Comments on: Federer surprised to hear match-fixing may be happening. Are you freaking kidding me!!!!

By: Gracie

Gracie — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 04:40:45 +0000

Why should Federer be aware of the so-called match fixing? He’s the last person someone would ever approach for such a thing. I doubt if any of the top players have much first hand experience. But I’m sure there are many layers of people on the tour with information, some willing to sell…or bet on. And so it goes.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 17:16:34 +0000

If Roger makes a statement like this I believe him. Like or dislike aside, I would like to hope I’m a reasonably good judge of character. Given Roger’s basic honesty, talent, integrity and respect for his parents and the game – c’mon!! To risk all that would be like asking him to jump off the summit of the Matterhorn without a parachute, where even divine intervention might prove a little to much to ask! From what I can gather, there is a secret dossier where no player in the top 20 is implicated. There may well be some crooks lurking in the woodwork at the lower levels of the game, who knows. Most crooks aren’t stupid though, and will only target the weak, greedy, or the lazy, and if they do succumb, a ban is the only answer IMO. Roger merely backs up Nadal’s statement, which was clearly a mature response to Murray’s juvenile stupidity. For what it’s worth, I would also be very surprised if the hardworking Davydenko was found to be guilty either.

By: Eva

Eva — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 04:05:50 +0000

That’s slanderous or libelous re Fed and Nadal! Fed has had other 5-setter, and he is a real sportsman, and on top of that, you can see in him a real sincerity, and that he is entirely himself, an honest and genuine personality. No more scurrilous remarks please! Before 5-sets were supposed to be some indication of a slide in his game, and now this? Well, the 5-sets are neither. Unavoidably, players need to play some 5-setters, whether they want to or not, or they won’t retain that quality of outlasting the match. Second, I already stated that I felt Fed was showing that he could win against Nadal any waym or against others when coming from behind. Also, at a Wimbledon final fans might like to see more play. Don’t know whether this could have played a part, but any of these reasons are more likely than what you suggested,TP.
When Federer was asked about Davydenko, re the irregular betting, he said that “he’d known Nikolay for many years and knew him to be a very different kind of person.” So he knew about that incident, and the other allegations since.
What he is most likely referring to is this whole spate of allegations or suspicions coming out since, and after Davydenko’s. Before Davydenko retired from that particular match, I really haven’t heard of such things in tennis. Not that it couldn’t happen, but top players value their achievements and positions and winning records and would not be approachable regarding game fixing.
Federer has earned enough money in winnings, and in endorsements, that he would not be tempted for financial reasons, and definitely not for any other reasons. He is a man of honor: can you imagine Rod Laver, or Bjorn Borg, Agassi or Sampras, or other greats agreeing to such actions?
People do perceive at times the nature of other people, of their particular personalities. Who would have approached Federer? It would have been ridiculous, because you can tell that he is a serious, straight personality all around. BRRRRRRRR!GRRRRR
Let’s just look at things with more respect for those who unquestionably deserve it.

By: Anand_101

Anand_101 — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:29:15 +0000

And how about those losses to Canas, the first to a luck loser after a 41 match win streak, the second a sure win that slipped away?

And the loss to Djokovic in Montreal, up 6-5, 40-0 in the first set?

And the loss to Murray in Cincy 06?

And the loss to Nalbandian in TMC 05 and to Safin in AO 05?

And all the freaking losses to Nadal, setting him up as a Clay-God just so you can topple him “sometimes” and walk away with the cake?

I mean how could YOU ever lose?? Whenever that happens I always smell a skunk. I expected you to be lossless in 2007!