"For years, I took a backseat to no one, unfortunately, in being seduced by tennis' anti-doping efforts...
"Today, we know the flaws. We know about the lack of funding. The absence of a biological passport. The indefensible paucity of out-of-competition testing. The litany of PEDs that can't be detected without more extensive and expensive screening. So the perception is that the mechanism is broken. Players are getting away with cheating. The administrators are toothless, gutless and turning a blind eye. And the truth -- whatever it may be -- doesn't much matter at this point...Wertheim is even critical of the section on doping he wrote for his book ""Strokes of Genius."
"..."I've never failed a test" now ranks among the most meaningless phrases in the sports lexicon."
Give it a read.
At this point, most of the mainstream tennis media has now acknowledged that the ITF's anti-doping efforts are ineffective at best.
The question remains whether the ITF will initiate any real change.
In other news, Simon Cambers over at The Tennis Space has two very interesting interviews.
The first interview is with Patrick Mouratoglou, who coaches Serena Williams. He states: "I don’t believe there are drugs in tennis. I mean, there are cheats everywhere in the world but for me it’s very rare in tennis and I can explain it for one reason. Cycling and running are performance sports. The only thing that counts is the physical performance, so the added value of drugs is unbelievable. In tennis, the physical performance is one of about 20 parameters that make a player good."
The second interview is with David Howman, director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency. He states: "You can’t tell me that a player who is out there for five and a half hours couldn’t benefit from a little micro-dosing of EPO."
Cambers deserves a lot of praise for being one of the most aggressive journalists in asking questions about doping in tennis. He has posed questions to many in the tennis establishment, including Stuart Miller, Andy Murray, and Pat Cash.
I am tired of hearing that "In tennis, the physical performance is one of about 20 parameters that make a player good."
ReplyDeleteHinting that the other 19 are just as relevant or being strong in the other 19 can overcome a deficiency in physical performance. Sure, any WTA pro could beat a body builder pulled out of gym who never lifted a racket, but that is not what is going on at the professional level.
So, please someone tell me why we have a WTA? If physical performance is such a small issue, why do women compete separately? Why aren't the women clamoring to compete with the men like Lindsey Vonn is in alpine skiing? A female world number #1 in "open" tennis - that is playing against both men and women would be worth more money than Tiger Woods. So, do women just not like money or is there really something to this physical dimension of tennis?
Same thing with older men. Why retire? Your "skill", "determination" and "mental toughness" all increase with age. Why isn't the tour being overrun by 60 year old men with a whole lot of heart?
I heard that McEnroe is aiming to finally win Roland Garros next year... Rafa is so frightened that he's on the point of announcing his withdrawal.
DeleteMore seriously, totally agree with you. Mouratoglou is just saying bullshit. No credibility.
Serena is 1.75m tall - 10cm less than Federer. She now serves at the same speed. Can't be physical. Must be just one of the "20 parameters". She obviously has better technique than the male player with the most grand slams in history.
ReplyDeleteErrm, no she doesn't. And even if she did, WTA use lighter balls anyway.
DeleteCommentators at the Australian Open repeatedly pointed out that Serena's fastest serves at the tournament were in the same region as Federer's fastest serves. Must be a different radar gun I suppose.
DeleteWell, they post the states for the AO, so it is just a matter of reading them. Against Tsonga, Federer's fastest was 207KPH (129mph) and averaged 189 kph (117). Against Murray, 205 was the fastest and 186 the average. Served 207 (fastest) and 189 (average) against Raonic. Served 207 (fastest) 187 (average) against Tomic.
DeleteSerena served 192 (fastest) and 166 (average) against Stephens. Served 201 (fastest) and 172 (average) against Kirilenko. Served 207 (fastest) and 178 (average) against Morita. Served 207 (fastest) and 177 (average) against Muguruza. Served 190 (fastest) and 174 (average) against Gallovbits-Hall.
So, yes, for some matches, Serena's fastest (207 KPH or 128.6 mph) matched Federer's fastest of 207. However, on average, Federer served faster than Serena.
Turing to second serves, Federer seems to average about 157 (Federer's speeds are pretty consistent). Serena averaged 144 against Kirilenko and 130 against Stephens. Not surprisingly, Serena does better when she serves well.
Given they played on the same courts and at the same tournament, the radar guns would have been the same -- it is difficult to compare serve speeds at different events for this reason. However, the temperature also has an effect on serve speed due to the density of the air. Federer generally played at night which would make the serves a little slower but this would be by a couple KPH. It is not going to turn Errani into Raonic. I don't recall which of Serena's matches were played at night.
The AO only mentions one type of ball being used (http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/event_guide/a_z_guide.html). If there is some reference to women playing with lighter balls at the AO, I would like to see it. Obviously, on tour, one tournament uses different balls than another and the weight is allowed to vary within the specifications. See Rules of Tennis, Appendix 1 listing the weight as 56-59.4 grams. So, some men's tournaments could use lighter balls than other mens's tournaments or women's tournaments. In any case, the balls all need to be on the approved ITF list.
Obviously, some balls will be "faster" than others, but weight is just one factor in this analysis. It is also not clear that lighter balls would be faster because they would deform the strings less and thus have less mechanical leverage. The lighter balls would certainly slow down faster in the air given their reduced kinetic energy and thus a lesser ability to handle wind resistance.
