Who has most attractive/ugliest game?

Sport

Sport

G.O.A.T.
Nicest:
1. Nadal (it's so pleasant to see him dominating players on clay like he did with Wawrinka and Federer in the past).
2. Djokovic (he looks like a robot when he is confident).
3. Kyrgios (1% of his matches, when he mixes his crazy shots between the legs with a strong attitude and determination to win).

Ugliest:
1. Murray (no comments).
2. Servebots (Raonic, Muller, Isner, Karlovic, etc.).
3. Federer (he doesn't look particularly masculine. He makes elegant shots but without gestures of power and strength like Nadal or Djokovic. Plus he has never been particularly fast, which makes his game far less exciting).
4. Del Potro in 2017 (I don't know what's wrong with him, but he is so boring right now).
 
A

AgassiGrafFan

Rookie
I have seen several people mention Edberg for nicest strokes. He may be the single player I am most conflicted on. His backhand was really nice (especially for a OHBH) and his net play has to be the best since I started watching tennis in the mid-late 80s. Absolutely brilliant volleyer. On the other hand his wind up and service motion were really strange (even though I liked his spin) and his forehand may be the most unsightly ground stroke I have ever seen from a top man. I saw video of him rallying with Fed somewhere and was amazed he was able to keep a ball in play let alone hit it effectively. Edberg's shots are definitely some of the nicest or ugliest in history depending on the stroke. I guess he is almost like the following generation's version of J.McEnroe in that respect.

I had forgotten what a beautiful game Rios had until several people mentioned him. He almost seemed like a male version of Hingis with the spectacular groundstrokes and the creative lefty spins, but he was a great finesse player at the dawn of the massive power age. He also introduced the leaping 2HBH. It is a shame he was never able to win a grand slam.

For the women, I forgot to include Madison Keys on my personal list of nicest games. I probably enjoy watching Madison and Muguruza play more than any current women. If Madison ever gets her mental game anywhere close to her serve and ground game she will be onto something.
 
Bobby Jr

Bobby Jr

G.O.A.T.
AgassiGrafFan said:
Ugliest (Mens):
1. Raonic. It is a good thing he has massive power because his stroke mechanics are atrocious.
Click to expand...
That makes literally no sense at all. His serve and forehand both have great stroke mechanics.

AgassiGrafFan said:
Retired: Courier. I really like the guy, but how on earth did he win four majors and reach number 1 with those strokes?
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He won four majors and reached number on in-part on account of his great forehand. It was effective, reliable, powerful and his inside out forehand was one of he most effective in the history of the game.

Not liking how a stroke looks is not the same as it having poor mechanics. If that were the case then we can't explain Florian Mayer's entire game.
 
BeatlesFan

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Sport said:
3. Federer (he doesn't look particularly masculine. He makes elegant shots but without gestures of power and strength like Nadal or Djokovic. Plus he has never been particularly fast, which makes his game far less exciting).
Click to expand...

This is a rhetorical question, I assure you... but I will ask it anyway: have you ever seen in person any professional tennis match where Djoker, Nadal, Murray or Fed have played?

Because if you had, you would never make the utterly inane comment that Federer "was never particularly fast." It's tantamount to saying,
"Pete never had a particularly good serve," or "Agassi never had a particularly good ROS."

It's ignorance flagrantly displayed on an epic scale. Fed's movement and footwork is the greatest the game has ever seen and his anticipation has always been off the charts. That's the essence of tennis, which you apparently don't understand. It's not who runs the fastest 100 meters, which would be won by Bjorn Phau (Google him). It's what Fed has done and continues to do. Fed's speed was insane 2002-2006.
 
tennisaddict

tennisaddict

Bionic Poster
BeatlesFan said:
This is a rhetorical question, I assure you... but I will ask it anyway: have you ever seen in person any professional tennis match where Djoker, Nadal, Murray or Fed have played?

Because if you had, you would never make the utterly inane comment that Federer "was never particularly fast." It's tantamount to saying,
"Pete never had a particularly good serve," or "Agassi never had a particularly good ROS."

