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fsoica · 07-25-2012, 07:51 AM

I just read that Jack Crawford (big player of the 30s) was known for taking a shot of whiskey between sets, when the match was very tense. Would this be possible with today's rules?

I think this could help a lot the big chokers

TigerTim · 07-25-2012, 07:59 AM

One of the sports biggest chokers as already tried it...Like a Boss!!

niff · 07-25-2012, 08:01 AM

Don't see how they could stop you, bar banning all alcohol consumption during a tournament. Celebrate those big wins with a cheeky glass of water

Gustavo Kuerten · 07-25-2012, 08:30 AM

I play my best tennis after a couple of beers.

finishingmove · 07-25-2012, 08:34 AM

Shows the game was a complete and utter joke back then.

Any serious player would know not to consume alcohol during matches. It would dehydrate them and lower physical performance.

Nathaliia · 07-25-2012, 08:38 AM

WADA banned it this season though i saw a journeyman czech player drinking beer before his performance in prague

performance was awful

duong · 07-25-2012, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nathaliia

WADA banned it this season

really ? as a performance-enhancing drug ?

I read some time ago a very serious article speaking of the positive effects of nicotin (tobacco) in some sports' performances.

Johnny Groove · 07-25-2012, 10:52 AM

Back in the day, it was almost mandatory.

Hypnotize · 07-25-2012, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duong

really ? as a performance-enhancing drug ?

I read some time ago a very serious article speaking of the positive effects of nicotin (tobacco) in some sports' performances.

Not all banned drugs are classed as performance-enhancing. Recreational drugs that would do anything but enhance your performance are banned for health reasons.

Karsten Braasch used to light up cigarettes during change-overs until the tennis associations imposed a ban on doing this.

Nathaliia · 07-25-2012, 11:50 AM

high jumper from russia

Fumus · 07-25-2012, 01:37 PM

There's really no way they could stop you but you wouldn't make it far as alcohol is a substance that impairs your senses and slows your reactions. Trust me...it would suck all the fun out of drinking. The players from back in the day were like the characters on Mad Men, they just drank all day long...it was part of the culture and they didn't have the literature yet about how harmful it was to you.

It's one thing to play tennis at your club after a few beers...it's goofy and fun. No professional player could do this with any success.

After their match however, the pros can get down! I remember Gaudio talking about the players at one South American tournament...they got wasted every night and he woke up hungover and played some of his best tennis. I think Action Jackson could elaborate a bit more on this.

Andre Agassi wrote about in his book being hungover for a dead rubber DC Tie. He assumed that someone would be subbing in for him because it was dead but there was no one to sub. So he was so hungover he played the match with Oakley sunglasses on the whole time. Oakley ended up sending him a car and bunch of sunglasses after he was photographed and put on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the glasses on. LOL

Marat Safin loved to drink, party and smoke during tennis tournaments. He loved going to the Hopman cup because of the large casino that was nearby the tennis complex/resort. At Hopman in 2005, he showed up to play David Sanguinetti and he had a black eye, bruises on his face and was clearly hungover. He lost 67 76 60 in classic Safin fashion.

Drinking and tennis....goes hand in hand really.

Hypnotize · 07-25-2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fumus

There's really no way they could stop you but you wouldn't make it far as alcohol is a substance that impairs your senses and slows your reactions. Trust me...it would suck all the fun out of drinking. The players from back in the day were like the characters on Mad Men, they just drank all day long...it was part of the culture and they didn't have the literature yet about how harmful it was to you.

It's one thing to play tennis at your club after a few beers...it's goofy and fun. No professional player could do this with any success.

After their match however, the pros can get down! I remember Gaudio talking about the players at one South American tournament...they got wasted every night and he woke up hungover and played some of his best tennis. I think Action Jackson could elaborate a bit more on this.

Andre Agassi wrote about in his book being hungover for a dead rubber DC Tie. He assumed that someone would be subbing in for him because it was dead but there was no one to sub. So he was so hungover he played the match with Oakley sunglasses on the whole time. Oakley ended up sending him a car and bunch of sunglasses after he was photographed and put on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the glasses on. LOL

Marat Safin loved to drink, party and smoke during tennis tournaments. He loved going to the Hopman cup because of the large casino that was nearby the tennis complex/resort. At Hopman in 2005, he showed up to play David Sanguinetti and he had a black eye, bruises on his face and was clearly hungover. He lost 67 76 60 in classic Safin fashion.

Drinking and tennis....goes hand in hand really.

I remember that but I thought he got the black eye in Moscow before he arrived, not at the casino in Perth.

AsianSensation · 07-25-2012, 05:33 PM

I played tennis hungover once...yeah no bueno.

van Riemsdyk · 07-25-2012, 05:34 PM

Most definitely.

Alex999 · 07-25-2012, 06:20 PM

lol, good old days when both guys and girls (30s, 40s etc.) used to drink, smoke and play some good tennis. Nowadays it's much more physically demanding. I saw some pics of Ferrer smoking (I assume he is just a casual smoker, not sure tho). well, we all know that Safin was notorious when it comes to partying, he loved his vodka too much, but hey ...