AgassiGrafFan
Rookie
Watching the Zverev-Gasquet masterpiece followed up by the Raonic-Mannarino abomination last night got me thinking about who has the nicest and ugliest game and strokes. For me this isn't a list of my favorite players, as I like Rafa a lot but wouldn't put him on either list, but more who would I want to model my own strokes after and who can I not believe made it to the elite level hitting the ball the way they do! My personal list:
Nicest (Mens):
1. Federer. Many have written more eloquent things than I can come up with. The guy is a true artist on the court. He makes the game fun to watch. I don't particularly care for OHBHs, yet Roger's is a masterpiece and I enjoy it. His FH, serve, movement, and net play are exemplary. Fans and players alike will continue to marvel at his game long after he stops playing.
2. Monfils when he is giving effort. This for me is the guy that you show a non-fan if you want to display the athleticism and excitement of top level tennis. He definitely lacks somewhat in the tactics department, but his shot making is unparalleled.
3. Verdasco. I haven't honestly watched a ton of his matches, but I have seen a fair amount of video on his stroke mechanics. Of current players I would probably model my strokes after this guy. Huge spin, crushing power, flawless. I am not really sure how he hasn't had more success, but I assume it is more of flawed tactics and nerve than strokes.
4. A. Zverev. His serve is my least favorite stroke and it is still pretty nice. Forehand is good with nice spin and power, but his two-handed backhand sets him apart. A thing of beauty.
Retired: Agassi. For me, and I am sure many people my age, Agassi is the guy I admired and tried to model my own game after. Power baseliner. Good topspin, but with the ability to flatten it out. Nice spin serves with power when it is needed. I still stop every time I get the chance to see his strokes on tv again.
Ugliest (Mens):
1. Raonic. It is a good thing he has massive power because his stroke mechanics are atrocious. He almost makes me want to change the channel when he comes on to play.
2. Isner. Worst of the servebots. If he doesn't win a point in the first three shots he may as well just stop playing and save the energy. His mechanics, confidence, and style are all terrible off the ground.
3. Sock. Huge power. Huge spin. Both things I want in my own game, yet I hate his strokes. Don't know why.
4. Murray. I actually like him ok, but it is because he is a fighter. His game is not very attractive. In my younger years I would have despised his style, but I have come to appreciate guys that fight tooth and nail as I get older.
5. Wawrinka. I know OHBH fans love his stroke. It is fine to me, but I don't really like a OHBH (besides Fed, Sampras, and Sabatini maybe). His FH is powerful if not particularly elegant, but the stroke that lands him on my personal list is that serve. No knee bend. No back arch. I can't believe he is as good at serving as he is!?! He would have the best serve on tour with better mechanics I think.
Retired: Courier. I really like the guy, but how on earth did he win four majors and reach number 1 with those strokes? I saw a quote from him that said something to the effect of "Other players have a talent for forehands and backhands. I have a talent for competing." I think that sums it up. The guy had tremendous grit, but the lack of raw talent eventually caught up to him as other players matured.
Nicest (Womens): Qualifier is that I don't really enjoy the last couple of generations of women's players. I liked the game in the 80's and 90's. The mindless ball bashers killed it for me. With that said:
1. Serena. I don't like her as a player, but I have come to respect her strokes (along with her fight). Great mechanics on all of her shots, speed, athleticism. I get why people like her.
2. Halep. Nothing stands out to me, but her strokes are first class and she has really good speed.
3. Wozniacki. Similar to Halep but with more style and less speed.
4. Muguruza. I actually like her game the most out of the current women, but I think that is as much about her power and attitude as anything. Her strokes are not as elegant as the first three.
5. Kvitova. Every shot is nice. Hitting on the practice court she should probably be #2 on the list, but for this list her movement knocks her down a few rungs.
Retired: Hingis. A female Federer without the power. Her game was creative and fluid. It is too bad her personal issues seemed to really coincide with the rise of big-babe tennis. It is nice to see her still on the doubles court.
Ugiest (Womens):
1. Venus. Limbs flying everywhere. Kinks in every shot. Abysmal footwork. Every time I see her I feel I am watching Oliveoyle or a baby deer out there. Atrocious. Definitely mechanics and nerves were the big separation between her and Serena.
2. Pliskova. She has power on her serve, but I can't believe any of her other shots go in the court, especially her forehand. I just hate the way she hits the ball.
3. A. Radwanska. Reputed to be a poor-man's Hingis, but no power and funny mechanics. I like her ok, but not her strokes.
4. Kerber. I feel like she must have a shoulder injury or something because her right arm looks strapped to her body on the FH side. Backhand feels like a carving motion but it isn't sliced.
5. Rybarikova. Would be higher if her ranking had her on my television more. Her FH is terrible. Not sure how on earth she was able to make her SF run at Wimbledon. Doubt she will ever see another QF in a major.
