Best player to never win a Slam - Miloslav Mecir

[Tshooter]

Mecir was one of those guys that would beat top players (didn't they used to call him the Swede killer back when the Swedes could play ?) and I couldn't quite figure out how or why.

Like Medvedev.

[slowfox]

Originally Posted by Baxter

I saw him at Indian Wells in the late eighties. He had already been eliminated, but he hung around anyway and gave free lessons to a bunch of really young kids on one of the outer courts. They all looked like they were having a great time.

Classy guy too. Respect.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by pc1

My wife would probably slap you for that comment. Leconte was her favorite player along with Yannick Noah. Team France was her favorite doubles team. To this day she's convinced they were robbed of a US Open doubles title.

Both gifted players and I loved watching them but overall I preferred Mecir.

Leconte was told to have the best left arm since Laver....this is a typical french press chauvinist example.His mind was miles away from Rod´´d, though.

And, yes, the french pair were somehow robbed because it was clear what Ken Flach did...but a point is a point.Martina Hingis ( one of my favourite players EVER) was also robbed a french open crown...but it is also something on her fault not to be able to overcome a single point´s bad decision.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Limpinhitter

Leconte was an amazing talent and shotmaker. But, he didn't win a major because he was too erratic, IMO.

He was too french IMO...but, yes, a very true talented player.A bit like Mandlikova, had so many options that his mind started wondering around and, usually, this led to a defeat.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by BTURNER

He sure is in the running but before we put Mecir on another planet with praise, most of which I agree with, He did have some problems beyond that back that stood between him and those major winners. His serve was just not good enough, his volley was inconsistent, and lets be honest, there was some mental toughness lacking in some big matches or against some opponents. I recall the man dissolved into vanilla pudding vs Connors one match up something like 5-2 in the final set. Connors did nothing, Mecir just choked. He was also intimidated by Lendl.

I agree...but he also happened to beat Lendl in 3 straight sets, too.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Xavier G

Miloslav was a very talented player, won a WCT Finals, won Olympic Gold, had big wins over Mac, Lendl, and the Swedes. Of the Open era, I would say him and Murray stand out. Andy has made 4 Major finals to 2. Lendl was Mecir's biggest problem in Slam events, Federer is Murray's. Mecir would cause Murray a lot of problems in any match-up, and they would have some classic shot-making encounters, I think.

Segura was a great player in the Pro game. Don't know too much about Nusslein and how he would compare to Murray and Mecir.

And don´t forget Mecir also defeated Connors; in fact, his first big win in the por circuit was his 1984 defeat of Jimmy at Jimmy´s all time favourite event at Philadelphia.Not a minor fact, considering Connors was probably the world´s second best player by that time.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by pc1

There's another thread talking about Agassi being the greatest returner of all time. It occurs to me that Mecir at his best was one of the greatest returners I've ever seen. Great range, great ability to hurt you off the return and incredible speed. He was unbelievable off both sides.

Definitely.He picked up the ball as early as Agassi, and he was clearly the second best returner of the 80´s, behind Connors.He was the guy that gave Edberg most trouble at returning his wide wicked serve and he also crushed Becker ( probably the best server of the decade) at the return.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Gizo

Clerc is my pick for the best player never to reach a grand slam final (at least in the time that I have followed the sport).

He was a very talented shotmaker with an excellent one handed backhand, and was incredibly powerful.

He had excellent h2h records against Lendl (7-7) and McEnroe (5-6).

His Davis Cup matches against McEnroe were pretty memorable. They played each other in a meaningless dead rubber in 1979, but then squared off 4 times in live rubbers in from 1980-1984. Predictably Clerc won the 2 matches on clay in Argentina, and Mac won the 2 matches on carpet in the US. Clerc won their 1980 rubber in Buenos Aires, in a 6 hour 4 set match that lasted over 2 days. He took Mac to 5 sets in the decisive rubber in the 1981 final on carpet in Cincinnati. In 1983 he beat Mac in 5 sets on the clay in BA.

He had a 6-3 6-0 victory over Mac on carpet in the 1980 Masters, but both players had lost their first two RR matches (against Borg and Mayer) and were already eliminated by then.

He reached a couple of grand slam semi-finals at RG in 1981 and 1982. In 1981 he beat Connors in 5 sets in his QF, before taking Lendl to 5 sets in his SF. In 1982 he was stopped by Wilander who was on a great run at the time.

He won 25 official titles including the 1981 Italian Open where he beat Lendl in 4 sets in the semis.

I always enjoyed Clerc´s elegant and perfectly tamed top spin groundies.Good server, too although quite erratic.he was too nice a guy to challenge for the big titles, even if, in 1981 and 1982 he was as good as Vilas or Lendl on clay, and used to beat them often, specially at the US summer events.

[Gonzalito17]

Someone should ask Lendl who he thinks is better, Andy Murray or Mecir.

[Limpinhitter]

Originally Posted by Gonzalito17

Someone should ask Lendl who he thinks is better, Andy Murray or Mecir.

Good idea! No conflict there.

[TMF]

Originally Posted by Gonzalito17

Someone should ask Lendl who he thinks is better, Andy Murray or Mecir.

Lendl always believe the current players are better than the players during his days. That should give you a clue.

[Xavier G]

Originally Posted by kiki

And don´t forget Mecir also defeated Connors; in fact, his first big win in the por circuit was his 1984 defeat of Jimmy at Jimmy´s all time favourite event at Philadelphia.Not a minor fact, considering Connors was probably the world´s second best player by that time.

True, Kiki, Mecir did beat Connors in Philadelphia, though I think it was the 1985 event and then Mecir lost the final to Mac. What a great tournament it was, Philadelphia.
Miloslav also beat Becker in the US Open 1986, semi finals I think, so he had wins over them all. A very clever player.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by Xavier G

True, Kiki, Mecir did beat Connors in Philadelphia, though I think it was the 1985 event and then Mecir lost the final to Mac. What a great tournament it was, Philadelphia.
Miloslav also beat Becker in the US Open 1986, semi finals I think, so he had wins over them all. A very clever player.

Yes, it was 85.Connors had been the Wimbledon finalist in 1984 and had recently defeated Lendl at the big ( then) indoor event at Tokyo.Mecir was so surprising that he had no clue and had no answer the first time he played him.

I remember vividly Miloslav great win over Becker at Flushing 86.Becker had no cards to show.