During the Australian Open 2008 final Djokovic and Tsongs had three highly contested and physically hard fought sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-3),  then the match progressed towards the end of the fourth set, when a struggling Djokovic on the verge of cramps and a left hamstring problem, intelligently called for the trainer and took a full medical time out.    

At the same time Tsonga, who was not feeling much better either and also on the verge of cramps, sat calmly in his chair.

How important was this to the outcome of the match? Very, very important!

- In the meantime what was Tsonga doing? Drinking water, electrolytes and eating a BANANA! 

As much as I dislike repeating myself,  "On the court Do Not eat bananas! It is the most ridiculous thing you can do! Bananas take 3 to 4 hours to digest and they will just drive important and necessary blood into your digestive system that would otherwise be used in other parts of your body to generate or bring energy specifically to your lungs and muscles (oxygen & glycogens)!"    http://tenniscruz.com/content/view/198/27/

What were the results of these different approaches?

- Djokovic psychologically and physically came out of the chair relaxed, refreshed, refuelled and with a series of minerals and especially glucose or dextrose rapidly entering his young responsive and vital body.

- Tsonga came out of the chair about the same as when he first sat down in it, and probably handicapped concentration wise, since these medical time outs end up mostly disturbing the player that did not call for it.

How did these different approaches to cramps influence the end result?

- All the actions Djokovic took lead to an increase in physical performance and confidence in the order of 10 to 20%! This was clearly visible within 2 games, when the glucose or dextrose, muscle relaxant, salt, magnesium and electrolytes, started kicking in. (not to mention the massage)

- Tsongas performance stayed constant and he was able to push himself into a couple of slug fests, but to no avail.

Why?

Because, the bodies of well trained young athletes react extremely rapidly to the absorption of the right elements. In terms of athletics in a 100 meter dash the edge Djokovic took over Tsonga, during the medical time out, would be around 5 to 7 meters to the finish line!

In long and physical matches such as the one Djokovic and Tsonga played, the player that did not take the right actions, in this case Tsonga, immediately feels how different (much stronger) the other player has become and falls victim to unforced errors of his own or to the extra pressure exerted by his revitalized and energetic opponent.

Is my contention, "Tsongas and his Coaching Staffs' Inexperience Cost him the Title!", right? Very likely.

What should Tsonga have done when Djokovic called for the trainer? Call for the trainer himself!

What should Tsongas' Coaching Staff have signalled or told Tsonga? Call the trainer!!

What should Tsonga have taken during the medical time out? Exactly the same as Djokovic took; the massage, the water, the glucose or dextrose, muscle relaxant, sodium, magnesium and electrolytes!

Would Tsonga have won the fourth set? Potentially yes.

Would Tsonga have won a fifth set? Who knows?

Did Djokovic deserve to win? Yes, Yes, Yes!   4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(2)

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