Sunday, June 27, 2010

Nadal Dismisses Gamesmanship Claim

Rafael Nadal defended himself over accusations that he bent the rules during his third-round win over Germany's Philipp Petzschner.

The world number one gained a 6-4 4-6 6-7 (5/7) 6-2 6-3 victory over the 33rd seed to set up a fourth-round clash on Monday with Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu but the win was not without controversy.

The Spaniard, whose knee injury flared up again during the match, received an official warning from umpire Cedric Mourier in the deciding set.

Mourier believed he was receiving tips from his coach and uncle Toni Nadal, who was in the players' box, and Petzschner suggested Nadal may have not really needed to take a medical time-out.

Nadal flatly denied receiving any on-court coaching and said he intends to take up the matter with Championships referee Andrew Jarrett.

"Sometimes in the past Toni would talk - maybe too much - and the referee or the umpire would give me advice and, if it continued, a warning, but he didn't talk too much today in my opinion," he said.

"I told him (the umpire) we're going to talk to the supervisor and we will be doing. Toni wasn't giving me any tip, he was only supporting me."

Petzschner, who produced some inspired tennis to lead by two sets to one before tiring, denied any suggestion that he had complained about coaching and sprang to the defence of his conqueror.

"I just heard words but it could have been 'vamos' (let's go) or whatever," Petzschner said. "It's tough to hear if you're down on the court because the whole arena is pretty loud.

"I don't know why he gave the warning or if it was coaching or not. I have absolutely idea. I think there was no coaching involved."

Petzschner, who also had courtside treatment for an old hip injury after feeling the effects of a third consecutive five-set match, blamed himself for losing his concentration during Nadal's medical time-out, suggesting it was a clever tactical ploy by his opponent.

"I'm pretty sad that I couldn't hold the focus," Petzschner said. "It was pretty clever, I think.

"Right now I'm not happy. This will maybe come tomorrow or in two days. Right now I'm just sad that I lost the match."

Asked if Nadal had resorted to gamesmanship, Petzschner replied: "I cannot say this. You have to ask him what it was. But I didn't feel any difference afterwards or before.

"I thought he was moving great. If I was injured like this once, I would be happy.

"Maybe he had something, maybe it was just a clever part to take a time-out there, I don't know.

"I don't assume that he just did it to break my rhythm but that's what happened and that's mostly my fault. That's what I have to work on.

"I just can tell you how it felt and it felt like he was still running the same for five sets and I think he could run another two or three sets.

"Ask him. He's the fittest player on tour and he's moving great around on the court."

Nadal, who also had to win a five-setter against Robin Haase in the last round, dismissed the suggestion that he was not seriously injured.

"I never call the physio when I don't have anything, not one time in my career," he said.

"If I call the physio today, it was because the knee was bothering me a lot."

The second seed, who was unable to defend his Wimbledon title last year because of a knee injury, initially summoned the trainer to attend to an issue with his left arm but said the problem quickly resolved itself.

He explained the knee injury was serious enough to force him to withdraw from Spain's Davis Cup team for their quarter-final with France but hopes it will not prevent him making further progress at Wimbledon.

"I am a little bit scared about the knee," he admitted.

"I had treatment after Monte Carlo and I had the problem against Roddick in the semi-finals of Miami.

"I don't like to say anything because, when you lose, it always looks like an excuse.

"I am here to try my best and to try to keep in the tournament and playing well. I am not thinking about retiring or anything like this. That's not going to happen.

"I have one day and a half to get recovered." Orange News

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