Tennis!

[Noah]

Looks like Serena got kicked to the Kerber.

[Bobfoc]

She looked positively Angelique when doing so, though.

[Lineker]

[Bobfoc]

I've always wanted one of those.

[Chris2K]

So Djokovic is running rampant. I know it's early but a Grand Slam looks a real possibility for him this year.

[Baddar]

Maria Sharapova has just announced that she failed a drugs test at the Australian Open.

[Adam]

Really? Wow. Has anything else been said on it, like is she claiming it was accidental or not?

[Lineker]

So much for a supposed retirement announcement.

[Baddar]

Basically, she'd been taking this medicine for 10 years as she has low magnesium, and it's meant to help with diabetes as her family has a history of it, but when emails were sent out about rule changes to certain drugs/ingredients, she didn't check through it properly and it turns out one of those substances are now banned. 

[Katsuya]

To be fair, it does sound like a completely honest mistake. If it's something that has been completely normal - and arguably is for her health - for years, then you wouldn't suddenly assume "oh now it's banned".

[Baddar]

She has taken full responsibility though as it's up to the player to make sure that the drugs entering their bodies are legal. Honest mistake, but she'll definitely face a ban.

[JasonM]

So what I wonder is if such a drug is otc or whether it's on prescription? Because surely having a long-running prescription can help her prove it's for health reasons.

Still, it's refreshing to see an athlete (wo-)man up for their mistakes and don't blame shit on jet fuel infused stale horse meat like every other person that pops a drug test.

[Baddar]

It might well be for health reasons, but they banned the substance for a reason. It could be classed as performance enhancing, even if that's not your intention when using it. 

[Bobfoc]

It's a shame that this has happened, but I wonder if it might be good for a player as injury-prone as Sharapova to have a couple of years out of the sport (from a health-related standpoint, not a financial one). She's been playing at the top level for around twelve years now without a break, and she might be able to follow Kim Clijsters as someone who has another few years of reinvigoration after stepping away for a while. Clijsters even came back stronger after having a child, so I wouldn't put it past someone as talented as Sharapova.

[Baddar]

Murray has split from another coach - Mauresmo this time. 

[Lineker]

Nadal has pulled out of Roland Garros through injury. He is hoping to be fit for the start of Wimbledon, though.

[Adam]

I'm about to watch the battle of the 'up-and-comers' Zverev and  Thiem...but they're both wearing that ludicrous Adidas zebra kit and it just looks silly.

[Adam]

 

Quote

 

Game and third set

Murray 5-7 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 *Gasquet

Posted at 16:07

It eerily quiet around the court now with Gasquet on the slide in this match.

Murray storms into a 40-0 lead for a triple set point.

Gasquet is unable to return Murray's stonking serve and the Briton absolutely breezes the third set. 

 

Have you been in the ear of Caroline Chapman in the office, @Lineker?

Anyway, Murray has been a right rollercoaster today. Bizarre. Chucked a 5-2 lead in both the first two sets, came from a break down in the tiebreak to level it then went on to dismantle Gasquet 6-0 in the third, now in command. Ridiculous.

[Bobfoc]

This could be a decent chance for Murray. Djokovic is probably going to have to play three matches in four days to win, but Murray's side of the draw has the benefit of having escaped rain delays earlier in the tournament. There's still a way to go, and that includes this match now, but it's hard to see him getting a much better opportunity than this to win the French Open.

[Adam]

Agreed, it's a great chance. Shame Djokovic doesn't have to contend with Nadal in the semis this year but for once the luck of the draw is on Murray's side in regards to the delays and such, usually it seems to be against him. Murray has scrapped in nearly every round but he keeps coming through, has beaten Djokovic on clay in a final recently and has a good chance. But Wawrinka will be extremely tough and so will Djokovic if they were to both get to the Final.