Pat Cash Agrees Some Rules are Being Bent, if Not Broken

Written by: Staff on 23rd January 2012

Pat Cash Agrees Some Rules are Being Bent, if Not Broken

Former tennis pro Pat Cash wins the Cup of Legends and hold his trophy at the Commerzbank-Arena in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 22 May 2011. Several former tennis pros competed in the cup that took place from 20 to 22 May. EPA/FREDRIK VON ERICHSEN |

Outspoken Australian Pat Cash has joined the campaign for tennis’ rule making bodies to end the habit of players receiving on court treatment for a loss of condition, purely to stall matches and try and disturb their opponent’s rhythm.

Cash, commentating for Fox Sports and writing for Britain’s Sunday Times, maintains he is appalled by the habit, which he maintains is blatant gamesmanship and has become prevalent at this year’s Australian Open.

“I will refrain from actually using the actual word I would like but the more I see players calling for medical time outs deep into the match, the angrier I get,” said Cash who twice contested the Australian Open final in the late 1980’s.

“So, who was guilty of committing the greater sin in the first week of the Australian Open? Marcos Baghdatis for his fit of temper on the way out of the tournament that saw him obliterate four rackets and earn himself a $Aus800 fine; David Nalbandian who allegedly poured a bottle of water over a staff member in the Melbourne Park locker room and was hit with a ten times bigger financial punishment; or the numerous player who blatantly abuse the rules just to give themselves an added chance when things are getting tough and get off scot free.”

Cash believes the trainers that come onto court to evaluate players’ injuries are intimidated because often they are the friends of people they are treating and also in the employment of the ATP World Tour. Instead he insists an independent doctor should be courtside for each match to make a valid judgment on whether players warrant treatment or not.

“Grand Slam tennis in the men’s game, played over the best of five sets, isn’t just a test to find out who is the best player,” said Cash. “It also defines just who is the fittest and best physically prepared to withstand the most grueling conditions.

“Unfortunately this also comes the time when lesser players seek to gain an unfair advantage. So the temptation is to ask when does gamesmanship ascend to something considerably more reprehensible.

“The four Grand Slams are the true pinnacle of tennis and have always been a battle of the fittest, and I mean fittest, over seven matches spread through two weeks. Lets keep it that way it was intended and stop players from bending the rules.”