharp pain, I totally understand.
And by the way, Rafa cannot possibly be "cheating" because all he can do is REQUEST a medical assessment. If the umpire and the physio say an MTO is warranted when it's not, then it is THEIR fault. They are responsible at that point to interpret and enforce the rules. "cheating" means doing something the rules don't allow.
The same goes for the timing of the call. If the umpire allows it, then its OK, and if it's not call it a bad call, don't blame the player.

What is worse, playing and being cautions of pains that may appear during matches, or skipping tournaments all together? Everyone wants Rafa to play their tournament. It would be stupid to expect him to play everywhere at 100% without increased risk of injury.

Oh, and as far as hockey, or football goes, players can take TIME OUT whenever they need to. They can even sit on the bench for most of the match if tired or injured while the rest of the team does all the work. Tennis is very different.

@Bojan, 6/30/11 11:13 AM
---The truth is that Nadal has a history, especially at Wimbledon, of calling for MTOs when he is in tight situations during a difficult match---

The truth is that Rafa's opponents have a history of calling MTOs. For example, at Wimbledon last year:
¤ Petzschner took a MTO (3 minutes) after the 4th set he lost to Rafa (2-6);
¤ Söderling took a MTO before Rafa was serving for the 4th set (at 5-4 to Rafa). Söderling just sat on his chair, took his shoe off and waited for near 10 minutes for a trainer. After that he took a MTO (3 minutes) to have his foot retaped.

NNY - thanks for the heads-up. Those Vamos Brigade gals are really on top of things. :) I hope Patrick doesn't kick me in the shins in Cincinnati. :D

Bojan - I understand your point...but I think both you and Jon Wertheim are missing a couple of important points here. First, of COURSE Nadal and DelPo are inclined to take MTOs. They are both VERY injury-prone. I could see someone pointing out their frequent MTOs if they used the opportunistically during matches but spent the rest of the time fit as a fiddle.

The fact is that they both spend a LOT of time out with injury.

Next, about the timing. You seem to be ignoring the fact that when Nadal asked for the trainer, he was in a position to win the opening set. He waited until the game was over, but that could easily have been the END of set 1, not right before the tiebreaker.

Last, you make the contention that it was not an urgent injury. Except that Nadal said he thought it felt like his foot was broken. If anything is urgent it's a broken bone. That it turned out NOT to be is fortuitous for fans and the tournament alike..NOT cause for complaint.

?Here's what I do know, though. Especially for a player who speaks so often about fair play and sportsmanship and congeniality, Nadal makes some curious decisions. There's his chronic tardiness getting to the court. His chronic delays between points. His grunting. And his various and sundry calls to the trainer. I still say that, on balance, Nadal is, overwhelmingly, a force of good. But he may want to think about some his actions and how they're perceived in the context of fair play.?

Bojan , 6/30/11 11:13 AM


In a nutshell, a bunch of sour grapes.

hey, Bojan, it is not Rafa's fault that Fed lost to Tsonga and that Delpo did not send Rafa packing as most Fed fans were hoping for...or you are Nole's fan (judging by your name)...please, don't be bitter...you are obviously a double standard fellow and mainly contradicting yourself...and since when are the commentators or observes of the match (like yourself) the ones to judge who is RIGHTLY injured and who is not...Do you think Rafa should from now on be allowed to have MTO just for VISIBLE injuries so that you and those like you can be sure he is not cheating...wow, are you at all aware of nonsense and controversy in your post...

@cherylmurray: "Last, you make the contention that it was not an urgent injury. Except that Nadal said he thought it felt like his foot was broken. If anything is urgent it's a broken bone. "

I can't believe he said that ?! I am fine with MTO, and I don't think it makes big deal... I do like to have healthy player at all costs, so wouldn't mind to have even more MTOs... But saying that it felt like broken bone, it is childish at the best.

