new year, old plot

it happens all the time, players withdrawing in the middle of a match due to injury. when your favourite guy withdraws, for the first time, let's say, you forgive him instantly, blowing him a multitude of kisses enough to wet your screen. when rafa withdrew at the queen's event on grass before the wimbledon grand slam in 2006, it was easy for me to rationalise that he was dead tired from having just set a new world record on number of consecutive clay matches won, plus winning the roland garros plum the second year in a row. he seemed to be losing to hewitt in that match, at least the momentum was starting to shift in lleyton's direction.

then this week, earlier today, in the middle of a match against guccione where he was trailing, it happened again. rafa withdrew, citing leg injury. carlos moya, former world #1 and friend to rafa was quick to tell reporters that this injury was real, although, he disclaimed, he was not quite privy to the actual details. paradorn "the fighter" srichaphan had also withdrawn, losing "more" in his match against ivo minar, citing pain in his right wrist.

i don't know, guys, gals. it's the same old argument: "i shan't ruin my chances at playing in next week's slam, so weighing all my available options, knowing what is allowed by atp rules, it's best i withdraw --- now. looks like a losing proposition anyhow." this is a rough paraphrase of what then-world #3 david nalbandian said when he withdrew in the semi-finals of the french open last year against (hold your breath) roger federer. there was some pain in his side that hindered his service motion and basic swings. wimbledon, many say, is nalby's prime event and he stood a much better chance of winning at sw19 than at roland garros. it doesn't matter that he lost in the first week, opting to prioritise argentina's match against england in the world cup. argentina lost that matchon penalties. bummer for you, david.

the whole logic behind such withdrawals stinks , if you ask me. if you truly are reserving your strength for a more important goal, why would you shirk your commitment to the present tournament? can't you just play out the match anyway?

i might be generalising here, and tennis players might get on my case for such naive claims, but i am simply against players withdrawing mid-match whe their only reason is that they're reserving their best for the big leagues.

fans don't care whether it's a grand slam event, a masters series event, or just a tier IV event. fans pay to come watch their idols play, and to see them play their best given any restraints at any given time.

you shortchange the match, the event, the fan, and you shortchange yourself in the long run.

rafa, can you go deep at the AO? i sincerely have doubts now.