I thought it was common knowledge that lighter balls lead to easier pace/serving. Babolat balls in 2011 FO were smaller and Federer's serve became much more effective. Everybody started talking about how the balls were flying more.
Deletehttp://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?t=348075
Unless you want an "official" source. :D
It'´s also pretty clear that Federer doesn't really go for his biggest serves are power is anti proportional to precision in a way and it wouldn't really benefit him to go for power since his isn't earth shattering. Much better to take some pace off.
So they give the girls lighter balls to serve with in the mixed doubles at the slams - and heavier balls for the boys? Anyone see that ball change? Bollocks.
DeleteThis has become fatuous. I suppose there will be some who would express no surprise if a 31 year-old Serena starts busting Isner's and Karlovic's best serves. That she can now match Federer's fastest at the same tournament (and using the same balls) - well, we all know he serves like a girl. Even at 207kph.
At the US Open, they use different balls for men and women. (http://www.usta.com/Improve-Your-Game/Instrcution/Equipment-and-Gear/Choosing_and_Replacing_Balls/). This is mandated by the USTA, which runs the US Open.
DeleteThe size and weight are the same, but the felt covering is different. (http://www.tennis.com/gear/2011/09/ball-state-examining-wilsons-us-open-ball/38668/)
The Australian open apparently uses the same balls for all players because Wilson does not make different versions of the "Australian Open" Ball. http://www.wilson.com/en-us/tennis/balls/australian-open-tennis-ball/
Mixed doubles matches at the US Open are played with "Regular Duty" balls (i.e. the women's balls). See US Open Player Entry Information: "The US Open will be played on hard courts (DecoTurf II). The Wilson US Open Ball is the Official Ball of the US Open. Regular Duty will be used for Women’s Singles and Doubles matches as well as Mixed Doubles matches. Extra Duty will be used for Men’s Singles and Doubles matches."
The WTA also mandates that "Regular Duty" balls be used on the tour, except for the periods immediately prior to a slam when the same balls as the slam must be used. See WTA Rules.
Slazanger seems to have only one version of the ball used at Wimbledon.
In any case, Serena was serving with the same balls as Federer at the AO. Given Serena's height and weight, one can certainly wonder how she is able to hit like a man that is taller and significantly heavier than her. Maybe the size of the balls is a factor -- I am betting that Serena's are bigger.
@MTracy
Delete"In any case, Serena was serving with the same balls as Federer at the AO. Given Serena's height and weight, one can certainly wonder how she is able to hit like a man that is taller and significantly heavier than her."
We come back to the essential point. I would add that Federer's serve has changed little in ten years. He has added virtually no extra pace since he beat Sampras at Wimbledon at 19. But Serena keeps adding to her power - even at the usual tennis retirement age of post 30. She wasn't bombing serves of 207 kph ten years ago, or even five years ago. Has she significantly changed her technique? Can't see it. In any case, it seems ludicrous that we are observing a top woman is on a serving par with a top man. It wouldn't have been considered possible in the Sampras era - or to go back earlier, the Lendl-Becker era.
So which one of the so-called "20 parameters", other than unnaturally obtained physical strength, enables her to do it?
Mouratoglou's statements are pure junk - to deny that drugs can help a tennis player is laughable on its face. But he is a tennis coach covering his ass and the ass of the tennis community. He makes his living from tennis, he has a vested interest in saying tennis is clean.
ReplyDeleteNice mea culpa from Wertheim, but where was he years ago when these same issues were brought up? Funny how a lot of tennis journalists are discovering their "bravery" on the drug issue after having their heads in the sand for years. I guess we should be happy that he finally gets it, unlike morons like Bodo (who will remain nonsensical on this issue).
Cambers has been very, very good on the doping issue, and he has great interviews. Thanks for the links.
My thoughts exactly.
DeleteBetter late than never, Johnny.
Mouratoglou's interview is deliberate nonsense. One minute he's telling us PEDs wouldn't help because it's all about mental pressure and skill. The next he's telling us how Djokovic has the perfect physique for tennis without any fat and a good amount of muscle. Um, I thought yu just said, Mouratoglou, that this stuff doesn't matter?
ReplyDeleteAbout time someone of Wertheim's standing did an about face. It was getting emabarrassing watching his denials! Good article by him too.
Good point. In addition, rumor has it that he has seen Serena's body in a little more detail than the general public. Does she have this 0% body fat and "not too heavy muscles?"
DeleteI imagine if he told Serena she needed to get to "one kilogram of fat" her "not too heavy muscles" would kick his arse back to France. C'est vrai, non?
Its no secret she is dating him. Ashley Harkleroad made a mention of it in a tourny before the AO.
DeleteYou can google up pictures of them walking together and each having their hands in the backpocket of the others pants/jeans.
Barbora Zahlavova tested positive and is suspended.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.itftennis.com/antidoping/...cov%C3%A1.aspx
See? ITF is catching the biggest fishes out there! ...
News from the Dr. Fuentes trial:
ReplyDeleteSpanish Journal "El País" revealed documents regarding the connection between Dr. Fuentes and spanish athlet Marta Dominguez (former world champion of the 3000m steeplechase). Below I post a link to the news (in portuguese). Didn't have time to check the original from El Pais.
Best
Here is the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://expresso.sapo.pt/ex-campea-mundial-novamente-envolvida-em-escandalo-de-doping=f787775