I had serious fractions and some really unbelievable funny fraction of bones... and you can make mistake if it is minor fraction thinking it is sprain or something else. But fact is that any fraction is so disrupting, you can't ignore it. Once I managed to broke Metatarsal bone on foot, just by stepping incorrectly. You "hear" and "feel" crack... And it was so tiny little fraction, almost dent a like. It hurt like hell, but I didn't thought it was broken bone and continue to walk (limp a little). I thought that cracking feeling came from some twig... It is sustainable to walk while injury is hot, but there is NO WAY you can play tennis with that condition?!?! In a minutes your foot start looking like a Hobbit feet and after minor pauses 10-30 sec, it start getting cold hurting like walk over razors on every next move.

Difference is that Rafa thought that he had broken bone and he continued to play tennis, while I thought it is just sprain and ignore it but couldn't even walk properly. I don't want to argue about proper time for MTO or not, was it faked or not... Just saying that this Rafa explanation is lame.

There are lot of worse thing than MTO... Injuries when players are off court are the worst thing to us tennis fans and whole ATP Tour. MTO's are there to prevent that and help us to watch tennis. If there are not MTO's there would be lot of retires during match, which is really bad for both players...

atg, you got it wrong. He thought he got a broken bone and so he stopped immediately or within the next one or two points and called for the trainer. I believe the trainer confirmed there's no broken bone, as he was touching and feeling his heel, if not the trainer would have advised him to stop playing totally. After taping his foot he was able to play again so I believe Rafa knew he didn't have a broken bone. Rafa is intelligent enough not to carry on playing with a broken bone, if not how come he called the trainer immediately once he felt pain in his foot and stopped the play?

atg, what are you talking about? Rafa did stop immediately because he felt sharp pain and also said that he felt something like a crack...he therefore thought some bone was broken...he had the same type of injury before so it is reasonable for him to be scared and to think of the worse...you can not blame him for that...and that is why he asked for MTO right away at his own set point...and the doctors reassured him nothing was broken...so, as much as we appreciate your description of your own experience with an injury it makes no sense at all to attack Rafa for his right decisions...

And I also think that these suspicions about Rafa's injury are unfounded: just listen to his interviews about pain killer injections he is currently receiving to deal with the pain...how in earth could you be so blind and distrustful to still question Rafa's integrity?

@natashao: My bad, I didn't read thread properly... I thought Rafa is being attacked of calling MTO tactically, not immediately when he felt injury and that his "evil" plan was to disrupt DelPo rythm. I wasn't able to catch 1st set of match, so don't know how exactly it played out.

If he stopped play and called MTO at the moment he had injury than I got it completely wrong. Mine point was exactly that, you don't play with suspicion of broken bone, you will think twice are you going to try to get to the chair or wait for stretcher. At least he and DelPo are guys who knows what is the risk of being out of court for long period.... There should be rule that for every month off court absence during injury you are getting one extra MTO :)

You tell 'em, Cheryl.

Also, everyone?


"Nadal revealed he would need injections in his injured left foot beforehand in order to numb the pain."


http://aggbot.com/link.php?id=14063455&r=tw&t=am



Re ading is fundamental.

Now ? are we done yet?

I hope this Sienna either stops posting or tries to understand before making a post. It is so annoying to read the same irrational stuff over and over again like the chinese water torture.
Poor Fed fans are so upset because being delusional they had taken it for granted that Fed was going to win this Wimbledon.
Earlier I was hoping Fed would retire so we could get rid of the annoyance and stress of the vicious and delusional posts of Fedfans. But now I know we can never get rid of these delusional bunch of Rafa haters. They will simply jump onto the bandwagon of Nole or Delpo or whoever shows some promise of beating Rafa.

Cheryl,

You are more than welcome!:) I have enjoyed reading your blogs here. So have many other members of this site. Now at least you know that there are people on other forums who also appreciate them, too. You were quite the star on vamos brigade after they put up the link to your blog. I think they were just grateful that you came out and made the case better than anyone else online. So now you know you have fans elsewhere.

