Can you beat Chris Evert today?

[Mick]

Originally Posted by Gundam

What kind of strategy would you use to defeat Chris Evert today?

I would hit 100% of my shots to her forehand because her two-handed backhand is too accurate and deadly.

But she would beat me 6-0, 6-0 in less than one hour.

[35ft6]

Originally Posted by atatu

There's no way a 5.0 could beat her. It's not like she's been sitting around doing nothing since she retired, she's on the court all the time hitting balls. A good 5.5 who can serve and volley would give her a close match...maybe.

That's what I think pretty much. I hit with a woman who was around 100 in the world in the early 80's, and I don't think she lost to any of the 4.5 or 5.0 players at this club I would sometimes place at. She was chunky, but her preparation, technique, and footwork were still so much better than everybody else's that it didn't matter. Her shots weren't powerful but I was surprised by how much weight they had. This is something I always notice with high level players, is that their shots are just flat heavier and sometimes it's a complete mystery as to how or why. And she did something with EVERY ball. Even if she just barely got her racket on the ball, she would redirect it someplace. With her, it was a matter of if I played her a few times, I think I could have beaten her relatively easy. It was just new to play somebody who could hit with so much precision. But she was out of shape and hadn't played seriously in nearly two decades.

Since Evert was a WAAAAYYYYYY better player than this woman, and looks to have remained in better shape, and hits with world class juniors on a regular basis, I would think she could beat every male up to the 5.5 level. And on a good day, depending on the matchup, she could probably do beat a 5.5 player.

I know a guy who actually hit with Evert once. He played 3 singles for Western Michigan way back in the day, and for a while had the most wins in MAC history. He said that she hit a very heavy ball.

And McEnroe is still 7.0 when he's motivated. If it's just 1 set, he can still hang with top 50 players on fast courts. I've seen him absolutely raping a club pro in Queens, a guy who wins satellite tournaments in the area.

[heycal]

Originally Posted by 35ft6

And McEnroe is still 7.0 when he's motivated. If it's just 1 set, he can still hang with top 50 players on fast courts. I've seen him absolutely raping a club pro in Queens, a guy who wins satellite tournaments in the area.

Details, please. What club? When was it? What was the score? etc.

[officerdibble]

I agree, McEnroe is still an awesome competitive force on a tennis court - he showed that when he played Rios in the Masters Tennis. However, having seen him with and without Hawk Eye, he's about 15% LESS effective WITH Hawk Eye in place. It was very entertaining seeing his hissy fits disappear because a 'definitive' answer existed. He really struggled to get to that angry place only he plays better from!

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by atatu

There's no way a 5.0 could beat her. It's not like she's been sitting around doing nothing since she retired, she's on the court all the time hitting balls. A good 5.5 who can serve and volley would give her a close match...maybe.

When you say hitting balls, is it mostly coaching or actual play with high level partners? If the former, I doubt a 5.0 would not be enough to beat her. Plus, those days serves weren't emphasized that much.

[rjkardo]

Originally Posted by drakulie

I once saw an ex-pro play a few 5.0's. This guy was not ever a top ten player, or slam contender. He was in his mid to late 50's???.

He beat the living daylights out of a few 5.0's. One of the 5.0's was ranked top 5 in Florida.

After witnessing that, I would think Evert would have no problems with 5.0's.

A 50 year old ex pro male is not the same as ex pro Evert.
I have watched 5.0 players give top 10 females a run for their money, and Evert is no 10 ten player now. Evert could not beat college players when she was in her prime. Neither could Martina, by her own admission.

Zina Garrison and Lori McNeil used to practice with the mens Univ of Houston players, but they could not beat them. That is when they were top ten.

Rod

[drakulie]

Originally Posted by rjkardo

I have watched 5.0 players give top 10 females a run for their money, and Evert is no 10 ten player now.

No you haven't.

[vudal]

There is no way in hell that Chris Everret can beat me. She prob wont even get 1 game off of me. I own all chicks... young or old. Women are weaklings except for the Williams.

[Gundam]

Originally Posted by Moose Malloy

what issue was it? what was the article about specifically? did she say this or did someone else? thanks

Moose,

I wish I still have that issue. I just checked Tennis.com and the issue seems to be fromn 2001-2 cause their past issues posting started in 2003. I remember seeing Hingis as well as Seles, Stevenson.

It was a instructional article (How to beat a man or something like that) and She was using PSC6.1 if I remember correctly. And at the end of the article, there was it - Former No.1. She can still beat 95% of ~. I might be wrong but Tennis magazine writers would do funny things from time to time. For example, "Cliff Drysdale has two sides, one forehand and one suicide" whatever it means. Maybe his backhand sucked?

Regarding 'heavy balls', I had a chance to hit with a college player from San Jose. I cannot explain exactly how he could do it but his balls were like a brick-so heavy. Just amazing.

