The era of the Serbian is OVER!
I think the playing only 3 sets demeans women. & I think they want to play 5 for that reason.This guy says what I mean way better than I could âŚ
COLUMN: WOMEN NEED FIVE-SETS TENNIS TO WIN EQUALITY BATTLE
by: AP March 25, 2016PARIS (AP) After a bruising start, this ultimately morphed into a points-scoring week for womenâs tennis.
Quick recap: Novak Djokovic put both feet in his mouth by suggesting that male players should be paid more, and by condescendingly praising women athletes for overcoming ââa lot of different things that we donât have to go through. You know, the hormones and different stuff.ââ
Sigh. Hardly the sort of forward-looking, 21st century leadership one wants to hear from the top-ranked man. Billie Jean King, Chris Evert, and a few days of reflection subsequently helped to put him right. Djokovic backpedaled with a qualified apology.
Then, Raymond Moore resigned as the Indian Wells tournament director, falling on his sword for suggesting that women players should fall to their knees in thanks for male counterparts who have ââcarried this sport.ââ
Sexism coming back to bite men who should know better. Count this week as a 6-4, 6-4 victory for women players in their unfinished battle for equality.
And it will remain unfinished just so long as tennis continues to make women play a different game from the men.
Not having women play best-of-five-set matches, like men, at major tournaments is core to tennisâ equality problem, because it hardwires gender inequality into the sport.
At the Olympic Games, the equivalent would be 80-meter sprints for women, while men run 100. Or 40-meter pools. Or, in football, 60-minute matches.
Truncated Grand Slam tennis for women perpetuates offensive myths about weaker and superior sexes. It suggests that women arenât physically and mentally strong enough to play five sets, even though that is patently false. It fuels noxious arguments that women donât deserve the equal prize money at majors they fought long and successfully for, because they play fewer sets than men to win it.
In short, it is plain wrong.
There will always be those who feel that menâs matches offer better value for money because they are more likely to run longer. That ignores the fact that a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 - to cite just the example of Serena Williams against Victoria Azarenka in the French Open third round last year - can be more memorable than a menâs 6-3, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 - the score of Rafael Nadalâs fourth-round win at Roland Garros against Jack Sock.
The quantity-trumps-quality mindset is impossible for women to beat completely when they are not playing the same format as men, and not being allowed to sell the same product. Best-of-five tennis can be more dramatic, because the additional length can encourage more momentum swings, comebacks, collapses, and epic marathons. Women are being deprived of that stage.
Cheaper tickets for best-of-three major finals than for best-of-five also send the message, even before women have played, that theyâre not worth forking out for like the men. At the French Open in June, hospitality packages for the menâs final will cost twice as much as for the womenâs final. Organizers say that is because there is greater public demand to watch the men. Djokovic followed similar logic in arguing that male players should get more money.
ââWe have much more spectators,ââ he said.
But popularity is cyclical. As the golden era of Roger vs. Rafa comes to an end, Djokovic cannot be sure that audiences wonât shift from the menâs game. It wasnât that long ago that Steffi Graf vs. Martina Navratilova was a more intriguing rivalry than Djokovic against Andy Murray is now.
Forget the argument that best-of-five matches for women couldnât be shoehorned into cramped Grand Slam schedules. That assumes that men canât make space. Best-of-three for both men and women in early rounds of the showcase tournaments, followed by best-of-five for both in the later stages might work.
At least it would be equal.
John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jleicester(at)ap.org or follow him at http://twitter.com/johnleicester
Thatâs better than what you can do? Serious?
35 is the new 30 in modern tennis. Crucial victory for Federer as he now has 18 GS's to Nadal''s 14 GS's. Flip the result and it would be 17 to 15 -- Nadal looking good for the French Open.Don't think so, and most tennis players are usually done by early 30s.Regarding joker taking over fed, he may well but the form drops off quickly, injuries become more regular and itâs harder to play through those injuries. Joker definitely has a couple more in him at least, next 18 months will be crucial for him though.
Players under 21 are barely getting into the top 100 - Only 6 women in the top 100 are under 21, and in the menâs itâs 7 players - Players over the age of 30 in the top 100 - Men have 40 players and women have 14 players. The game has changed in the last 10 years.
The way these great two rivals spoke after the match, does them both credit. They were just as classy with their comments of mutual respect, off the court, as their play on the court demonstrated. Theirs is the greatest rivalry in menâs tennis history. yet for all that. they both acted like gentlemen. Kudos to both.
This may be harsh and Iâd be really happy to stand corrected. However, I think that Bernard Tomic has little chance at being a regular top 10 player.
His game is pretty good but he moves around the court like a drugged snail. He just does not get to balls that others, many older, can do. I hope Iâm wrong.
