Wimbledon - Beware... spoilers possible.

[Golfmmad]

They were talking after the match that prior to the incident with the ball going into the crowd, Kyrgios had used language towards either the chair or the opponent that under the discipline code warranted a default but nothing was done.

That's poor from the Umpire and Referee. Let's hope in his next match they stamp it out from the start!
Otherwise he'll think that he's above all that and continue being an a... hole.

 

[Orikoru]

The line judges in this tournament have been absolutely awful. Just frequently getting it wrong. I know it's not easy but they're normally better than this. Woeful.

 

[Swinglowandslow]

That's not how the system generally works. There's generally an escalation from warning; point; game for 'standard' violations. But a player can be be immediately defaulted
Here's a link that reflects, as far as i know, the standard one worldwide. https://mstennis.com/content/point-penalty-system#:~
I doubt there'll be as much gamesmanship in Kyrgios's next match. Nakashima is pretty unflappable and on the way up. But with Kyrgios, you never know!

I know that's not how the "system" works. It's the system I am criticising.
It should be tougher, something like how I suggest.

 

[Foxholer]

I know that's not how the "system" works. It's the system I am criticising.
It should be tougher, something like how I suggest.

The current system has been in use for many years and has only got to 'point penalty' a few times, including that match, on Tsisipas, but caused by Kygios imo. It's actually supported by player orgs, which is key to its success. Any steeper escalation would neither be fair, nor supported by players.

That particular set of incidents could/should have been stopped far earlier, imo, if the Umpire had stuck rigidly to the procedures and dinged NK with CVs from the instances that were reported to him by the lineswoman - as such reporting is only done for instances where a CV would be justified. Not doing so allowed NK to get the upper hand on everyone - including ST. NK is well known for his antics and uses them well when he identifies a weakness anywhere. He actually prompted a 'rule-change' wrt sunglasses by line-umpires (long before hawk-eye arrived)when he 'took the P' out of the lady who, wearing mirror lenses, had the temerity to give a call against him. He simulated combing his hair while mumbling about her inability to see the lines. Subsequently, eyes had to be visible through any protective eyewear.

 

[Orikoru]

Kyrgios has been fined $4000 and Tsitsipas $10,000. Doesn't seem like much really. Although maybe I'm judging it by footballer earnings. ?

 

[Foxholer]

The line judges in this tournament have been absolutely awful. Just frequently getting it wrong. I know it's not easy but they're normally better than this. Woeful.

I'd disagree. There have been a couple of howlers - often because of the significant topspin many players impart (a technique error by the 'line-o'). Those have even been called by the Chair Umpire as 'overrules'. The vast majority of the errors have been ones where the ball is marginally in/out. On balls travelling 100mph+ I'd defy anyone to get those 100% right. Great to have Hawkeye available though; imagine the chaos if it wasn't! A system called Cyclops was used for service lines before that - but only service lines.

 

[Foxholer]

Kyrgios has been fined $4000 and Tsitsipas $10,000. Doesn't seem like much really. Although maybe I'm judging it by footballer earnings. ?

Fine depends on both severity of offense and ranking of player. At #4, ST would have been subject to higher tariff than NK (40), both on severity of penalty and amount of fine. That's against earnings of 120K and 190K for 3rd round v 4th round win. So ST was find 8.5% of his earnings for the week, while NK about 2.5% (so far)! Wrong way round imo, but a consequence of ST letting NK 'get to him'.

FWIW, Michael Venus (a Kiwi Doubles specialist) described him perfectly imo after being beaten by him and Kokkinakis in Aus Open QF (they went on to win the Final) - as 'just an absolute knob', 'His maturity level, it's probably being generous to about a 10-year-old' and 'On the maturity side, you see why he's never fulfilled his potential and probably never will'.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I think Kyrgios is very clever. Partly just head demons and not being able to let anything go mentally, but he's also managed to get in Tsitsipas' head, but still make him look like the a-hole when he took the bait and started acting out by smacking balls into the crowd and at Nick during points. It's not traditional but the mind games are clearly a bit part of game. He'll be dangerous now but I think he's due to meet Nadal who you'd expect to rise above any attempts at mind games and probably beat him, unless his fitness isn't up to it.

Like him or hate him, he is box office now.

You’ll not be suggesting that the nice people of ‘Middle England’ in the crowd and watching on TV actually rather like and so put up with Kyrgios? …as they like his bad boy antics, stuff they just wouldn’t do themselves but would oh so like to…?

