| p>Everyone is marvelled at Federer's fantastic record | | | | He uses your pace against you. If you take pace off, |
| but it is no surprise if you think not to far back at Pete | | | | so that he can't use your pace, he can step around |
| Sampras dominance and John McEnroe's, who also | | | | and hurt you with the forehand. Just the amount of |
| played great all round games. | | | | options he has to get around any particular stage of |
| One of the characteristics that separates these | | | | the match where maybe something's out of sync is -- |
| players from others is their uncanny ability to perform | | | | seems to be endless." |
| at their best under extreme pressure and win the "big | | | | "You know, that's my point, I was safe for a long time |
| points" especially at the "Big Four" (the Grand Slams). | | | | out there just hitting a dumpy second serve to the |
| They all have or had big weapons, the courage and | | | | backhand and getting into the point. Then at any point |
| clarity of mind to use them when they most needed | | | | he can decide, "Well, I want to make you worry about |
| them or when they mentally, would/will do the greatest | | | | that." He had the breeze on his back. He just stayed |
| damage to their opponents. | | | | through that ball and hit it up the line." |
| For example, in the last US Open Björn Borg | | | | "You know, and then the next couple points, because |
| played, John McEnroe used his creativity as one of his | | | | he has -- you know he's going to step up, you have |
| weapons against Borg. | | | | that little extra pressure to do a little bit more with the |
| The match was at a very tight crucial moment with | | | | ball, to push it through the wind, and to get it deep |
| Borg realizing that he would not win from the baseline | | | | because you don't want to leave anything hanging |
| and feeling pressured to come to the net. Borg did just | | | | against him on either wing. And, you know, you make a |
| that with a great approach shot up the line to John's | | | | couple errors because you're trying to play too good. |
| forehand, which McEnroe responded with a weak | | | | And then just for good measure he did it at 6-1 in the |
| cross court passing, Borg volleyed solid up the line for | | | | tiebreaker." |
| what should have been a winner and moved in closer | | | | "So anything that you're trying to execute out there |
| to the net for the kill. McEnroe somehow managed to | | | | only lasts for a period of time till he makes the |
| get to the ball and strike an incredible backhand topspin | | | | adjustment. Then you have to change it. All the while, |
| lob over the head of a surprised, flat footed, stunned | | | | everything you're planning on doing, you have to do |
| Bjorn Borg! After that there were many interesting | | | | well and you have to do it start to finish. So that's, you |
| points in that match, but that lob took the soul out of | | | | know -- you can only say it so many ways. You |
| Borg and showed him that all doors to US Open | | | | know, that's too good." |
| heaven were shut! When Borg walked back to the | | | | "Q. You said in order to beat him, something needs to |
| baseline he knew he had lost the match and not much | | | | be off. Was something off in his game at one point |
| long after that tournament he retired from professional | | | | tonight? |
| tennis. | | | | AA: No. You just got to do it for a long time. I mean, |
| Pete Sampras did the same kind of mental damage | | | | you know, this is not -- a match is a complicated thing. |
| during his vomiting session to Corretja at the US Open | | | | There are a lot of ebbs and flows in it. There's a lot of |
| 96, in his crying session to Courier at the Australian | | | | -- but ultimately, the person that brings the most the |
| Open 95 and in a number of different occasions to the | | | | most amount of times, you know, is going towin that. |
| likes of Ivan Lendl, Boris Becker, Agassi, Rafter, | | | | He just brings a lot all the time for all the options he |
| Henman and others. | | | | has. And while there are periods that you can have |
| Petes greatest weapon was his second serve, you | | | | him on the fence, his options when he's on the fence is |
| may say, "What about the first?" Pete's second serve | | | | better than most, better than most." |
| was what allowed him to go left and right for aces | | | | "You have to respect not just his abilities, but you also |
| with his first serve at the "big points". So sure he was | | | | have to respect what goes into all the pieces that |
| that he would not miss his second service as well as | | | | make him the factor he is, you know. I mean, and that's |
| of the quality of it, that he had no fear of his | | | | the mindset. It is the focus. It is the,you know, the |
| opponents return! This great confidence in his second | | | | knowing when to play, when not to play. It's pulling out |
| service, allowed him the luxury to even ace his | | | | of tournaments as you prepare to peak for other |
| challengers with his second service in the climax of | | | | tournaments. You know, he's made a lot of good |
| pressure. Needless to say, this was disheartening, | | | | decisions, and he certainly is maximizing all the arsenal |
| frustrating and mind boggling to his despondent | | | | that he has. And I can't say it surprises me because I |
| adversaries. | | | | don't know him, but it certainly amazes me." |
| In 1990 in Milano I saw the begining of the effective use | | | | Having read that, tennis is only a game and you are |
| of such weapons, when Pete threatened Lendl into a | | | | what you allow your opponent to do. Brad Gilbert was |
| 3rd set, which was continued in Philadelphia where he | | | | Boris (Boom-Boom) Becker black sheep and in the |