I see that some people are still determined to make an issue of Rafa?s MTO. I really don?t know what else can be said that has not already been said. The facts are the facts. Rafa crouched down in pain immediately after hitting a winner to get a set point. He did not call for the MOT at that point, rather he continued to play even though it was obvious that he could barely return Delpo?s serves. So he lost the set point and the game. One could make the argument that if he hadn?t had this injury, he might have won the set outright and there would have been no need to go to a tiebreak. Rafa clearly had the momentum at that point and gained no advantage by taking a MTO. This idea that Rafa taking the MTO somehow disrupted Delpo?s game is utter nonsense. These are professional tennis players. They know how to deal with interruptions. If they can?t, then that?s on them. The fact is that Rafa lost the first three points in the tiebreak. The tennis channel showed slow motion video of Rafa?s feet in motion on those early points in the tiebreak. He was clearly dragging his left foot awkwardly in one video. In another video isolation, he was standing on the ball of his foot and trying to stay off his heel. The videos were a powerful testament to just how much Rafa?s movement was compromised even after the MTO.

If some wish to see only what they want to see, then no factual argument can possibly change their minds.

Poor holdserve, she just keep spamming with the usual inchoerent rants about Fed fans, using exaggerated untruths to embellish and give credence to her rants. Go get a life, puhleez.

@holdserve, "Earlier I was hoping Fed would retire so we could get rid of the annoyance and stress of the vicious and delusional posts of Fedfans. But now I know we can never get rid of these delusional bunch of Rafa haters. "

No problem, you've chased another Fed fan away. Ill give you your wish, coz I've had enolugh. I'm outta here. Now you delusional fangirls can rant and rant and rant, gfet in yuour usual quota of digs and cast aspersions and innuendoes. Plz enjoy, I'll be reading, but I don't care to discuss anything with venemous Fed haters.

Cheryl, thank you for your many gracious efforts in trying to make Fed fans feel welcome; you're a class act and albeit your job is difficult, you've done well to maintain decorum and peace. however, there won't be any harmony with the toxic individuals who enjoy casting aspersions and behave as kindergarten kids. Thanks a lot for your kindness towards Fed fans.

scoretracker - What a drama queen. You'll be back because you like nothing better than to give these "fangirls" a run for their money. Your an attention seeker and even negative attention is better than no attention, sooooo.......you'll be back. The question is just how long can you hold out. Since the next big tournament is USO, I'd say we'll be hearing from you right around mid-August. As a matter of fact I wouln't be at all surprised if someone new pops up spouting your same rhetoric. Let's see what could you call yourself, scorecard, scorebook, slamtracker. Yeah, you'll be back.

Mya are you so demented that you can't understand and the the sickness that's being emitted from you and the other juvenile fangirls that makes it impossible for a Fed fan to be here? Gosh, your delusional mind is mind-boggling. FYI, I don't hide behind several aliases like some of you as I don't have anything to hide. I stand behind my every word., unlike some olf you whop go on other sites and claim Fed is stewed, and pretend while they're here. FYI, If, and when , I post again, I'll be the same scoretracker.

Hm.

