Tennis Rules Need Changing?

[DTCwordfan]

7 retirements for injury now and that's just the men..... the issue being the wounded are coming through, rather than allowing the fitter players to take up round 1, just because the winnings for Round 1 loser are £35000 this year.

Should this change, as it's been a bit of a spoiler, not least for the crowd - and on Centre Court, the crowd only got to see one set and a bit of both Federer and Djockovic, expecting at least 3. Not good value for the punters, whose day may be the only one that they can get away/afford?

Views?

[agchristie]

I don't think so DTC though I understand your point.

The fancied players would probably appreciate not slipping on a potential banana skin and cruise through to the later rounds without having to over exert.

Not great from the fans perspective though but that's the chance you take.

I know someone who travelled to the US Masters Golf to see the world no1 this year.

The player actually strode to the first tee and took a few swings before deciding he wasn't in good enough shape. I think he had suffered a fall just days before the tournament started!

[ladybirder]

Yes, definitely needs looking at.

[DTCwordfan]

it's not the fancied players, agchristie, it's the minor ones coming through - all looks a bit loaded and just for the cash and not the spirit of the game. wit Klizan against Djockovic, on at the moment as to the replay.

[DTCwordfan]

as Sue Barker has just said "threw in the towel." And it's not fair to the other player as they miss out on Court practice and feel, especially on the show courts.

[bednobs]

wht rule would you change to prevent that?

[jno]

I think other tournaments have a rule that you can quit before the match and still get your money; so the next cab on the rank can be promoted and play, which would give the crowd a proper match to watch.

[angie55]

It would only be a rule change for the grand slam events, it already exists in other tour events. An injured player can withdraw before the first round takes place and still get the first round losers money. He/she is then replaced by someone else and they don't get anything for losing in the first round but would get prize money should they win the first round and lose in second or third rounds, etc.

[angie55]

Jno, you type faster than me lol.

[agchristie]

Andy Murray lost to a replacement in the last tournament didn't he?

[DTCwordfan]

angie and jno have it....the grand slams don't and this is causing the issue with the amount of new gold one pound coins being shelled out.

[DTCwordfan]

how would I change it - well, maybe a fitness check for those known to have been carrying an injury - and then if they withdraw, half the 1st round for withdrawing and half to the replacement...?

[Togo]

If they do not complete the match, prize money should be forfeit and the walk through "winning" player have to play a replacement.

[Togo]

A genuine new injury during the match is not penalised.

[Ellipsis]

People can get injured during the match and therefore withdraw even if they start the match in tip-top condition ...

[Togo]

^^?

[DTCwordfan]

It's the pre-known condition and most of the 8 today, if not all of them, were in that bracket

[Ellipsis]

Started typing that before your posts, Togo, then got distracted.

Determining that somebody started a match "fit", became injured during it, and therefore deserves payment; rather than started a match "unfit" and therefore does not deserve payment ... could prove tricky, controversial and legally challenging.

[Togo]

Are the tennis authorities not capable of setting up a fitness test pre-tournament or of making players provide medical proof of fitness to compete?

[Togo]

At least Murray pretends to be injured, instead of pretending to be fit.

[Ellipsis]

Simple answer is that first round losers don't get paid, like in golf - "missed the cut"