Tennis needs to get tough on cheaters, IMHO, the latest? Azarenka

[joeybee12]

MELBOURNE - Was it gamesmanship or a genuine misunderstanding?

The murky issue of cheating reared its ugly head at the Australian Open on Thursday as world number one Victoria Azarenka took a controversial timeout on the verge of her semi-final victory against American teenager Sloane Stephens.

Leading by a set and 5-4, the defending champion had just missed five match points when she took a 10-minute timeout, leaving her teenage opponent to sit and wait.

When she returned, the Belarussian broke Stephens to clinch a 6-1 6-4 victory and a place in the final.

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/50572439/ns/sports-tennis/

That was total BS on her part.

[RockaFowler]

1. I was going to ask that myself

She was losing the match. You could see it. Then she gets "cramps" and couldn't breathe. I call BS on her entire story. I'm rooting for Li in the Finals anyway, but this is such poor sportsmanship.

[joeybee12]

2. She's a headcase....

I'm sure she did it because she started to panic after losing 5 match points...however, you can't take timeouts for that...it's for injuries...she cheated.

[nclib]

3. She said it was a panic attack.

That's what surprised me. She admitted it was a panic attack, twice. Once, on court, after the match and the second time when she was being interviewed in the tunnel. I don't know how she thought that was a legitimate injury.

[joeybee12]

4. Then she changed it to say she panicked because of the injury,

not that the injury was the actual panicking...her coach/handlers made her change her story.

[nclib]

5. Ahh...

I missed that part. Nah, I think I believe her the first time. She panicked.

[joeybee12]

6. She did...she's a headcase and needed time to regroup and she knew she couldn't

do it unless she faked a shoulder injury.

[a kennedy]

7. Well she'll get her's when she plays Li Na.....I think Li Na is going to trounce her...

and I was just sick over what happened during that Stevens Azarenka match.....terrible, just terrible. Did you notice how the crowd just roared for Sloane as she left the court , and only politely clapped for the faker?? Very noticeable.....

[joeybee12]

8. Yup...if nothing else, she'll think twice before pulling this sh*t again...nt