I guess we're not done. :-/

@scoretracker. Tried to catch you on another thread, and missed. HUUUGGE Rafa fan here (actually the whole Armada, but Rafa always my fave) and understand your point. In short, 'fan' is derived from the word 'fanatic', and there are transgressions on both sides of the net when it's Fedal we're discussing. However, I think alot of Rafa fans miss the boat when they fail to realize just how important Roger has been to Rafa's career. Just like Fed fans; since Fed himself has grudgingly admitted that it has made him a better player, why can't his fans?
I don't engage in the GOAT discussion, because Sampras clearly was set to be the GOAT when he retired, and nobody saw Fed coming up with the dominance he did. Rafa could eclipse Roger's Slam record, but will never touch his consistency, period. On that I think we can agree. I don't think Roger is going to eclipse Rafa's clay court record, or his record ATP 1000 wins. In another decade, we may be looking at a champion with 25 Slams, and 30 ATP 1000 wins. Unlikely, but not impossible.
To my other point, clearly Roger's 'rabbit' has had a profound impact on Rafa's race to development and play. Aspects of his game have been nurtured, as Uncle Toni has admitted, specifically geared towards beating Roger. Roger has hit with every left-handed player of note in existence, trying to beef up his game against Rafa. If there was no Rafa, it can be argued that Fed might have well over 20 Slams. The converse is true, if no Roger, the 20 might well be in Rafa's column. Actually, I think the dominance of Fedal led to the dominance in Slams. Beating Roger, ok, but now you have to beat Rafa, too, and vice versa. That's why there are only three who have EVER beaten both in a Grand Slam. I wish the two camps could simply see that one made the other stronger, and vice versa.
I am, and always have been, Majorbaeb, here and everywhere else. Nothing to hide...
@ Cheryl. I really enjoy your blog. Fair and insightful takes, interesting reads, and not afraid to speak your mind. Keep it up!

scoretracker - As I said before, you truly are the pot calling the kettle black. Just look at the number of adjectives you flung at me; demented, delusional, sick fangirl. If you don't like what others are putting out here then maybe you should check your own behavior. Remember the golden rule, do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you don't want to be attacked, then quit attacking others.

Hey Maya, who attacked whom? answer, you called me, a guy, a drama queen, so don't talk about do unto others. your stuck your big mouth where it didn't belong, and you got what you deserved. Now, try some comprehension. Did you see me say you are sick? I said, can't you see the 'sickness'. It's a whole different enchilada. A word of advice, when you are comprehension challenged, don't get into a word battle without first ensuring that you fully comprehend what's being said, got it, fangirl Maya?.

hey mara002, didn't I read you were a Fed fan, some place on this site? now you've jumped on the Nadal fangirl freight train. If so, you're without credibility so don't even try to take digs at me. I, at least, have remained faithful to my player, you have become a NOMAD.

@Majorbaeb, thanks, and am glad you can see through the fanaticism that's ongoing. I'm done as of this post, but thanks for being a voice of reason. BTW, I dont subscribe to the GOAT debate also..

Mara002, come back and emit some more nonsense after this post. Know what I've determined here, you fangirls have pent-up Rafa emotions that are unfulfilled, maybe unrequite love, perhaps? It's the reason you let that out at the Fed fans. Gotta uncork some place, so why not here. I'm laughing coz some of you are so transparent.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/wimbledon/8609140/Wimbledon-20 11-rampaging-Rafael-Nadal-is-tenniss-Greatest-of-All-Time-not-Roger-Fe derer.html

What a beautiful, factual article!!!!!!!!

Arrogant Nadal fan.

cheaters in the game. Illegal coaching, fake time-outs, countless excuses when losing, exceding time limit between serves,? gamemanship, mindgames, and spitting in the clay,

Nadal said. "Personally, to watch a Pete Sampras versus Goran Ivanisevic? match, or? one between those kind of players, is not enjoyable. it is not really tennis. " what arrogant. real arrogant. sucks Nadal.


always exaggerated appeal. always overaction to mad. always shouted . always fake? of time out.? always stupid take time. always cheaters in the game. Illegal coaching. exceding time limit between serves. etc. etc. etc.

Annoying. Arrogant. Overrated. Arrogant fans.

su*cs Nadal

Scoretracker, I thought you were leaving.

You can see yourself out anytime, because your reading comprehension is clearly abysmal -- since everyone else here knows I'm a FEDAL fan.

:-/

mara002, "You can see yourself out anytime, because your reading comprehension is clearly abysmal -- since everyone else here knows I'm a FEDAL fan."

