If you could design the greatest tennis player of all time, how would he/she play?
Well, I am going to design a sample player here:
Serve: Raonic
Forehand: 2005-6 Federer
Backhand: Gasquet
Volleys: Edberg
This is only one combination that I have thought of. Here's another:
Serve: Sampras
Forehand: Nadal
Backhand: Kuerten
Volleys: McEnroe
For the greatest female player, how about:
Serve: Serena Williams
Forehand: Graf
Backhand: Henin
Volleys: Navratilova
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by CoachV - William Vazquez on -
Serve: Ivo Karlović.
Currently holds the world record for the most aces in a match against Agassi, and still lost because of Agassi's return ability.
Forehand: Novak Djokovic,
a forehand that kept improving to bring him into #1 and beat all the current great players breaking or Tie-ing a world record winning streak of McEnroe. example Big forehand return for the usopen against Federer
Backhand: Andre Agassi
Best Returns in the world and also in 2005 during the US OPEN he hit more dropshot winners with 1 hand. a very dynamic backhand
Volleys: "the Magnificent Bastard" "The Magician" Fabrice Vetea Santoro
with his Chip shots, Approach shots and reading ability followed up by the other shots he would be unstoppable.
Speed: Chang, is there any faster?
Fitness: Thomas Muster, was there any stronger?
Mental: Poncho Gonzales, Was there any tougher?
Gamesmanship: Nastase
My player would crush and BE the GOAT on top of the Mountain
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Permalink Reply by Tim Prapong on
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Santoro for the volleys? I haven't seen too much of his volleys.
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Permalink Reply by CoachV - William Vazquez on
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what tim are you nuts you never seen Santoro Volley.
here are some examples
and also defense http://youtu.be/PmuKzIEkafc
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I'll have to check these out later tonight. The library I'm at bans youtube. lol
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Permalink Reply by Mark / The Mayor on
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I'm a huge Magician fan too, but in all these videos there are very little examples of actual volleys. But I think I know what you mean, to have Santoro's "short game" which can be diabolical.
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Permalink Reply by CoachV - William Vazquez on
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the name of this player is
CoachV NastaseGonzalesChangSantoroAgassiNovakKarlović. the third
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HAHA. the third, eh?
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Permalink Reply by Paul Atreides on
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"The Rocket!" See, that was easy!
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Although, IMO, The Rocket was the most complete, balanced player of all time, since Coach V asked me to play the game right, here are my choices shot by shot:
Serve: Pete Sampras/Pancho Gonzales (draw)
Forehand: Roger Federer
Backhand: Andre Agassi/Rod Laver (draw)
Forehand volley: Stefan Edberg
Backhand volley: Tony Roche
Smash: Pancho Gonzales
Athleticism: Rod Laver
Mental toughness: Bjorn Borg
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Ah, very interesting! Gonzales makes the serve and smash. I always liked his serve motion. No fuss, no muss. Simple yet devastating.
Well, Agassi backhand! Agreement with Coach V.
Definitely agree with Borg for mental toughness.
Hmm, Roche over Edberg on the backhand volley. Rule is, you can only pick one volleyer. lol
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It wouldn't be a stretch to pick Roche over Edberg on forehand volley too. But, Edberg had such a solid forehand volley and, for a big guy, he got down as well as anyone every did. Honorable mention to Pat Cash and Patrick Rafter in that respect.
Here's a video of Laver vs. Roche from the 1969, AO, semi. Not the best quality video or perspective, but, you can see what a great net player and volleyer (two different things), Roche was against the best return and ground game in the history of tennis with a wood racquet. Turn up the sound and enlarge the screen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHaN2h21ANs
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Yeah, Roche looks super solid in that AO 1969 footage. I remember watching it a year ago and was very impressed. Well, I still wonder how Edberg and Roche get so much stick on that forehand volley!
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