It's ignorance flagrantly displayed on an epic scale. Fed's movement and footwork is the greatest the game has ever seen and his anticipation has always been off the charts. That's the essence of tennis, which you apparently don't understand. It's not who runs the fastest 100 meters, which would be won by Bjorn Phau (Google him). It's what Fed has done and continues to do.
Click to expand...

I thought the whole post was a joke. The poster said Fed's shots are the ugliest and says it is also elegant . Whaat ?? And by saying there is no gesture of power and strength, I guess he misses the grunting that Nadal and Djok do every shot.

If you want such ugly stuff, obviously Fed is not going to provide that.
 
V

vladisimo

Semi-Pro
AgassiGrafFan said:
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?
Click to expand...

wawrinka in the ugliest games list?are you freacking kiding me?I remembered now why I took a break form these forums.STan has very technicaly sound groundstrokes and puts his body in every single one of them,his backhand is a work of art.
 
H

hawk eye

Hall of Fame
Most elegant/attractive: Still not my favorite player, but for a long time now, Federer is the most stylish hands down.

Ugliest: Granollers gets my vote, not just for his strokes but also for his grunt.
 
NothingButNet

NothingButNet

Semi-Pro
Not necessarily a huge fan of every one of them, but always find myself tuning in if they're playing - even in dud matches - just because they have great strokes, balance, rhythm and presence on court.

To my eye, they also seem to hit the ball with intelligence and intent (no pray n' spray stuff here!)


ATP

Haas, Fed, Goffin, Muller, Paire, Medvedev, F. Lopez, Kohlschreiber, Stakhovsky, Edmund, Struff, Istomin, Almagro, Gulbis, Baghdatis,Wawrinka, Cuevas, Pouille, Shapovalov, Lajovic


WTA

Azarenka, Vanderweghe, Sevastova, Arruabarrena, Mladenovic, Lucic-Baroni, Babos, Suarez-Navarro, Diyas, Begu
 
BlueClayGOAT

BlueClayGOAT

Semi-Pro
Sport said:
3. Federer (he doesn't look particularly masculine. He makes elegant shots but without gestures of power and strength like Nadal or Djokovic. Plus he has never been particularly fast, which makes his game far less exciting).
4. Del Potro in 2017 (I don't know what's wrong with him, but he is so boring right now).
Click to expand...

I'm sure this was a ham-handed trolling attempt or something. 'doesn't look particularly masculine' and 'without gestures of power and strength' is nonsense to me, but I can't dispute an opinion.
But as for Federer's speed, I don't know which game this person is watching if they think Fed is slow.
 
mbm0912

mbm0912

Hall of Fame
Aesthetic: Feli Lopez, Verdasco, Sascha Zverev, Djok & Shankerer

Not So Much: Jack Suck, Kohl (serve), Isner, Nishi-injury
 
BlueClayGOAT

BlueClayGOAT

Semi-Pro
Attractive: Federer, Henin, Stan, Goffin, Gasquet's BH. I love watching Kyrgios too. Great touch and inventiveness. Nole's BH can be quite sublime in terms of pure ball-striking. Same with Nishikori. Dolgopolov is not classically beautiful by any means, but he can give it a real whack on the BH.
The most breathtaking groundstroke for me (with the Fed FH and the Stan BH) is Delpo's FH. The ball literally becomes a blur on TV. It's awesome. The gunshot sound, and you suddenly have a comfortably neutral baseline rally ending with one player staring at his deuce corner in a bemused fashion, not even trying to get where the ball landed a couple of seconds ago.
 
J

JasonZ

Hall of Fame
Attractive game: federer, rafter, ivanisevic, sampras, nalbandian, philippoussis

Ugly: murray, muster, and all the other baseline-grinders
 
Simon_the_furry

Simon_the_furry

Hall of Fame
The Green Mile said:
John Patrick Smith for forehand. Horrible to watch, his whole game actually.
Click to expand...
Ugh. Haven't even seen John-Patrick Smith play (until now) so I looked him up. That may be the ugliest forehand I've ever seen.
His body is almost totally horizontal to the net through the whole shot, there's hardly any unit turn, and he arms it.
He looks so off balance through the whole motion. I don't know how he doesn't just fall over.
 