| defeated a baffled Agassi shaking his head, changing | | | | summer of 1989 he humilliated the tennis elite by |
| from side to side barely touching a ball on the return. | | | | winning 6 ATP tournaments and beating almost every |
| Two matches later there was more of the same in | | | | top ten player. Without a powerful forehand, but with |
| the final against Andres Gomez. At year's end using | | | | the ability to draw great players into his game, make |
| similar tactics and weapons Pete culminated his | | | | them lose confidence in their shot making, raising their |
| season with the crown at the US Open. | | | | unforced error quota to unsustainable levels and |
| Federer today with his "unique" game (a throw back to | | | | producing some superb passing shots. Brad with very |
| the 60's and 70's tennis) demonstrates that the all | | | | intelligent tactics, drew incredible wins from Great |
| around game is a tremendous challenge for today's | | | | Champions that on paper were vastely better then |
| players, because a large majority of them are totally | | | | him. |
| inept at dealing with the short cross slice backhand as | | | | In the past there were a few players capable of doing |
| well as the low slice on their forehands (due to | | | | the same to the very best of their era: |
| extreme grips), which makes them prey to attacks | | | | Ramanathan Krishnan (not to be confused with his son |
| and winners! At his best Roger's refined "repertoire" | | | | Ramesh), Willy Alvarez (famous Coach from the |
| can drive the most stall worth Hewitt, Ferrero, | | | | Sanchez boys), Corrado Barazutti and an infamous |
| Nalbandian, Gaudio, Gonzales, Nadal into submission, if | | | | Zuleta just to name a few. These players made many |
| not into total embarrassment! | | | | of the very best look meek, despondent and |
| This implicates the possibility that many players of the | | | | frustrated in defeat. |
| past e.g. Rod Laver, Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, Roy | | | | Adjustments are being made by players and coaches |
| Emerson, John Newcombe , Ilie Nastase, John | | | | that will make tennis ever more interesting. Basel Open |
| McEnroe, just to mention a few, would be a great | | | | 2005 gave me an insight on what's to come and it |
| challenge to many of today's top hard hitting players. | | | | looks as if in the future tennis will be a much more |
| To substantiate my theory, in Davis Cup around | | | | exciting and varied game. |
| 1988(?) maybe later...an ailing unfit and "old" Victor | | | | Power is important but power is not all in tennis! Tennis |
| Pecci, a much lesser player then the names above, | | | | is a game of skills, tactics/strategies, fitness, speed, |
| demonstrated the vulnerabilities of a young Michael | | | | intelligence, quick thinking, creativity, therefore opening |
| Chang and "modern tennis". Later on Jim Grab mainly | | | | the possibility for many of the players from the past to |
| a doubles specialist did the same by neutralizing Chang | | | | prevail on some surfaces and not on others against |
| with the soft slice and attacking with low slices down | | | | the likes of Federer, Sampras, Agassi, Courier, Nadal |
| the line or up the center of the court. Basically | | | | and many others. |
| humiliating Michael into losing to a guy with slow | | | | Martina Navratilova, a great champion, epithomizes the |
| movement "soft" hands but with solid volleys. | | | | ultimate learner of the game, once said: |
| This does not mean that today's players are worthless | | | | "Why," she was asked, "are you still doing this at 46?" |
| or their games are stupid. Today's top players are | | | | "Life. We're lucky to be here. It's about learning and our |
| great like in any other era. The game changed | | | | time is limited. I'm still learning, to do better, still studying |
| tremendously; extreme grips, power, topspin, the | | | | strategy. I'm technically better now than I was in my |
| cross-court percentage play and waist level bouncing | | | | heyday. You know I hit a shot against [Jana] Novotna |
| balls became common place, nevertheless the | | | | at Wimbledon last year when I played. After the game |
| challenge of a low slice ball, a good mix of attacks | | | | she said: 'What was that, I've never seen it before?' I |
| from a creative Roger Federer has just proven | | | | said I only learned to play it a few days ago. The key |
| overwhelming to them. | | | | was the grip but you never stop learning the game. |
| Today's coaches and aspiring players should definitely | | | | You have to have talent, but if you haven't the heart |
| follow the lead from Roger Federer and adopt his | | | | to explore the talent it's all a waste of time." |
| game and refined tactics, it will make for a much more | | | | ....I almost forgot to say, Federer is not alone in his style |
| varied and challenging future breed of tennis players | | | | of play, he is in very good company with the likes of: |
| as well as far more exciting game to watch for the | | | | Rod Laver, Lew Hoad, Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson, |
| spectator's. | | | | John Newcombe, Ilie Nastase, John McEnroe, Boris |
| Agassi in an interview about Federer, sheds some light | | | | Becker, Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras, Pancho |
| on the challenges Federer's all round game presents to | | | | Gonzales and many other greats! |
| baseliners and aggressive baseliners. | | | | Hope you are willing to develop your talent, enjoy "The |
| AA: "But, you know, with that being said, he hit an | | | | Game". |
| inside-out winner at 30-Love, 4-2 in the third set that | | | | Copyright © 1999-2005 Tenniscruz.com®. All |
| found the line. He hit a few up the line. He hits that | | | | rights reserved. |
| short chip, moves you forward, moves you back. | | | | |