If you are a Fedal fan, then act like it and stop bashing him. If you really were a fan of roger's you'd stand up for him, not enjoy bashing him and joing with the Nadal fans. What a load of nonsense. You pretend you're so desperate for me to leave, but yet, you continue to open your big mouth so that I can come back and answer you? Who enjoys the battle more, mara002, and who's desperately seeking attention? I can only assume it's YOU. BTW, for a Fedal fan, why do you insist on bashing Roger so much? I don't get it. I saw a while back, you stated you have diluted your Fed loyalty. It has to be all or nothing or else you become inconsistent, incongruent, wish wash, unctuous, etc. , which is exactly what I see happening with you. I know why, and can see through your little game. All you're trying to do is to keep in good with the Rafafans, by saying what you feel they would want to hear from you, and that is to bash Roger. If you didn't bash Roger and bashed Nadal, the Rafafangirls would eat you alive and you know it. Thus, you play this riidiculous farcical game of bashing Roger to keep in good with the Nadal fans. You're truly pitiful. I guess you'll be back to answer me, coz you just enjoy the back and forth , and it's how you can unload and uncork your wild fantisies that are eating away at you, which are left unfulfilled. BTW, you need to remember a guy can give it back harder and can stand the barrage of attacks from the fangirls without buckling. I don't need for any of you to leave as I can stand on my own and defend myself. You need a legion to back you up coz backbone is missing. Don't you see how when one fangirl attacks, then the others follow? Wanna know why? Just look at yourself and you'll see that it's seeking attention, which is atypical of your stance and epitomizes just how vuilnerable and insecure most of you really are. I'm waiting to hear from you mara002.

scoretracker,

I know that you are humbled and bitter right now, so just take your pills and relax. No need to pull everybody down with you. :-)

phoenix, why would I be humbled and bitter? Did you see me saying Fed would win? It's your fellow Nadalfan Raindrops, who started this and brought me into her juvenile mess. She just couldn't rejoice at Fed's loss without pecking and emitting venom at a Fed fan to put her on a high. Don't you read and digest before talking? BTW, I don't need pills, I'm fine. I knew Fed would lose to Tsonga, and I said so. That said, why would I be unhappy?The guy's got 16GS, which is what bugs Nadal fans, as they don't know if he'll be able to hold it together to win more. I saw a few voicing their concern already on this site, so I'm not the one who need pills, I'd say it's you fangirls who are the ones that are suffering from anxiety syndrome, big time, not I.

scoretracker, talking about past glory is admission enough that Fed is now fading into the sunset. good for you, at least you're a realist, or it's just the pills taking effect. :-)
...and oh while you're at it, don't forget the number 17-8, coz the way things stand, i don't think that this number will still improve in Fed's favor.

Cheryl -
I'm not trying to discount the very real injuries Nadal has faced, after all we saw in the match that Del Potro had them as well. I'm not criticizing a tennis player for requesting a MTO when faced with injury. The point I was trying to make was, there are loopholes that can be exploited where MTOs are concerned (Fognini-Montanes at the FO '11). Based on Nadal's history of MTOs in difficult matches (where he goes on to win the match after disrupting play), I think there are a few questions his opponents could ask of him where this issue is concerned. To me, he doesn't get the "benefit of the doubt"-card without some serious questions being asked.

Nadal had set point when he called for a trainer, but that was on Del Potro's serve. Given the way Del Potro was serving at the start of the match (which was well, as opposed to later on in the match), the chances of Nadal actually winning the first set were not as high as you suggest. Thus, it does not automatically dispel the suspicions.

As for the urgency issue, in his post-match interview Nadal said he thought he'd broken his foot and that he'd have to retire. A day later, the news from his camp was that the taping applied on his foot before the match had been too tight, which made Nadal feel uncomfortable. In his next match against Fish, he was running around as well as ever. I stand by my argument that the injury concern he had was not urgent, and thus very badly timed. He mistook a bad taping job for a broken foot?...Really?

