How good is McEnroe still? - Page 4

rkelley · 01-02-2013, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonLars

Just want to give another perspective. This sort of discussion has been on this board several times. Mac is indeed, still at his age, a great player, and amazing for his age. This is because he is one of the all time greats from his younger prime days.

However, in these exhibitions with Sampras and the like, they are taking it easy on him. If you think otherwise you just dont understand the true nature of the exhibitions. Eric Butorac and I were somehow talking about this over a month ago. He also finds it laughable how some people still believe Mac can beat current professional players, even the low ranked.

I've never hit with players of even Tony's caliber, but even I can tell that some of those exhibitions are more real than others. Everyone seems to go easy on Borg. Sure, he hits some good shots, but you can tell that the younger guys are not giving it their all and letting him have opportunities to look good. OTOH, when Mac played Lendl I do believe that Mac wanted to beat him to the point of embarrassing him. Could be wrong about that, but that's what it looked like.

I've always wondered how real the Sampras/Federer exhibitions were back in 07. Pete seemed to take it pretty seriously and they were both hitting some great shots.

I know in my own experience playing 5.0 type of players that the difference between one guy dominating or the other can be small. The guy that can dish out that extra 10% of pace and spin and still keep it in, or can consistently take cc shot dtl, can rack up a lot of points. When I'm hitting that hard (basically swinging about as hard as I can) every once in a great while I have a point or two where I feel this sense of control and I hit the ball exactly how I wanted to hit it, and the ball goes exactly where I wanted it to go. Then reality sets back in, but it was fun while it lasted.

sandiegoman · 01-03-2013, 09:32 PM

He's prob about a 5.0 now

Onehandedbackhand · 01-03-2013, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandiegoman

He's prob about a 5.0 now

If he played strictly right handed, and you cuffed his feet together.

DNShade · 01-03-2013, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandiegoman

He's prob about a 5.0 now

Ha ha ha ha....

Love this place. Unbelievable.

thejackal · 01-03-2013, 10:41 PM

mac beat andy murray something like 8-1in superset tennis back in 04 or 05. a top itf junior might be the.best match for him right now. that or a really good D1 player from a top program

Gonzalito17 · 01-04-2013, 09:10 AM

Mac played a local 5.0 after a charity auction bid and Mac won the set 6-0 and only lost TWO points. This was a couple years ago.

big ted · 01-04-2013, 10:29 AM

no matter what his age is hes a 7.0 - world class player

Tennis Dunce · 01-04-2013, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2ndServe

The court coverage between a top woman and top man/ex top man/ex top 300 is night and day.

^this^

10char

slowfox · 01-04-2013, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gonzalito17

Mac played a local 5.0 after a charity auction bid and Mac won the set 6-0 and only lost TWO points. This was a couple years ago.

And Mac was probably taking it easy on the 5.0

rkelley · 01-04-2013, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowfox

And Mac was probably taking it easy on the 5.0

I would think a 5.0, going for his shots, could pick up a legitimate point or two over the course of a set. A player with decent strokes playing with nothing to lose can be dangerous occasionally even to someone like McEnroe. But that's not being competitive with him.

Yaz · 01-05-2013, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandiegoman

He's prob about a 5.0 now

There are quite a few local players here who are past 50 and still rated 5.0. Most likely played college tennis and some had their cup of tea in the pros. I imagine most of them also have full time jobs outside of tennis so I'm sure their practice time is relatively limited. In Mac's case, you're talking a multiple grand slam winning former #1, an all-time great. And, he still gets to practice and play tennis for a living.

I would say he's a little better than 5.0. But just a little bit...lol

PrinceMoron · 01-05-2013, 01:30 PM

He is not good, he is god on a tennis court, well to a 5.0 at least.

ollinger · 01-05-2013, 01:41 PM

Tolstoy said the biggest surprise in a man's life is old age. Mac is at the stage of his life when things can fall off in a big hurry. The point is that unless you've seen him in the past few months, you really don't know what's left.

ruerooo · 01-05-2013, 02:03 PM

I think he's great for his level. He's a fierce competitor.

