While four-times champion Roger Federer and defending champion Novak Djokovic have been playing sublime tennis at the Australian Open, Tomas Berdych has been blacklisted by the record-breaking crowds at Melbourne Park
The Czech refused to shake hands with Nicolas Almagro after the Spaniard targeted him from close range during their tense four-setter won by Berdych.
There’s nothing in the tennis rule book that outlaws targeting, branding if you like. But the unwritten law is it’s not on, and should be avoided at all costs.
But not shaking hands is a definite no-no, no matter what you think of your opponent. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
What Berdych should have done was shake Almagro’s hand, and say: “Watch out next time we meet pal, you have an X on your forehead”.
That would have been far more effective than dummy spitting by not shaking hands and incurring the rightful wrath of a few thousand angry fans who will not forget.
Sportsmanship and gamesmanship, there’s a fine line between the two.
For example, when will Rafael Nadal be stopped from his highly-refined gamesmanship?
The Spaniard’s persistent and calculated time-wasting is even more galling to watch than listening to Maria Sharapova’s screeching.
And there is a rule the server must deliver within 20 seconds of the last point being decided. Nadal is a consistent 30-plus seconds offender while he fidgets and fiddles through his rigmarole, and rarely is he made to toe the line.
That’s poor central umpiring, begging the question: has Nadal got the man in the high-chair bluffed?
It’s clear what Nadal is doing, making his opponent wait to either receive or serve, upsetting his momentum. Nadal plays every match at his pace.
That begs another question: why don’t opponents complain to the central umpire early in the match to put the umpire on report, and say it loudly enough so Nadal hears it, so too the crowd, and the television viewers?
But they haven’t got the bottle, so they deserve what Nadal dishes out.
The Spaniard has everyone bluffed.
fred
Guest
Actually I would say Sharapova is the worst by a mile in every respect - time, gamesmanship and shrieking and mouthing.
amazonfan
Guest
"(if you think a tennis players greatness is based on grand slams only then you shouldnt be talking about tennis)" Nonsense You can't determine whether someone should or shouldn't be talking about tennis based on what criteria they use for greatness. There is no right or wrong when it comes to determining greatness, and not everyone has to agree with your criteria. Furthermore, some may say that you shouldn't be talking about tennis since you don't think that Nadal can be considered among the greats. Nonetheless, I think that a tennis player's greatness is primarily based on slams. IMO Laver was the greatest of all time, based primarily on his claiming The Grand Slam twice. I don't care how many times Federer has won the season-ending championships, he will never IMO be the greatest of all time (he had his chances). As for Nadal, I already think he is one of the greats. IMO, he's the fourth best player of all time, primarily due to his GS record (I expect him to move up to third very soon).
Jaredsbro
Roar Guru
Sorry don't agree. Sport's not about rules that are written or not written, it's about playing to your best potential and in Almagro's case five wrongs wouldn't make a right. You've gotta start somewhere and I reckon drawing attention to your issue's about as good a way. The will of the crowd OUGHT NOT be the be all and end all of what is and what isn't justice on the 'field'. Reciprocating like a girly sledger is not the way tennis players who are global citizens (and not required to bend over and do it how Australians do it) ought to roll.
jameswm
Guest
There is NO WAY that Nadal's time wasting is anywhere near as bad as the shrieking of Sharapova and others. It pretty much makes women's tennis unwatchable and has to be regulated. All of them time waste to varying extents, anyway. Nadal has been around for a long time and has won many admirers. If this is the worst thing you can find to say about him...
Brendon
Guest
What about Nadal's sook that Federer isn't doing enough to arrange the playing calendar to suit Nadal? While the grand slams, davis cup and ATP tour is long and arduous its not Federer's fault that Nadal can only go 3-4 months playing his best tennis before breaking down. A bit hypocritical of Nadal to suggest Federer doesn't want to change the current calendar because it suits him when Nadal wants an easier calendar because that would suit him and allow him to manage his body better. Its why I believe Federer is a greater player than Nadal. Hes a good player from Jan 1 to Dec 31 evidenced by his ability to win the tour finals consistently and until Nadal wins that tournament I dont think he can be considered amongst the greats (if you think a tennis players greatness is based on grand slams only then you shouldnt be talking about tennis)
clipper
Guest
DC, Berdych 'shushed' the crowd at the end of the match, as he said they were cheering his mistakes, and he thought that sort of crowd reaction should be reserved for Davis Cup matches. Nadal replied by saying Berdych was a 'bad person' for his gesture, saying that if the match had been in the Czech Republic (it was in Madrid), the crowd would have been doing the same (although I think the Spanish crowd would be far more rowdy than the Czech crowd, it's just their nature). I agree with the time wasting aspect - some people push it to their advantage, and should get a warning every now and again to keep them in line.
DC
Guest
I read somewhere that berdych also disgraced himself in a 2006 match with Rafa....anyone know the details ... And don't knock Rafa ..some people don't like his muscular style of play ..I find it exhilarating !
David Lord
Guest
The "however" rl is all part of the time-wasting. Nadal is a past-master at it.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Almagro was also hitting the ball from below the net which makes it even harder. There really wasn't a really safe shot that he could play apart from the one that he did
rl
Guest
I'm not convinced Almagro deliberately aimed at Berdych - he was really on the run, Berdych had played a pretty crappy shot and had crowded the net, putting himself right in the firing line. How many hits do you reckon Newsk or Rochey copped in their time? Plenty. And no whinging there (maybe some quiet get-square, but no whinging). As for Nadal - no way is his time wasting as annoying as Maria's shrieking. As for constantly picking his jocks out of his backside however...
Boris
Guest
As an armchair critic I won't forget Berdych's unsportsmanlike behavior and was glad to see him go down to Nadal. I've written him off for good after that.
Redb
Roar Guru
Played a lot of tennis over the years and its not uncommon to cop a ball aimed straight at your head when standing at the net often from an opponent standing barely 2 metres away. In this case the players were 10 metres apart and Berdych was hit in the arm. What a sook. Not shaking someones hand for an accidental or otherwise shot is not on. I agree with Lordy's suggestion.
anopinion
Guest
I can not agree that threatening a player is the right course of action. Shake his hand and walk off the court, if needed, talk with him about it later.