The Green Mile

The Green Mile

Bionic Poster
Simon_the_furry said:
Ugh. Haven't even seen John-Patrick Smith play (until now) so I looked him up. That may be the ugliest forehand I've ever seen.
His body is almost totally horizontal to the net through the whole shot, there's hardly any unit turn, and he arms it.
He looks so off balance through the whole motion. I don't know how he doesn't just fall over.
Click to expand...
Yep, makes Mannarino look like Federer.

Also Medvedev. Quickly becoming my most disliked player.
 
Sysyphus

Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
Don't know if it's just me, but every time I watch left-handed player, it's like my brain won't quite accept it, and something feels constantly off about it. Most likely something about being a right-handed player oneself, and mirror neurons or whatever getting confused when seeing someone doing movements that are the complete inverse of what would be 'natural'.

In any case, I never manage to truly enjoy the games of left-handers, whether they be Nadal, Lopez, Shapo etc.
 
Last edited:
Im(moral) Winner

Im(moral) Winner

G.O.A.T.
Sysyphus said:
Don't know if it's just me, but every time I watch left-handed player, it's like my brain won't quite accept it, and something feels constantly off about it. Most likely something about being a right-handed player oneself, and mirror neurons or whatever getting confused when seeing someone doing movements that would be the inverse of what would be 'natural'.

In any case, I never manage to truly enjoy the game of left-handers, whether they be Nadal, Lopez, Shapo etc.
Click to expand...
It's just unfair.
 
existential dread

existential dread

Professional
Sysyphus said:
Don't know if it's just me, but every time I watch left-handed player, it's like my brain won't quite accept it, and something feels constantly off about it. Most likely something about being a right-handed player oneself, and mirror neurons or whatever getting confused when seeing someone doing movements that are the complete inverse of what would be 'natural'.

In any case, I never manage to truly enjoy the game of left-handers, whether they be Nadal, Lopez, Shapo etc.
Click to expand...
I'm a lefty and I understand what you mean except left-handed tennis players don't look off to me, it's lefty basketball players.
 
The Green Mile

The Green Mile

Bionic Poster
Sysyphus said:
Don't know if it's just me, but every time I watch left-handed player, it's like my brain won't quite accept it, and something feels constantly off about it. Most likely something about being a right-handed player oneself, and mirror neurons or whatever getting confused when seeing someone doing movements that are the complete inverse of what would be 'natural'.

In any case, I never manage to truly enjoy the games of left-handers, whether they be Nadal, Lopez, Shapo etc.
Click to expand...
I get that a bit when watching Lopez forehand. It looks stiff at times when maybe it actually isn't....
 
Sysyphus

Sysyphus

Talk Tennis Guru
existential dread said:
I'm a lefty and I understand what you mean except left-handed tennis players don't look off to me, it's lefty basketball players.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I would think that, as a lefty yourself, you would find it most natural to watch other lefties perform and instead find righties 'unnatural'?

But perhaps there are just so dang many righties out there that one gets used to watching it either way.
 
existential dread

existential dread

Professional
Sysyphus said:
Interesting. I would think that, as a lefty yourself, you would find it most natural to watch other lefties perform and instead find righties 'unnatural'?

But perhaps there are just so dang many righties out there that one gets used to watching it either way.
Click to expand...
Habituation. When I'm watching it I might as well not even be lefty myself, it makes no difference.
 
Clay lover

Clay lover

Legend
Sysyphus said:
Don't know if it's just me, but every time I watch left-handed player, it's like my brain won't quite accept it, and something feels constantly off about it. Most likely something about being a right-handed player oneself, and mirror neurons or whatever getting confused when seeing someone doing movements that are the complete inverse of what would be 'natural'.

In any case, I never manage to truly enjoy the games of left-handers, whether they be Nadal, Lopez, Shapo etc.
Click to expand...
I won't go as far as saying I find something wrong with lefties' swings but on a similar note, I do have the observation that their arms seem to swing more independently of their bodies on the forehand. Be it Nadal, Lopez, Verdasco, Melzer, Nieminen, Mannarino, Shapovalov, all lefties seem to be less adept at coordinating the movements of the torso and arm and swinging them as one unit. Instead, the arm behaves like an individual actor in the swing. I guess this has it cons but also pros as more "whip" can be generated from a livelier arm.

Problem is, I don't know if it's a result of my perception or a fact.
 
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