Harry_Wild · 01-06-2013, 03:27 AM

Someone should ask him to rate himself in the NTRP!

He owns his own tennis academy in NYC - so he must know different levels of tennis skills.

Ask him if he is at least a 5.0 level player?

vwfye · 01-07-2013, 03:25 PM

Mac's current game is predicated more on his 1st serve than ever before. His back court strokes still do well, but are not his strength. I have seen him play lousy (for him) when he had to live on his second serves and still 1st serve/put away volley when his serve is on.
Serve on, Mac wins 6-2, 6-2. Serve off? Mac wins 6-4, 6-4 vs Serena.
Any D1 singles player? It's a complete joke... Mac wins hitting second serves only and staying back.

slowfox · 01-08-2013, 06:14 AM

Plus there's no substitute for "match intelligence". Mac's database for tennis dynamics must be crazy good. He's been there. If some D1 (let alone a 5.0) thinks he's "seen everything"... pffftt ! Guess again.

NineMileSkid · 01-08-2013, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by helloworld

Uhh.. Serena has no chance against one of the best men's tennis player of all time.

I think she'd smoke Laver, easy.

hoodjem · 01-08-2013, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NineMileSkid

I think she'd smoke Laver, easy.

Today. Probably.

Laver had a stroke, has arthritis in his wrist, and doesn't play any more.

At his prime in 1967, it's no contest--Serena was not even a zygote with a big butt.

magnut · 01-08-2013, 09:44 PM

McEnroe is still fantastic. I would say he may be the GOAT in terms of longevity. He has not really lost that much since his retirement. The only other player that really impresses me in terms of movement is Edberg who still looks great.

It should be said that the way these players hit the ball and move transitions well higher ages. I cant see a player like Courier or Chang not falling off without a lot of training. They look pretty good as well though.

I almost forgot...Wilander is also very impressive....still moves great.

01-03-2013, 10:41 PM	#65
thejackal Hall Of Fame Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 2,728	mac beat andy murray something like 8-1in superset tennis back in 04 or 05. a top itf junior might be the.best match for him right now. that or a really good D1 player from a top program __________________ Writer @tennisconnected , among other things Davis Cup QF: Canada vs Italy, April 5th

01-04-2013, 09:10 AM	#66
Gonzalito17 Professional Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bradenton, FL Posts: 992	Mac played a local 5.0 after a charity auction bid and Mac won the set 6-0 and only lost TWO points. This was a couple years ago. __________________ Dolgopolov Marcelo Rios Volkl Yonex NB atptour.com Guga Djokovic Radwanska Serena Bradenton Tennis-prose.com Woz Tomic BBaker Fred Perry Key Biscayne

01-05-2013, 01:41 PM	#73
ollinger Hall Of Fame Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 4,420	Tolstoy said the biggest surprise in a man's life is old age. Mac is at the stage of his life when things can fall off in a big hurry. The point is that unless you've seen him in the past few months, you really don't know what's left. __________________ Angell 105 WC Silverstring

01-05-2013, 02:03 PM	#74
ruerooo Legend Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Right behind you Posts: 5,333	I think he's great for his level. He's a fierce competitor. __________________ "Before and after the match you are the same, no?" - RN "Pain is only temporary. Victory is forever." - RF

01-06-2013, 03:27 AM	#75
Harry_Wild Semi-Pro Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 745	Someone should ask him to rate himself in the NTRP! He owns his own tennis academy in NYC - so he must know different levels of tennis skills. Ask him if he is at least a 5.0 level player? __________________ Prostaff 6.0 85, Prostaff Tour 90, KProstaff 88 Head Prestige FlexPoint 98, Head Prestige IG Youtek Mid 93.