 

[Orikoru]

I'd disagree. There have been a couple of howlers - often because of the significant topspin many players impart (a technique error by the 'line-o'). Those have even been called by the Chair Umpire as 'overrules'. The vast majority of the errors have been ones where the ball is marginally in/out. On balls travelling 100mph+ I'd defy anyone to get those 100% right. Great to have Hawkeye available though; imagine the chaos if it wasn't! A system called Cyclops was used for service lines before that - but only service lines.

It's honestly been so bad. In the Djokovic match the commentator (who has access to Hawkeye in the studio) pointed out numerous times when the calls were wrong but the players hadn't opted to use a challenge. Even the umpire overules have been wrong and they've had to replay points. It's been a shambles. They need to work out a way to automate Hawkeye and replace line judges permanently.

 

[Foxholer]

It's honestly been so bad. In the Djokovic match the commentator (who has access to Hawkeye in the studio) pointed out numerous times when the calls were wrong but the players hadn't opted to use a challenge. Even the umpire overules have been wrong and they've had to replay points. It's been a shambles. They need to work out a way to automate Hawkeye and replace line judges permanently.

That WAS done during during Covid lockdown - and might be the way it goes in the future. The game, especially Ladies, has sped up significantly in recent years too which probably accounts for the number of instances involved. I'm sure it'll be one of the things they analyse post-event, as they do every year. Won't happen at The French though...They still get the umpire to 'examine the mark'!

 

[Orikoru]

That WAS done during during Covid lockdown - and might be the way it goes in the future. The game, especially Ladies, has sped up significantly in recent years too which probably accounts for the number of instances involved. I'm sure it'll be one of the things they analyse post-event, as they do every year. Won't happen at The French though...They still get the umpire to 'examine the mark'!

I wouldn't argue with that. The big servers used to be notable, now it seems like 125-130 mph serves are pretty much the norm for most of the guys. Perhaps time to realise it's nearly impossible for human eyes to get this right.

 

[Foxholer]

I wouldn't argue with that. The big servers used to be notable, now it seems like 125-130 mph serves are pretty much the norm for most of the guys. Perhaps time to realise it's nearly impossible for human eyes to get this right.

Well, I'd qualify that with '100% of the time'.

 

[nickjdavis]

Superb match earlier this evening between Tomljanovic and Cornet....two players giving absolutely everything right until the very end.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Lots of empty seats this year.
Is Wimbledon starting to lose it's appeal

 

[IanM]

Lots of empty seats this year.
Is Wimbledon starting to lose it's appeal

I'd wondered about that, there's a few gaps. Folk must be taking refreshment a bit too long.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Lots of empty seats this year.
Is Wimbledon starting to lose it's appeal

If they are empty on centre or court 1 then there is a good chance that they are corporate ticket holders. Their tickets give them access to multiple courts and you can't be on all of them at once.

My wife was there last Friday. It is a long day and you don't watch every minute of every match. If a match is dull, a match between unknowns, that is your chance to take a break, stretch your legs, get something to eat or drink, go to the toilet etc. There is no rush, a game will still be happening when you return.

 

[Orikoru]

Not many empty seats at Kyrgios' matches.

 

[Orikoru]

Great start to the Novax v Sinner match. Sinner found himself 3-0 before kicking into gear, breaking back and nearly breaking him again! Currently serving to make it 5-5. He looks such a good young player, I hope he has a real chance of knocking ND out here.

 

[Golfmmad]

I think Novak showed signs of

Great start to the Novax v Sinner match. Sinner found himself 3-0 before kicking into gear, breaking back and nearly breaking him again! Currently serving to make it 5-5. He looks such a good young player, I hope he has a real chance of knocking ND out here.

ageing against the young Dutch player on Sunday. At one point Novak was breathing really heavily during a game and deliberately went to his towel, taking his time to get his breath back.
I think if the powerful Dutch guy hadn't made over 50 unforced errors showing lack of experience it would have been a different outcome.

 

[Orikoru]

I think Novak showed signs of

ageing against the young Dutch player on Sunday. At one point Novak was breathing really heavily during a game and deliberately went to his towel, taking his time to get his breath back.
I think if the powerful Dutch guy hadn't made over 50 unforced errors showing lack of experience it would have been a different outcome.

Sinner has been incredible, Djokovic can't live with him! We could be looking at the future best player here in my opinion.