Court-coverage GOAT

[borg number one]

Originally Posted by piece

I agree that Borg was a bit faster than Nadal. How would you compare the two at changing direction?

When forced to quickly change directions during a point, anticipation, quickness, speed, and then sheer racquet skills come into play as a player tries to make a difficult get. Nadal does that really well. I do think that Borg was a bit quicker than Nadal, but it's close. In terms of changing directions though, I'd say they're very close with neither having much of an edge over the other.

So, I think that if they had a contest where they had to chase down drop shots, I'd give the edge to Borg. Yet, if you had a rally and a player had to go side to side very quickly and change directions a lot to get balls hit behind him, I think each would perform equally well.

One thing about both players is that they both do have great footwork. Nadal does not get enough credit for his footwork, whereas Federer is often cited for his footwork. Nadal often takes so many quick steps to get in just the right spot, especially to hit his forehand. Borg also had tremendous footwork. Just watch Borg's feet during rallies. He is very active and was always getting in the right position. He would do a lot of work that many others simply could not manage, especially over the course of long matches.

[abmk]

from the open era in roughly chronological order :

rosewall, laver, nastase, borg,gerulatis,kriek,wilander, mecir, edberg, chang, hewitt, federer , ferrer, davydenko,nadal, djoker, murray

mecir is one that seems to have been missed by everyone who has posted so far ! pretty surprising tbh ...

[urban]

I don't know precisely, what court coverage means. If it means positional play and anticipation, i always admired Rosewall. He seemed never to be in a hurry, and seemed to make the court on his side small, because he glided into the right position before he made the stroke. Also he moved forward, when he saw an opening, and could hit great half volleys. Federer in his prime had great anticipation and smooth movement too, and could hit his shots right on the baseline. McEnroe hit virtually all his shots as half volleys, in his prime he was a deceptively great mover.
The modern players like Djokovic have evolved the side to side movement with the last pre shot step vital, which already makes the fast direction change in the moment of hitting the shot. What i miss, is the evolvement of the vertical movement.

[SusanDK]

Originally Posted by abmk

mecir is one that seems to have been missed by everyone who has posted so far ! pretty surprising tbh ...

Mecir was amazing because he didn't look fast at first glance - he almost looked sleepy on court. But he had an uncanny ability to just be standing in perfect position for any shot. So many times his opponent would hit what looked like a clear winner, and Mecir was suddenly there, returning it - one wondered where he came from.

[JAY1]

Originally Posted by hoodjem

Check out the rallies!

How do you turn fast, indoor carpet into slow clay?

Outstanding! Borg floats, best mover ever - no question!!

[galain]

I would include Pernfors in any discussion of fleet footed players.

I also think Vitas and Kriek should be on your list, and Guillermo Vilas also, who could move like the wind for a big guy.

[JAY1]

Originally Posted by galain

I would include Pernfors in any discussion of fleet footed players.

I also think Vitas and Kriek should be on your list, and Guillermo Vilas also, who could move like the wind for a big guy.

Yep I agree Pernfors certainly! Also Clement is up there with Borg etc....Only speed about the court.

[Rozroz]

Originally Posted by borg number one

I'll go with Bjorn Borg, due to blazing speed, incredible quickness, great stamina, anticipation, and sublime footwork. He had an ability to finish shots from wild positions even with the old paradigm of wood frames from the baseline against great net play. He had great passing shots largely due to his court coverage. I'd also put Nadal at perhaps #2 with Djokovic and Federer a bit behind Nadal. Federer's footwork gives him a big advantage over Djokovic especially on grass courts, so that's to his credit. I consider court-coverage to be a broad topic, with top speed as only one thing to consider. Yet, even on that score, Borg was a bit faster than Nadal, with better quickness and stamina as well. This is with those old, cool looking Diadoras too! Borg would have thrived in the conditions of today, with a slow hard court major, and frames that allowed for a shift in favor of players that adopted a style of play that players such as Borg and Lendl brought to prominence.

Borg vs. Vilas (thanks Krosero)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKQVdZNsyuQ (Borg goes offscreen)

Borg vs. Lendl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyuiEzBb7hk (This was indoors on fast carpet at MSG in the 81 Masters YEC final. That was the 4th biggest tourney of the year and there were with 18K in attendance.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL__OcegrbY (81 FO final)

Borg vs. Connors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTMx--E0OhY

some crazy runs VS Connors.

[Cesc Fabregas]

Originally Posted by abmk

from the open era in roughly chronological order :

rosewall, laver, nastase, borg,gerulatis,kriek,wilander, mecir, edberg, chang, hewitt, federer , ferrer, davydenko,nadal, djoker, murray

mecir is one that seems to have been missed by everyone who has posted so far ! pretty surprising tbh ...