Retired. Seles. One of my favorites. I would love to see her combinations of power, spins, and angles against the bashers of today. I think Seles could destroy these women, but her strokes (aside from her serve) were hard to watch. They did produce some beautiful shots though.
Anyhow that is my list of most attractive and ugliest games. What does everyone else think?
Nicest (Mens):
1. Federer. Many have written more eloquent things than I can come up with. The guy is a true artist on the court. He makes the game fun to watch. I don't particularly care for OHBHs, yet Roger's is a masterpiece and I enjoy it. His FH, serve, movement, and net play are exemplary. Fans and players alike will continue to marvel at his game long after he stops playing.
2. Monfils when he is giving effort. This for me is the guy that you show a non-fan if you want to display the athleticism and excitement of top level tennis. He definitely lacks somewhat in the tactics department, but his shot making is unparalleled.
3. Verdasco. I haven't honestly watched a ton of his matches, but I have seen a fair amount of video on his stroke mechanics. Of current players I would probably model my strokes after this guy. Huge spin, crushing power, flawless. I am not really sure how he hasn't had more success, but I assume it is more of flawed tactics and nerve than strokes.
4. A. Zverev. His serve is my least favorite stroke and it is still pretty nice. Forehand is good with nice spin and power, but his two-handed backhand sets him apart. A thing of beauty.
Retired: Agassi. For me, and I am sure many people my age, Agassi is the guy I admired and tried to model my own game after. Power baseliner. Good topspin, but with the ability to flatten it out. Nice spin serves with power when it is needed. I still stop every time I get the chance to see his strokes on tv again.
Ugliest (Mens):
1. Raonic. It is a good thing he has massive power because his stroke mechanics are atrocious. He almost makes me want to change the channel when he comes on to play.
2. Isner. Worst of the servebots. If he doesn't win a point in the first three shots he may as well just stop playing and save the energy. His mechanics, confidence, and style are all terrible off the ground.
3. Sock. Huge power. Huge spin. Both things I want in my own game, yet I hate his strokes. Don't know why.
4. Murray. I actually like him ok, but it is because he is a fighter. His game is not very attractive. In my younger years I would have despised his style, but I have come to appreciate guys that fight tooth and nail as I get older.
5. Wawrinka. I know OHBH fans love his stroke. It is fine to me, but I don't really like a OHBH (besides Fed, Sampras, and Sabatini maybe). His FH is powerful if not particularly elegant, but the stroke that lands him on my personal list is that serve. No knee bend. No back arch. I can't believe he is as good at serving as he is!?! He would have the best serve on tour with better mechanics I think.
Retired: Courier. I really like the guy, but how on earth did he win four majors and reach number 1 with those strokes? I saw a quote from him that said something to the effect of "Other players have a talent for forehands and backhands. I have a talent for competing." I think that sums it up. The guy had tremendous grit, but the lack of raw talent eventually caught up to him as other players matured.
Nicest (Womens): Qualifier is that I don't really enjoy the last couple of generations of women's players. I liked the game in the 80's and 90's. The mindless ball bashers killed it for me. With that said:
1. Serena. I don't like her as a player, but I have come to respect her strokes (along with her fight). Great mechanics on all of her shots, speed, athleticism. I get why people like her.
2. Halep. Nothing stands out to me, but her strokes are first class and she has really good speed.
3. Wozniacki. Similar to Halep but with more style and less speed.
4. Muguruza. I actually like her game the most out of the current women, but I think that is as much about her power and attitude as anything. Her strokes are not as elegant as the first three.
5. Kvitova. Every shot is nice. Hitting on the practice court she should probably be #2 on the list, but for this list her movement knocks her down a few rungs.
Retired: Hingis. A female Federer without the power. Her game was creative and fluid. It is too bad her personal issues seemed to really coincide with the rise of big-babe tennis. It is nice to see her still on the doubles court.
Ugiest (Womens):
1. Venus. Limbs flying everywhere. Kinks in every shot. Abysmal footwork. Every time I see her I feel I am watching Oliveoyle or a baby deer out there. Atrocious. Definitely mechanics and nerves were the big separation between her and Serena.
2. Pliskova. She has power on her serve, but I can't believe any of her other shots go in the court, especially her forehand. I just hate the way she hits the ball.
3. A. Radwanska. Reputed to be a poor-man's Hingis, but no power and funny mechanics. I like her ok, but not her strokes.
4. Kerber. I feel like she must have a shoulder injury or something because her right arm looks strapped to her body on the FH side. Backhand feels like a carving motion but it isn't sliced.
5. Rybarikova. Would be higher if her ranking had her on my television more. Her FH is terrible. Not sure how on earth she was able to make her SF run at Wimbledon. Doubt she will ever see another QF in a major.
Retired. Seles. One of my favorites. I would love to see her combinations of power, spins, and angles against the bashers of today. I think Seles could destroy these women, but her strokes (aside from her serve) were hard to watch. They did produce some beautiful shots though.
Anyhow that is my list of most attractive and ugliest games. What does everyone else think?
