Dushevina: Super tie-break is anti-tennis

Eurosport - Thu, 19 Mar 11:07:00 2009

In her third blog, Russian star Vera Dushevina vents her dismay at the super tie-break used to decide doubles matches at Indian Wells.

TENNIS Vera Dushevina - 0

My appearance at Indian Wells ended in the third round after a 6-1 6-3 defeat to Sybille Bammer of Austria. But I want to talk about the doubles and the foolish concept of the super tie-break.

I felt that I played well in the singles until the third round, but in the doubles - with Yaroslava Shvedova - I got knocked out in the first round, 6-4 2-6 10-3 to Zi Yan and Jie Zheng of China.

As a method of deciding a match, it is ridiculous. Imagine, for example, playing doubles without being able to use the tramlines; it would be nonsensical.

I used to really enjoy doubles, but with this new tie-break format and no third set, I don't take pleasure in it anymore - it is a real shame.

As players we are used to playing full sets, and if you reach 6-6 in games, then you have a tie-break up to seven points.

To not play a third set, and then have a tie-break to 10, does not make any sense. For me, it is anti-tennis.

In the singles, I won my first round match against qualifier Petra Martic. I have played the Croatian twice before, but because she is so young you never know what to expect. It was a very tough game.

I was very nervous before the match, but after the start I settled into it and began to play well. I feel in the end I deserved my victory.

I then enjoyed a win over Zheng, who had earlier beaten me in doubles, but that was not an easy match and she fought hard until the last point.

Unfortunately, I was knocked out in the third round by Sybille Bammer. It was, put simply, just not my day. It happens in sport, when things don't go your way, but I must give credit to Sybille as she played very well and was the rightful winner.

I really enjoyed playing Indian Wells for the first time, but the fact we were competing in a tournament in the middle of the desert was strange. The surroundings of the stadium were very surreal.

The next tournament on the WTA Tour is in Miami, a lovely place to visit. I have a few days to prepare for it, and I have a lot to do in order to be ready for what will be another difficult test.

Vera Dushevina / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 9 of 9

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Unfortunately, doubles carries no interest these days.­ Tennis is a singles sport. Back in the days of McNamara­ and McNamee, Curran and Denton, Fibak and Okker,­ Gulliksen and Gulliksen, McEnroe and Fleming, doubles­ was of great interest. Now, no one cares. Why? Perhpas­ becuase there was guile, skill, flair and panache,­ making it interesting to watch. Now, its all power, and­ just a bludgeoning till the final ball is struck.

    From webbski, on Fri 20 Mar 3:11PM

  2. the only thing that's really ruining tennis is this­ army of eastern european robots with no personality and­ no killer instinct.

    From jay, on Fri 20 Mar 12:08PM

  3. the only thing that's really ruining tennis is this­ army of eastern european robots with no personality and­ no killer instinct.

    From jay, on Fri 20 Mar 12:08PM

  4. Doubles isnt that great and theres no money in it, so­ stop moaning people

    From parsnip10, on Fri 20 Mar 11:35AM

  5. Yeah, they want to kill doubles.

    From Banin, on Fri 20 Mar 6:29AM

  6. why not,change the rules,save time,bring more­ interest,here's an idea,let's play the whole­ match tossing the coin,who gets tales wins,then,players­ can slap eachother,the first to cry loses,that should­ attratc more public.maybe a penalty shoot out ?­ ridiculous.

    From coolworld, on Fri 20 Mar 1:55AM

  7. If reducing the duration of doubles-matches encourages­ more top players to play doubles - and hence more­ fan-interest in doubles - then surely it's a good­ thing?

    Finals should be played out in full (with no­ tiebreak in the third set at all), but I wouldn't­ argue against no-ad scoring and super tiebreaks for­ rounds before finals.

    From Andrew Broad, on Thu 19 Mar 10:26PM

  8. Hear hear Ducha

    From parsnip10, on Thu 19 Mar 8:55PM

  9. Well said Vera. At one set all a 3rd set is required,­ otherwise the result is meaningless. Why are the WTA­ and ATP cutting off all the good matches just when they­ are getting interesting? Are they determined to kill of­ doubles completely?

    From Bobito, on Thu 19 Mar 3:02PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account