Originally Posted by Rabbit

Wait, how in the world do you get McEnroe, John P. McEnroe, is a 5.5? The first thing the guidelines say is that they don't apply to professionals. The NTRP ratings are like handicaps in golf. McEnroe competed in two ATP doubles events last year winning one. This alone means he still has a 7.0+ rating which means that you don't need a rating.

Remember, the rating system is meant to insure that you are competitive among a group of players. That's why you can't play down.

What happens if they get fat and out of shape?

[rjkardo]

Originally Posted by drakulie

No you haven't.

Really? And you know this because?

Rod

[MrCLEAN]

I don't know about you guys, but she would kick my ***.

[J011yroger]

Originally Posted by rjkardo

Really? And you know this because?

Rod

Because your statement is so absolutely absurd that it can not be possible.

I have a feeling that Drakulie would call my bluff if I said that I pounded a red bull sprouted wings, and flew off of the tennis court aswell.

If a man beats a top 10 WTA player, he is not a 5.0, if a 5.0 man beats a woman, she is not top 10 WTA.

J

[Rabbit]

Originally Posted by raiden031

Look at the NTRP experienced player guidelines. There is a chart showing the downgrading of players as they age. I don't know if those numbers would actually be enforced if a former ATP tried to play USTA, but I'm just going by what it says. But like I said, its probably an absolute minimum for self-rating purposes, and is not necessarily accurate.

But you're missing the single most important part of the NTRP ratings systems. They don't apply to world class players. McEnroe is still a world class player. So while the verbiage may fit some idea you have of McEnroe's abilities, reality is far from what you apply from the description.

Originally Posted by ipodtennispro

What happens if they get fat and out of shape?

Now that may be an interesting question. I might be able to take a game or two off of 63-year old Billie Jean King, if I'm spot on.

I got the Wimbledon internet feed last year and watched some of the senior matches. While the guys lack movement (Nastase, Dent, Smith, Stockton, etc.) they can still hit the ball. And when I say they lack movement, they don't move like current ATP guys. They are, after all, in their 50s and have put on some....enjoyed their retirement. However, I harbor no illusions of giving these guys a match.

[35ft6]

Originally Posted by heycal

Details, please. What club? When was it? What was the score? etc.

Tennissport in Queens, on an outside clay court, against the guy I think Spadea talks about in his book, Alex something... score was probably about 6-2... supposedly, the pro can sometimes beat Mac... I was having a hard time believing it but the guy who told me said it was simply a matter of the guy being 20 years younger, and sometimes Mac isn't motivated... This was probably the summer of 2000, it was shortly after Leconte had beaten him at Central Park.

[patrick922]

i think that a former pro that is old would be at LEAST a 6.0. i mean they were pro at one point so they have to be good. even on the seniors tour, they hit pretty well. just because they havent been playing on the tour doesnt mean they suck. chris evert will probably beat a 5.0 player easily.

[35ft6]

Originally Posted by patrick922

i think that a former pro that is old would be at LEAST a 6.0. i mean they were pro at one point so they have to be good. even on the seniors tour, they hit pretty well. just because they havent been playing on the tour doesnt mean they suck. chris evert will probably beat a 5.0 player easily.

I would bet money on it. Even at her age, her timing, footwork, anticipation, preparation, depth, and precision more than make up for whatever advantage a man might have in strength, height, or speed. Yes, the men will have physical advantages, but in terms of skill Chris is in a completely different league. Maybe 5.0 guys would understand if they played Tony Roche, who is 62 yo. He will be very slow compared to every young 5.0 but I wouldn't be surprised if he could beat most or all of them. His precision alone would be too much for them. The pros, even former pros, really play a completely different game. A strong 6.0 is where it starts sort of resembling the tennis world class players play.

[J011yroger]

I know one guy who is 60ish, and his game is nothing to look at, you would all rate him 3.0. But he played for princeton in his younger days, played in the USO when it was still amature, and everyone says he is VERY hard to beat. The fact is that he is so fiercely competitive, that he wins by sheer force of will.

J

[NoBadMojo]

Originally Posted by patrick922

i think that a former pro that is old would be at LEAST a 6.0. i mean they were pro at one point so they have to be good. even on the seniors tour, they hit pretty well. just because they havent been playing on the tour doesnt mean they suck. chris evert will probably beat a 5.0 player easily.

This isnt true. I had a hit with a guy who is 50 or so and played the main draw of Wimby back in the day...he and i were really even, but i was playing fairly often and he wasnt. i'm a 5.0

Evert is 50 herself and her serve is a lollipop that isnt going to hurt a 5.0. a 5.0 with a good serve could hurt her a lot however. from the backcourt, it's pretty tough against any wta player or former wta'er, so much would depend upon the style of play of the 5.0..a 5.0 baseliner likely would have no chance, but an allcourter would do pretty well i think

[sureshs]

What about a 5.0 vs Vilas or Newk today? I have them both a couple of times on the TTC "Bragging Rights" program coaching recreational players. They are clearly out of shape with noticeable tummies. What would happen?