Davydenko? He was quick but I don't think he belongs in these type of lists.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by abmk

from the open era in roughly chronological order :

rosewall, laver, nastase, borg,gerulatis,kriek,wilander, mecir, edberg, chang, hewitt, federer , ferrer, davydenko,nadal, djoker, murray

mecir is one that seems to have been missed by everyone who has posted so far ! pretty surprising tbh ...

For once we will agree
Chang should also be there
For anticipation, Connors &Mc Enroe

[borg number one]

Originally Posted by Rozroz

some crazy runs VS Connors.

Absolutely. The crowd was into the match too! I loved those roars of approval for two all time greats. The sound is good in that video isn't it? You can hear how they were just gliding around on that rubico court and even all those small steps Connors would take with his outstanding footwork.

[JAY1]

Originally Posted by Rozroz

some crazy runs VS Connors.

Incredible!
Borg v Nadal, I really think it would be a toss up?!

[kiki]

Originally Posted by galain

I would include Pernfors in any discussion of fleet footed players.

I also think Vitas and Kriek should be on your list, and Guillermo Vilas also, who could move like the wind for a big guy.

Vilas was not a natural mover ( and not a big guy, just rounded up) but it is true that his enormous work ethic helped him to improve time reaction and quickness.

[galain]

Originally Posted by kiki

Vilas was not a natural mover ( and not a big guy, just rounded up) but it is true that his enormous work ethic helped him to improve time reaction and quickness.

Big guy I meant in the sense of being heavily muscled.

My memories are fuzzy but I recall watching on a few occasions as he ran down balls I thought he had no chance of getting.

[hoodjem]

1. Nadal
2. Borg
3. Djokovic
4. Edberg
5. Murray
6. Chang
7. Hewitt
8. Gerulaitis
9. Laver
10. Rosewall
11. Kriek
12. Nastase
13. Ferrer
14. Emerson
15. Mecir
16. Pernfors
17. Wilander
18. Coria
19. Federer
20. Phau



(Not definitive about the ordering.)

[tomwill65]

Originally Posted by kiki

Loved Evonne on her good days floating on court like a fairy.She was really a fairy.When her stick worked along her mind, there was no more delicious player to watch.

Yes Evonne was a delight to watch do not forget Maria Bueno.TomWill

[kiki]

Originally Posted by tomwill65

Yes Evonne was a delight to watch do not forget Maria Bueno.TomWill

I just cannot forget MEB¡¡¡ I think she is the first all timer I ever watched, men or women¡¡

[World Beater]

Nadal may not be the outright fastest...still very fast.

But when he gets to the ball on the run, he is by far the best - better than Borg imo. He has great strength to create angles and pace from deep positions in the court.

Nadal is the strongest player on the run i have ever seen. he can hit both the running forehand and the running backhand with such consistency and venom.

I remember this one match at RG that i watched where nadal was pushed way wide against his mentor carlos moya, and he just hit a blazing bh winner CC that hit the line when facing breakpoint. Moya couldnt believe it.

Another one was against djokovic on hardcourt in canada. WoW.

Djokovic is also very good - strong on the bh side, but perhaps not as strong as others on the running fh.

So my vote goes to Nadal. Borg is next followed by djokovic, chang, hewitt, bjorn phau. Federer is also somewhere there. I would rate federer on par with hewitt / chang even though he wasnt as fast, but he was stronger and returned the ball better than those guys from bad positions.

Coria also was exceptional.

[World Beater]

Originally Posted by hoodjem

1. Nadal
2. Borg
3. Djokovic
4. Edberg
5. Murray
6. Chang
7. Hewitt
8. Gerulaitis
9. Laver
10. Rosewall
11. Kriek
12. Nastase
13. Ferrer
14. Emerson
15. Mecir
16. Pernfors
17. Wilander



(Not definitive about the ordering.)

My list:

1. Nadal
2. Borg
3. Djokovic
4. Federer
5. Murray
6. Chang
7. Hewitt
8. Edberg
9.Gerulaitis
10. Laver
11. Rosewall
12. Kriek
13. Nastase
14. Ferrer
15. Emerson
16. Mecir
17. Pernfors
18. Wilander

My ranking comprises both speed and strength to able to return balls from disadvantageous positions.

On second thought i would rate edberg lower. Though he was quite possibly the best at coming forward, i dont believe he was quite as fast or as agile as some of those other guys.

Also what about vilas? wasnt he great at covering the clay courts.

[Sabratha]

1. Nadal
2. Borg
3. Djokovic
4. Murray
5. Federer
6. Hewitt
7. Chang
8. Edberg
9. Gerulaitis
10. Laver
11. Rosewall
12. Kriek
13. Nastase
14. Emerson
15. Ferrer
16. Mecir
17. Pernfors
18. Wilander


My list.