Tennis 2022

[garyfromterrace]

Senior year of HS, my present was to actually go, with a few friends. I watched Doug Flach beat Agassi in the first round. That wily bastard made it to the third round and I hope he's somewhere telling that story still. Wandering the outer courts and seeing the best tennis of my life with a belly full of beer, strawberries and cream was the best.

I need to go find my tourney book, signed by the winner that year Petr Korda, but anyone recall the name of the lesser known grass court tourney down the road just before Wimbledon?
Coming up with a sand-based surface for French season was trickier. Never dialed that one in.

Lucky guy! It's a dream to hit all of the majors at least once. Lucky enough to have hit Flushing a couple of times.
The run up tourney in England is Queens.
I played a bunch of times on an artificial grass court with sand on it (U of C in Calgary, and in a super small town in Northern BC (Hazelton)). Played similar to clay.

The Connors comeback at the US Open was unreal. I don't have much to say about his career that can be summed up in a sentence, but I'll never see a greater match than his defeat of McEnroe in the first round.

I'm so jealous Matt, did you see this live?
I remember Connors/Krickstein as being an absolute classic as well. Murkier memories of Connors/Borg marathons and always loved watching Mac play anybody back in the day. Sadly for a small town Alberta boy, never got to see any of these guys play live with the exception in the late 80's when Mac, Connors, Lendl and someone else (if my damaged memory serves) came to Calgary for an exhibition.

I was a Prince guy too and still play with my old graphites. But I experimented with their entire catalog, including that frame that I think Sabatini or Capriati used for a bit with the gel insert at the top of the handle. There may have been a foray into Donnay when Agassi used their frames for a bit.

wilson blade. nothing else even comes close.

Ha! I was a Prince guy for a long time growing up and played a couple versions of the Vortex. Balls would rocket off that thing, but the mis-hits were like getting your funny bone drilled with a ball.

Too much flex for me. Just order 3 new demos on TW. Have a Head Graphene Prestige Pro, Dunlop CX 200 Tour 16x19 and going to try to Babo Pure Strike in the 16x19 pattern as well for the hell of it, all with the multifiliament. Then its full nat gut at 60 lbs upon purchase.

Hey, its not like I play with a yonex, but you keep playing with that licorice stick if you like

Oh, you mean this Prince racquet?

Attachment 402873

Ha! I’ve still got 3 of these in my garage as they were my preferred stick in college. So heavy compared to anything else now but that’s what I loved about em. Total hammer.

I’ve gone to the Babolat Pure Strike since getting back into the game and it’s like a razor blade out there. So much touch.

Also, I agree about McEnroe. He was our asshole.

Haha. I bet those assholes in Boston (Edmonton, phillie and TO) used to say that about Ken Linseman and still say that about Marchand.

Stoked to try the pure strike that is on its way then. I have been meaning to try the Head and Dunlop and that Babo was a whim add to round out three selections. I think I’m used to a heavier racket but heard it holds up.

Just found these weird things in my stash and they are getting a whack soon. Not sure ceramic was a great decision back when these were produced. They will probably send a storm of shrapnel into my face, like hitting with one of my wife’s vases.

Pulleeze! Wilson Pro Staff 6.0 85 - accept no substitutes!

Sampras, Edberg, Courier, Federer, and Connors, for a short while. LoL.
And let’s not forget Graf and Evert.
P.S. If you’re over 40 you have permission to go to the 95 - if you can find one.

Tech talk you fucking Jongs.

hahaha. Never thought I'd say that in the tennis forum!!
So all of your reminiscences got me thinking about my weapons of choice over the years and I think I remember...
1970 - 1975 Slazenger Demon (hand me down from my brother) wood
75 - 79 ??
79 - 89 Slazenger Vilas V-24 wood/graphite composite
89 - 97 (Jesus, I used the same racquet for this long???) the same Estusa ceramic composite (I remember it also said tubular), great racquet. And it never exploded and projected ceramic shrapnel into my eyes like one of my wife's vases. It was when I started buying 2 of the same racquets as I started playing tourneys and club tennis. Probably peaked here, as I was playing a club "A" level, at least 3 - 4 times a week and wasn't afraid of playing anyone in town (the town was Kamloops). Likely equivalent to a 5.0 level
97 - 2012 Same 2 estusas. I will say one thing about this racquet - a wooden (or wood composite) racquet would not have stood up to over 20 years of abuse.
2012 - current Babolat pure drive. Love this racquet.

Cannot comment on current aussie open status as I recorded the nadal/berretinni match and don't know who won.

[Art Shirk]

The run up tourney in England is Queens.
I played a bunch of times on an artificial grass court with sand on it (U of C in Calgary, and in a super small town in Northern BC (Hazelton)). Played similar to clay.

It was something else and I'm pissed I cannot place the name. It's likely defunct now. I went looking for my tourney book and cant find it. Did find some other cool old tennis shit though and some old pictures.