"He mistook a bad taping job for a broken foot?...Really?"

Bojan, I don't know if you remember, but that was the same foot in which Rafa suffered a stress fracture that took him out of the Australian Open. Years ago. So under those circumstances -- yes, I think it's perfectly reasonable to be more sensitive to the possibility you might have suffered a re-injury.

If you're an athlete or former athlete of any type, I'm sure you understand that

Scoretracker, since the entire post is about Rafa and Polito -- and not about Roger *at all* (especially since you've said five or six time that you'd be leaving) I don't even know what you're doing here.

And BTW - I'll say it if no one else will. The problem with you, at least for those of us who attempt to be fair-minded and even-handed, is not whom you (purport to) support. It's really not.

It's your noxious attitude.

Bojan,

Before I depart this place for some much needed sleep for tomorrow's semifinal matches, I must correct a blatant falsehood in your post. The comment about the taping on Rafa's foot being the source of his pain, is totally false! Dr. Ignacio Munoz, of the Spanish Tennis Federation, said that this was not the reason for Rafa's pain. This information has unfortunately been circulating online.

I will say this for the last time. If you cannot accept the facts, then there is no sense continuing to discuss this with you.

The results of Rafa's MRI scan showed no SERIOUS injury, with no damage to the bone and ligaments. However, there was pinching and swelling in the peroneal tendons in Rafa's foot. Dr. Munoz explained that with certain movements, particularly defending on the forehand side, Rafa exerts a great deal of pressure on these tendons, pinching them and causing the pain in his heel. So there is an injury! Period! The fact that it was not more serious is reason for Rafa fans to be thankful.

Dr. Munoz explained that they have taped the foot in such a way as to try and relieved the pressure on these inflamed tendons. Rafa is taking anti-inflammatories, physical therapy and they are also injecting some kind of numbing agent to kill the pain and allow Rafa to play at maximum level. The injection lasts for five hours. This has allowed Rafa to continue to play.

So please stop repeating false rumors and misinformation, when accurate information is available.

@Bojan, 7/1/11 9:20 AM
---The point I was trying to make---
Don't try (to spread lies against Rafa) any more!

---Based on Nadal's history of MTOs in difficult matches---
Read my post of 6/30/11 7:37 PM

---Nadal had set point when he called for a trainer, but that was on Del Potro's serve.---
Let me remind you that Rafa had two game points on his serve (40:15), when Del Potro LEFT the court!

I have a friend who is a sprinter and he had the same type of injury in the peroneal tendons of his right heel...he had no swelling but he had a sharp pain that totally limited his movements...he was telling me how he could not even walk without feeling some pain...and he had a month long treatment, some sorts of acupuncture and it took him more than a month to recover...so, please note all of you who rushed to attack and accuse Rafa that he is unfortunately injured (are you satisfied now?) ...he was more than right to ask for that MTO...it is painful enough for us Rafa fans to learn about it but it is even more annoying to have to read repeated false interpretations and nonsense from Rafa haters...

People have such short memories. At the FO, on which a large chunck of Rafa's reputation hangs, he struggled in his first 3 matches against Isner and Andujar; had he lost to any of those players, his reputation as King of Clay would have been severely tarnished, not once did he take an MTO.

If he had called for a trainer in any of those matches, even me, a diehard fan, would have been inclined to believe that there was an ulterior motive. Why can't his detractors be a little bit more objective and weigh up the circumstances when he was down and out and didn't call for a trainer to when he had an advantage and called for one and come tho the conclusion that he can't be faking anything.

mara, "Scoretracker, since the entire post is about Rafa and Polito -- and not about Roger *at all* (especially since you've said five or six time that you'd be leaving) I don't even know what you're doing here."