Donât start me on Kyrgios whoâs issues appear to be above the shoulders.
This may be harsh and I'd be really happy to stand corrected. However, I think that Bernard Tomic has little chance at being a regular top 10 player.His game is pretty good but he moves around the court like a drugged snail. He just does not get to balls that others, many older, can do. I hope Iâm wrong.
Donât start me on Kyrgios whoâs issues appear to be above the shoulders.
An accurate post.
Tomic has three issues
- Lack of fitness
- Agility moving forward
- Unwillingness to play a more attacking game.
Will need to address two of these issues to make the top 10
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This may be harsh and I'd be really happy to stand corrected. However, I think that Bernard Tomic has little chance at being a regular top 10 player.His game is pretty good but he moves around the court like a drugged snail. He just does not get to balls that others, many older, can do. I hope Iâm wrong.
Donât start me on Kyrgios whoâs issues appear to be above the shoulders.
An accurate post.
Tomic has three issues
- Lack of fitness
- Agility moving forward
- Unwillingness to play a more attacking game.
Will need to address two of these issues to make the top 10
The lack of a coach, and palpable absence of haste to get one, speaks volumes for Tomic and Kyrgios. Neither wants to do the hard stuff.
In the lexicon of football both would be known as squibs, frontrunners, outside players, unwilling to put their heads over the ball. All are entirely apt descriptorsâŚ
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This may be harsh and I'd be really happy to stand corrected. However, I think that Bernard Tomic has little chance at being a regular top 10 player.His game is pretty good but he moves around the court like a drugged snail. He just does not get to balls that others, many older, can do. I hope Iâm wrong.
Donât start me on Kyrgios whoâs issues appear to be above the shoulders.
An accurate post.
Tomic has three issues
- Lack of fitness
- Agility moving forward
- Unwillingness to play a more attacking game.
Will need to address two of these issues to make the top 10
The lack of a coach, and palpable absence of haste to get one, speaks volumes for Tomic and Kyrgios. Neither wants to do the hard stuff.
In the lexicon of football both would be known as squibs, frontrunners, outside players, unwilling to put their heads over the ball. All are entirely apt descriptorsâŚ
At least theyâre not letting the team down⌠just the country.
Tomic already stated that heâs already worth over 10 million dollars, and so lacks the motivation to improve
edit: just the for reference http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2016/05/tomic-controversial-match-point-im-23-and-worth-over-10-million/58375/
This may be harsh and I'd be really happy to stand corrected. However, I think that Bernard Tomic has little chance at being a regular top 10 player.His game is pretty good but he moves around the court like a drugged snail. He just does not get to balls that others, many older, can do. I hope Iâm wrong.
Donât start me on Kyrgios whoâs issues appear to be above the shoulders.
An accurate post.
Tomic has three issues
- Lack of fitness
- Agility moving forward
- Unwillingness to play a more attacking game.
Will need to address two of these issues to make the top 10
The lack of a coach, and palpable absence of haste to get one, speaks volumes for Tomic and Kyrgios. Neither wants to do the hard stuff.
In the lexicon of football both would be known as squibs, frontrunners, outside players, unwilling to put their heads over the ball. All are entirely apt descriptorsâŚ
At least theyâre not letting the team down⌠just the country.
Tomic already stated that heâs already worth over 10 million dollars, and so lacks the motivation to improve
edit: just the for reference http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2016/05/tomic-controversial-match-point-im-23-and-worth-over-10-million/58375/
I watch tennis because I enjoy the sport, and its good if an Aussie is a good player - Tennis players are individuals first and foremost - Play Davis Cup or Olympics and do well is pleasing but not overly important - Too many part time tennis watchers overly invest in Aussie players.
And it was to see Stosur win a round in the Taiwan Open - Her first win in 5 months.
Just saw a Canadian bloke get broken in his Davis Cup match against Great Britain and go to smack a ball into the stands, but miscue slightly and smashed it straight into the umpires head.
Game over!
Madness.
Canât help but laugh but that would have â â â â â â â hurt.
Steven Bradbury moment got GB
So that umpire that was hit by the ball hit wildy by Denis Shapovalov at the Davis Cup actually ended up having a fractured eye socket. Must have hit the ball pretty hard.
Did those Ukraine girls really knock us out?
Oops
Did those Ukraine girls really knock us out?Love it.
Can't help but laugh but that would have â â â â â â â hurt.
I liked the way the umpire sneaked a peek from behind his hand to see if everyone was still being sympathetic to him.
Rumours going round that both Pat Rafter and Craig Tiley are leaving TA
Disappointing - Kyrgios was matched to play Tomic in Round 2 - This would have been a match made in heaven.