Gary, here's a lead on some canuckian grass court action. I used to play this tournament when I was a young un. https://clubspark.ca/southcowichan/

[Marshall Tucker]

an artificial grass court with sand on it (U of C in Calgary, and in a super small town in Northern BC (Hazelton)). Played similar to clay.

I beleive this is called an omni court. My hood had two of them before ditching for ditching for another PITA surface. I can't recall the name but it's a fiberglass mat expoyed to a hard surface i think asphalt in our case, as you can imagine the epoxy will give way after a bit and create dead spots.

[Art Shirk]

Found it on the 1996 ATP wiki page. It is the Nottingham Open played on the week before Wimbledon and I was wrong about Korda winning that. It was Siemeriink.

[garyfromterrace]

It was something else and I'm pissed I cannot place the name. It's likely defunct now. I went looking for my tourney book and cant find it. Did find some other cool old tennis shit though and some old pictures.

Gary, here's a lead on some canuckian grass court action. I used to play this tournament when I was a young un. https://clubspark.ca/southcowichan/

Manchester? Eton?
Cool you played at Cowichan. I heard about this venue for decades. Is that the tourney you play with wood racquets?

[garyfromterrace]

Your Canuck brethren are getting deep in majors though Gary. Waaaaay more than we can say for our guys down here.
t.

Yeah, it is truly the golden age of tennis up here. Though the gates were opened with Rusetski (traitor), Milos, Genie, and Bassett it's real now with 2 men and 2 women going deep consistently. Be nice to see Milos mount a comeback but I'm skeptical given his age and the injuries he's had.

Never been a time when US men's tennis has been so sparsely represented at the open level. Sorry dudes.

[Art Shirk]

Manchester? Eton?
Cool you played at Cowichan. I heard about this venue for decades. Is that the tourney you play with wood racquets?

They didnt require wood that I recall, but many of the other wimbledon-esque rules were in place. Definitely had to wear all white and shoe soles were highly scrutinized.

[jono]

Retro-week in here was great. I'd like to see Rafa get 21, but I definitely don't care as much about the current era as McEnroe/Connors through Sampras/Agassi.

Tonight I walked in to hear John McEnroe playing himself as narrator of a high school kid's life on Netfix. I had to watch some. I blame retro week. Also my wife, but mostly retro week.

Still, John McEnroe should definitely be doing more voice work.

[BmillsSkier]

If you guys aren’t, you should really be watching this men’s final right now.

[::: :::]

It’s recording

[fomofo]

Final did not disappoint!

[Danno]

So glad Rafa gets to lift #21, not because I'm a hudge fan of is, but it highlight's Novak's stupidity. That could be him with the record lead, but for a wee little poke.

And ruh-roh, looks like there may be further problems for him; because of a BBC report and findings from a German research group who dug deeper into his out of synch covid test confirmation codes, some are asking for a full investigation by the ATP on his so-called positive Covid test: https://www.bbc.com/news/59999541

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

[Sluff]

My GOAT rank is Fed by far, Rafa in a close second, and Joke a distant third (I can’t stand Joke).

Nadal growing on me as he ages.

Really want to see Fed get #21 at Wimbledon.

[Danno]

how can it be Fed "by far" but Rafa a "close second"?

FWIW, I agree with your rankings, though I am no tennis master and admit that likeability probably oozes into my rankings.

[BmillsSkier]

Likely because Fed has won his 20 majors all over the place and Rafa got the bulk of his at Roland Garros if I had to guess.

I think Fed and Rafa are 1(a) and 1(b) respectively if we’re tossing out rankings.

Super happy for Rafa and glad I woke up as early as I did to catch that.

I’d like to see him get one more at the French and then Fed come back and get another Wimbledon title right after. Shit, then take the US Open in September and they both go out with 22.

[Danno]

Likely because Fed has won his 20 majors all over the place and Rafa got the bulk of his at Roland Garros if I had to guess.

that;s why I have Fed #1 too, but if he's #1 by far, by definition Rafa can't be a close second.

I would probably say 1a and 1b too, if that's allowed. Because Rafa is definitely the GOATOC (greatest of all time on clay).

[Marshall Tucker]

"Nadal should donate his winnings to the Australian government specificaly to offset the cost of deporting djokovic"

[Tele 'til You're Smelly]

As much as I hate to say it, if you take personality, enjoyability-of-watching and vaccine-asshattery out of it, Djokovic is probably the GOAT but he needs to do what it takes to play to prove it once and for all. But yeah my personal GOATS (of the men's side) are a tie between Fed and Nadal- Fed may have more non-clay Grand Slams but even on hard courts Nadal leads their head-to-head matches (from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federe...3Nadal_rivalry ):

Considered one of the greatest-ever tennis rivalries, Federer and Nadal have played each other 40 times, with Nadal leading the overall head-to-head 24–16 and in finals 14–10. Of their 40 matches, 20 have been on hard court (14 of them in outdoor hard court and 6 on indoor hard court), 16 have been on clay, and 4 have been on grass. Federer leads on grass (3–1) and indoor hard court (5–1). Nadal leads on clay (14–2) and outdoor hard court (8–6). A total of 14 matches have been in majors with Nadal leading 10–4.[1][2] Nadal leads 6–0 at the French Open and 3–1 at the Australian Open, while Federer leads 3–1 at Wimbledon. The two have yet to meet in the US Open.

and Serena gets my vote for overall-GOAT given her record for most Grand Slams in the open era period.

