Tennis-X BoardWatch: Fat Players, Boris in Playa-Mode

Posted on July 29, 2005

By Sean Randall, Special to Tennis-X.com

Tennis-X BoardWatch tracks the hot topics of the week on the internet tennis message boards.

What do Serena Williams and Taylor Dent have in common besides losing matches because they're fat and out of shape? Both have been nursing slow-healing ankle injuries sustained earlier in the year, but only the plump players themselves could tell you for certain whether their injuries curtail their training, while at the same time they appear to be at 100 percent movement on the court.

MensTennisForum's binkygirl reflected the mood of message-board posters that Dent has struggled throughout his career to stay in top shape: "I think Taylor gave up. He won the first set after all. He needs to get his ass in gear and lose weight. If he got on the Atkins diet for one month, I'm sure he'd drop 20 pounds quickly. This is the turning point for him. If he doesn't lose a good amount of weight after this, he's not going to play up to his potential. The choice is his, because I'm sure he's got people on his team telling him to lose weight. He has to learn to control what he puts in his mouth."

During the Indy final with the American struggling in the 100+ degree court temperatures, many were waiting to see what would rather be coming out of Dent's mouth, likely in projectile form.

Such as message posters like funches on the Tennis-X Discussion Board, many preceded their critical comments with how much they enjoy Dent's personality and his entertaining net-crushing style: "I love Taylor Dent's game, and I know serve and volleyers take longer to reach their peak, but how can an elite player get exhausted after one set? One set. It was ridiculously hot in Indy, but come on. How in the hell does Dent expect to get past the third round of the US Open in the lousy shape he is in? I've got friends who play once a week who could last longer in the heat than Dent."

Added consafos: "No s**t. It is something that should be embarrassing for a pro athlete. I'm closing in on 40 and have had some nasty injuries but Dent makes me look like Lance Armstrong. And at the very least, suck it up and finish the match. Hard to believe he comes from Australian stock..."

Ouch, mate.

Serena, who after her Wimbledon loss said, "I worked pretty hard the last week or so, but I
guess you've got to work more than a week," has not taken to the court since appearing pudgy and out of shape at Wimbledon.

Opined Count Grishnackh at Tennis Warehouse: "Maybe laying off the Doritos, Krispy Creme, Mcdonald's and Snickers bars would help too. It's not like grasscourt tennis takes much out of your system. Imagine if she played on the grueling claycourts? She'd have collapsed before the 2nd set due to fatigue. She's in terrible shape, she needs to lose 30 pounds easy. It would help her gain some speed and take the pressure off her joints in her legs. A real coach wouldn't hurt either. There is hope for her but I wonder if she cares enough to really dedicate herself to this regimen."

Serena has now withdrew from the WTA Carson event next week, citing her ankle injury.

Boris Becker lit up the message boards after making a third-person announcement on breaking up with long-time girlfriend Caroline Rocher, freeing him up for more broomcloset liaisons.

"Becker having problems is no secret," wrote Tennis-X Discussion Board's mariam. "(Becker said) 'It's a fact. The love couple of Caroline and Boris is no more.' Who talks like that?!"

And from di-10S: "You mean hooking up in a closet with someone you barely know and producing a love child isn't "normal?" Love Becker, loved watching him play, but he has had his moments where I just want to smack him upside the head and tell him to cut the crap out."

You and a few others seeking childcare payments.