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The 'art' of gamesmanship and a long list of players who use it

Dastardly Fernando Gonzalez's Olympic fakery against James Blake was the latest in a very, very long line of unsporting behaviour in the game of tennis...

The thorny topic of gamesmanship raised its head again last week, as 'Gentleman' James Blake saw his dream of Olympic glory dashed by a thin veneer of paint on Fernando Gonzalez's racquet.

For those that missed the incident - and there can't have been many - Blake fizzed a forehand at Gonzalez, who was up at net and the Chilean, knowing the shot was going long, pulled away at the last moment, but appeared to get a touch on the ball, thus rendering the point Blake's.

However, neither Gonzalez or the chair umpire Carlos Bernardes called it, much to the incredulity of Blake, who went on to lose the tightest of matches.

The American's comments afterwards were interesting and have once again opened the debate on gamesmanship in the sport.

"Playing in the Olympics, in what's supposed to be considered a gentleman's sport, that's a time to call it on yourself. Fernando looked me square in the eye and didn't call it," Blake said.

"We know when it touches us. And he knew that. So that's where it comes into calling it on yourself because it's the right thing to do," he said.

"Should I expect him to do that? Maybe not. Maybe I shouldn't expect people to hold themselves to high standards, sportsmanship."

Blake went on to further disparage Gonzalez: "I know him very well," he said. "I've played him many times on tour. He does everything in his power to win. Usually it's within the rules. Sometimes it's bordering on gamesmanship."

Should Blake be surprised by his opponent's win-at-all-costs mentality? Looking at the questionable levels of honesty in the game perhaps he ought not to be.

Roger Federer aside, I can recall incidents involving the majority of the top players in the men's game, with new number one Rafael Nadal certainly not being whiter than white with his excessive delaying tactics between points, including refurbishing most parts of his attire pre-service.

Moving down the rankings list we have the following suspicious characters and their entirely within the rules 'crimes'...

Novak Djokovic - Calls trainer far too often to receive massages etc and overly long ball bouncing on key points.

Nicolas Almagro/Tomas Berdych/Jose Acasuso - Injuries mysteriously begin to appear when losing heavily.

Radek Stepanek - Various questionable antics, including the 'stareout' after winning a point and 'worm' celebration.

Feliciano Lopez - Long bathroom breaks - notably against Henman at Wimbledon.

And then there are the times when it all becomes too much and frustration with opponents' antics boils over. See last year's Madrid Masters - Mardy Fish v Paul-Henri Mathieu - when an enraged Fish threatened to rearrange the Frenchman's nether regions after Mathieu lost four games in a row then spent a long time disputing a line call before taking an injury timeout.

In fact, it's easier to name the players that aren't likely to pull a fast one on court and Federer of course figures highly on that list, as would the likes of David Ferrer and Andy Roddick.

Although well known for changing racquets mid-game, it's hard to see the Swiss maestro doing it at match point down to gain an unfair advantage and Blake too is known as a straight up guy when it comes to on court honesty.

Perhaps surprisingly gamesmanship or unsporting behaviour, call it what you will, tends to be just as prevalent if not more so in the women's game.

And the top players are equally guilty if not more so than the lower ranked. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen the Williams sisters - particularly Serena it must be noted - depart for a 'bathroom break' during a key moment in a match.

Also, how could we forget the underarm serve of Martina Hingis in the 1999 French Open final and the 12 minute timeout taken by Mary Pierce in her 2005 US Open semi against Elena Dementieva that led to a huge turnaround in Pierce's favour.

Not to mention the 2003 French Open final with Justine Henin putting her hand up to delay opponent Serena Williams' service and then claiming she didn't and going on to win.

Maria Sharapova is a repeat offender of the highest order. Notably for blatant racquet changing at vital times, memorably at match point down against someone who needs no second invitation to lose her bottle - Patty Schnyder - in the French Open last year.

Maria did get a warning from the umpire, but she went on to win the match before claiming: "It's tough playing tennis and being Mother Teresa at the same time."

The former world number one also has an illustrious history of unfortunately timed bathroom breaks.

Even the current number one Ana Ivanovic is not above suspicion. Ivanovic when 6-0 2-0 down to Daniela Hantuchova in this year's Australian Open semi finals began shuffling her feet causing a loud squeaking noise as she prepared to face serve.

"That was ridiculous, I think," Hantuchova told reporters.

"I was really surprised with that. I think it's unfair. It's a distraction to the server. We played before and she never did it."

Compared to the likes of Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe and Ilie Nastase, who were all masters of the art of gamesmanship, as described in Stephen Potter's 1947 book "Gamesmanship: The Art of Winning Games Without Actually Cheating" today's stars hardly register on Potter's scale, but try telling that to Blake.