[BmillsSkier]

"Nadal should donate his winnings to the Australian government specificaly to offset the cost of deporting djokovic"

4:18 and on was fucking hilarious. Novak is covid. He's basically had covid since the beginning of covid. He's taken more loads than _________, (ahem, viral loads that is).

[Art Shirk]

Ordered some new frames on tenniswarehouse and get an email today stating that my requested tension will lead to cancellation of the warranty and liability if they snap a frame so they wont fulfil unless I drop tension or accept liability if their string donkey hoses me. I have to be within 48-57 lbs. Proposed response: Thank you for your email and concern about my requested tension. As I have a girls 12s clay court tournament imminent, please consider this my acquiescence to reduce my tension to 57."

What tension are you guys playing on these days?

[Marshall Tucker]

Ah, to be honest, I only play the blades becuase MT#3 played them before becoming totally burned out and hating the game (peaked at about 10.4 UTR summer after junior yr HS). I was too cheep to buy rackets so I just kept them going how he played them, razor something string strung 50lb. I'm happy with tit, but truthly haven'd done much else.

[Art Shirk]

Hope he can find the passion again. I used to only track ratings by NTRP but just looked into UTR as see that at 10.4, the guy must have been damn good. I'm thinking all these lower string tensions I see these days must be offset by new racquet and string technology, because otherwise I would expect the ball to be trampolining.

[Marshall Tucker]

10.4, the guy must have been damn good.

They had a pretty good HS team. Here they play 3 lines singles 2 lines doubles and you cannot repeat. He was line 2 doubles and his partner was about 9.0. They got to the state final but got the shit beat outta them. That other team had a median UTR of about 11.75. They would have beaten some of the D2 colleges here. they did win the C bracket at deccoturf that year though.

[garyfromterrace]

What tension are you guys playing on these days?

I'm at 55. Have been for a while.

I know it's old news now, but fuck that was a wonderful men's aussie final. The level was stratospheric. Was super happy that Rafa got another one. What a gutsy performance for him, I've really grown to like the guy over the years. You know all this talk of GOAT has really got my goat again though. I mean, easy for us to say Rafa is the GOAT on clay. I think there should be no debate on that point.

But basing GOAT tennis player (mens or ladies) on grand slams alone is a flawed metric. Especially now that the top players all have such easy access to all the tourneys (compare ease in air travel this century to the last one). Plus, look at the longevity of players these days in light of a top 5 player's huge team to cater to their every need. Massage, physiotherapist, nutrition, life coach, plane ticket buyer, psychologist... fuck, it goes on and on. Borg didn't have that shit, nor did Budge or Laver or Martina. I'd give my left testicle to see Borg in his prime play Fed. Conners vs Nadal? Mac vs. the Joke. Or how bout Martina in her prime vs. Serena. Unfortunately, in my eyes that is the only definitive way to determine GOAT. And short of hot tub time machine, it ain't hapening.

Having said all of that, I suppose that one metric for determination should be Slam wins. But, that's only one metric. There may come a day when a player is truly head and shoulders above all others (let's hope it's FAA haha). Some dude wins 15 slams in a row, get's 3 calendar grand slams and ends up with 28 majors - then it's easy. We are not there yet on the men's side, it's too close to call IMHO. Another thing that I think is worthy of mention (I've said it before and I'll say it again), the 3 big guys have played a lot of matches. They've also met in a lot of finals. Some of those finals were so tight that it's possible that one shitty line call could have changed the course of one (or more) of those matches. So to be using a slam win as the only performance metric to determine GOAT is incorrect. Especially, when it's so tight and one guy is not head and shoulders above the rest.

On the women's, Serena may be close to this. Still given Martina's lack of a huge support team (not to mention the other shit that poor gal had to deal with in a very much less open society...), yeah it's still hard for me to give Serena the nod. I may just be super anti-american though...

Oh, yeah. No comments about my salad days wielding Estusas? I loved those bad boys. Only better racquet I've had the pleasure playing with are my current Babolat Pure Drives.

[Art Shirk]

I demo'd that Pure Drive and have never crushed groundies as well, but it wasn't quite enough for me to overcome the broad range and feel of the Heads I bought. I took my decision as a sign of growth and maturity

GOAT really is an impossible game to play in just about every sport due to the evolution of technology, rules, etc. Especially so when factoring in different surfaces in tennis, different ballpark dimensions in baseball, different season lengths, home court advantages, etc. It's even tougher in team sports. But for the individual sports, there is something pure about the premise that the s/he who takes home the most brass in the biggest moments against the best competition, gets real notches on the belt that you can simply add up.

But without the GOAT game, media would have a lot less revenue.