Help
9/28/11 7:05 PM | Johan Lindahl
After what Australia could only define as a debacle loss in the Davis Cup promotion round to Switzerland this month, captain Patrick Rafter is calling for a more scientific way for referees to tell if there remains sufficient light to play on.
The current finger-in-the-wind-and-squint-at-the-sky approach backfired badly for the Aussies in Sydney, with Stan Wawrinka on the brink of victory in the final rubber over Lleyton Hewitt when the key match was called for bad light.
When they came back the next morning, it took around two minutes for Swiss Stan to complete the job and save the weekend, sending his nation back into the World Group.
It's all a bit much for Rafter, who wants light meters to be used to determine the actual levels of remaining sunshine. "What's frustrating is that in tennis there is no light meter like cricket, so it's the referee's discretion," said the captain. "Obviously, he (the referee) wants to finish the match.
"That's fair enough, and I'm looking out for my player. When someone's down they're going to go, 'Well, I want to stop,' and the guy at the other end's going 'No, I want to keep playing.'"
Rafter has a supporter in Roger Federer, who was caught out by the same situation his dramatic Wimbledon final of 2008, won by Rafael Nadal in near-darkness.
"I always have the feeling that the referees leave it a bit too late; they try to squeeze in another couple of games," he said. "It's such a tough call, because then they say, 'All right, let's play two more games.'
"But two more games could be three minutes, it could be 15 minutes, so it's also a difficult situation for them to be in, and for the players it's the worst, because the last thing you want is that a match is decided upon something like this."
Find the latest tennis odds at Unibet.com
Tell a friend »
He isn't the first guy to complain about low light after a loss...and he won't be the last.
cherylmurray , 9/29/11 2:13 PM
just a sore loser cheryl.
If they would have won you never heart about it.
Sienna , 9/29/11 10:57 PM
heard probably?>
Sienna , 9/29/11 10:59 PM
Of course it was because he lost. I thought I just said "complained after a loss". Plenty of others have done it. They'll complain about the wind, the light, the sun in their eyes...you name it.
cherylmurray , 9/30/11 7:53 PM
Yes but he is not a player. He represents Australie maybe the biggest (certainly second after USA) country of DC.
But he was as a player a gentleman and great player fantastic to watch. So we all have issues sometimes in life. No problem.
But there are different thing in DC that should be taken up with the bosses.
I think that farce about actual courts the ties are taken is a joke. The home team has such a big + not only the fans but they can choose there court given the opponent. It is ridiculous.
And why is there never a draw for home or away. That is set in concrete as the draw of the first round is out and depends of who will come through PFFF also a bit lame and old fashioned.
Sienna , 9/30/11 9:43 PM
Scan QR code to access Unibet mobile.
Bet on Sports wherever you are and whenever you like, with Unibet's quick and simple mobile client you can place bets, check results and see live odds.
For more info about QR codes & scanners click here.
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.5.0
Disclaimer © 2001-2012, Moneytainment Media Ltd - All rights reserved
Sore loser!!!
bleck , 9/28/11 10:31 PM