Tell that to holdserve, she inserted Fed into this thread, just like she always does, as follows:
"I hope this Sienna either stops posting or tries to understand before making a post. It is so annoying to read the same irrational stuff over and over again like the chinese water torture.
Poor Fed fans are so upset because being delusional they had taken it for granted that Fed was going to win this Wimbledon.
Earlier I was hoping Fed would retire so we could get rid of the annoyance and stress of the vicious and delusional posts of Fedfans. But now I know we can never get rid of these delusional bunch of Rafa haters. They will simply jump onto the bandwagon of Nole or Delpo or whoever shows some promise of beating Rafa."

holdserve, 7/1/11 12:22 AM


To which I replied: "
"Poor holdserve, she just keep spamming with the usual inchoerent rants about Fed fans, using exaggerated untruths to embellish and give credence to her rants. Go get a life, puhleez."

scoretracker, 7/1/11 1:08 AM

In my next post I said I was outta here. did I say when I was outta here? No, but you surmised it was at that very moment. I want you to show me where I said "five or six times" I was outta here. I also stated that I would keep reading. I mentioned once on this thread that I was outta here and then I answered Majorbaeeb's post, and yours. However, you kept coming at me with your ridiculous nonsense and you engaged me in a nonsensical back and forth. So mara show me where I said "five or six times" that I was leaving. You have joined the list of those who like to embellish and make up statements that don't exist. I think I can safely say that you engage in exaggeration and/or untruths.

As for my 'noxious' attitude, yours is even worse, so don't talk about me but look at yourself and those who've attacked me. I logged in to read, and there was Raindrops ridiculing me without me being here. I don't start stuiff, it's you gals who do that, so don't try to tell me about 'noxious attitude' when you're close to the top of the list of the noxious fangirls. I can't come close to some here, even if I tried very hard to do so. You butted in, and I answered you. Had you not done so, i would not be having anything with you and yhou know it. It appears to me that you are very anxious to be rid of me, I wonder why? i know it's coz i'm a Fed fan and I can see through your disloyalty, that's why.

"Why can't his detractors be a little bit more objective and weigh up the circumstances when he was down and out and didn't call for a trainer to when he had an advantage and called for one and come tho the conclusion that he can't be faking anything."

@ Nadline - because prejudice is something that can't be reasoned with.
Logic will not stop some people. They've made up their minds, and they don't want to be confused with facts. True story. :-)

And something I've had to learn the hard way.
:-/

"As for my 'noxious' attitude, yours is even worse, so don't talk about me but look at yourself and those who've attacked me"

@Scoretracker - You can't do any better than "I know you are but what am I"? Well ... all righty then.

As far as the FED part of my FEDAL fandom is concerned, I think I can say that you're not representing your half very well and are, in fact, starting to embarrass both us (that is, people who support Roger, as opposed to bashing Rafa and other players) and yourself (though I'm starting to sense you're really not seeing that part, are you?). No chance you can quit before you're hopelessly behind, is there?

@ rafaisthebest, I didn't say I had a problem with Rafa's or Delpo's timeouts. Nope, not one bit - even though I'd rather have had both play on, its not fair on anyone to expect us to call the shots when we are sitting on our butts and the players are doing all the work. What I have a problem with is how this is situation would have been portrayed if say, the player was Fognini.

@samprallica, 7/1/11 5:48 PM
---how this is situation would have been portrayed if say, the player was Fognini.---

Fedfans would have been absolutely quiet. No doubt.

If Rafa has called the trainer barely 5 mins into the match like Andy did, he would have been accused of all sorts.

The way these fedtards go on and on and on about Rafa's MTO, one would think that he did it against Federer. Granting without admitting that Rafa was not really injured, what is it to you, fedtards? No one, including Rafa himself, the umpire, and you fedtards could be certain of the extent of Rafa's injury at that very instant. That's why the title of this article is about giving both players the "benefit of the doubt". What part of this phrase is so hard to understand?

@ Augustina, I have no idea what you're getting at - but I'll leave the Fedal wars to the Fedal fans.