comparing the strokes of 3 '70's s/v women

[BTURNER]

This is a 75-76 combination clip (Wade, Court, Goolagong) from chrisevertdotnet so of course it highlights points won by Evert for the most part. I am more interested in the comparative technical form of these serves, volleys and strokes. Those of you more qualified than I, (everyone posting) care to look at these three and tell me what you see distinguishing their serves etc. Keep in mind that this is the very end of Court's career so she appears slower and less potent than she would have a few years before. Too bad King wasn't included.

Wade's serve/ forehand appears to be the hardest hit. Evonne's groundstrokes seem to have the most spin and she moves better.

[kiki]

From a mere technical standpoint, I don´t think there has ever been somebody better than Hana Mandlikova.

She also had power and extremely good ( although erratic sometimes) footwork.if she was just around 50% of her capability, she was very nice watchin...75% it was a blow off...90%, it would have been just orgasmatic, only that I don´t think she ever reached that 90%

[BTURNER]

Originally Posted by kiki

From a mere technical standpoint, I don´t think there has ever been somebody better than Hana Mandlikova.

She also had power and extremely good ( although erratic sometimes) footwork.if she was just around 50% of her capability, she was very nice watchin...75% it was a blow off...90%, it would have been just orgasmatic, only that I don´t think she ever reached that 90%

Non responsive to my question, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers. Considering this Mandlikova reply to my question about Court, Wade and Goolagong, is the only one I am likely to get, I bow in gratitude.

It is amazing how smooth Wade's serve motion was, when nothing else about her game seemed so. Evonne made everything look technically silky and relaxed. Wade made it everything seem laborious and stilted. That is a great looking serve though.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by BTURNER

Non responsive to my question, but I suppose beggars can't be choosers. Considering this Mandlikova reply to my question about Court, Wade and Goolagong, is the only one I am likely to get, I bow in gratitude.

It is amazing how smooth Wade's serve motion was, when nothing else about her game seemed so. Evonne made everything look technically silky and relaxed. Wade made it everything seem laborious and stilted. That is a great looking serve though.

Oh¡¡ Yeah, Ginny had a textbook first serve, to me the nicest to watch in the women´s ranks during the 70´s.
Evonne was so effortless, she seemed to make no effort and yet, her first ball was deep and angled enough.

Another good server I recall was Virginia Ruzici, the romanian tennis star.Her forehand was almost as good as Barker´s, but not so solid as that of Court or Evert.
Sorry for my outburst on Mandlikova.There are few chances to talk about her over thsoe boards.

[CEvertFan]

Link the clip and you just might get more feedback.

[BTURNER]

Wow I swear I put the link in the OP. No wonder!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGt1UqWgxxc

[suwanee4712]

I love Virginia and Evonne! Virginia had a great serve and a tricky forehand. The fh had a little hitch in it which caused some problems, but still a good weapon.

Evonne was poetry in motion. No one was more smooth than she was. Her serve was tricky, hard to read off her racquet. Her forehand was a bit of a slap shot and could run either hot or cold. The backhand was lovely. Few could keep the racquet on that shot longer than she could. Carressed, massaged, or rolled - one of the best strokes to watch ever.

But I would give the nod on serve, strokes, and volleys to Marge. Her fh drive was driven so hard and flat and close to the lines leaving the women little time or chance to respond. Her volleys were textbook and came down at you. And Martina always said Court's serve was the best she ever faced. To be exact she said it came at you so hard its like she served it from a tree.

[BTURNER]

Originally Posted by suwanee4712

I love Virginia and Evonne! Virginia had a great serve and a tricky forehand. The fh had a little hitch in it which caused some problems, but still a good weapon.

Evonne was poetry in motion. No one was more smooth than she was. Her serve was tricky, hard to read off her racquet. Her forehand was a bit of a slap shot and could run either hot or cold. The backhand was lovely. Few could keep the racquet on that shot longer than she could. Carressed, massaged, or rolled - one of the best strokes to watch ever.

But I would give the nod on serve, strokes, and volleys to Marge. Her fh drive was driven so hard and flat and close to the lines leaving the women little time or chance to respond. Her volleys were textbook and came down at you. And Martina always said Court's serve was the best she ever faced. To be exact she said it came at you so hard its like she served it from a tree.

Margaret's strokes off both wings must have been among the most steady of her generation. The rest of the s/ver's in her era felt glad to win one RG title! Someone needs to post more Court playing on clay on youtube. Most players like Court that depend a lot on their serve to win points or set them up, don't handle clay well. I'd like to see how she constructed points on the dirt, how often she came in, what spins etc. I don't have a feel for her tactical mind.

[kiki]

But if Bueno could have keep it up with no injuries that hampened her so deeply, her rivalry with Court would be talked even today.

[CEvertFan]

I'd like to see the '73 French Open final between Court and Evert as I've only read about it but from what I've read Court was able to more than hold her own from the baseline, which is one of the reasons why she was able to beat Evert that year.

[BTURNER]

Originally Posted by CEvertFan

I'd like to see the '73 French Open final between Court and Evert as I've only read about it but from what I've read Court was able to more than hold her own from the baseline, which is one of the reasons why she was able to beat Evert that year.

In retrospect, it must go down as one of Court's better matches. In '73, a lot of folks outside of the states, must have wondered why Margaret had so much trouble with this schoolgirl from Florida. Europe had seen very little of Evert.

[PDJ]

Originally Posted by BTURNER

In retrospect, it must go down as one of Court's better matches. In '73, a lot of folks outside of the states, must have wondered why Margaret had so much trouble with this schoolgirl from Florida. Europe had seen very little of Evert.

Sorry i can't post the link but on ina.fr there is a video of the tiebreak Evert won against Court during the 73 French.
Re the OP i would say goolagong is by far the most fluent. That said, i love how surly wade looks, but she remains a national treasure! That's enough for me

[BTURNER]

Originally Posted by PDJ

Sorry i can't post the link but on ina.fr there is a video of the tiebreak Evert won against Court during the 73 French.
Re the OP i would say goolagong is by far the most fluent. That said, i love how surly wade looks, but she remains a national treasure! That's enough for me

Wade is a tennis treasure, as much for her commentary, as her racket work.

one of my favorite quotes: Evert plays tennis as though it is a classical composition. Goologong plays tennis as though it is improvisational jazz.

[suwanee4712]

Originally Posted by BTURNER

Margaret's strokes off both wings must have been among the most steady of her generation. The rest of the s/ver's in her era felt glad to win one RG title! Someone needs to post more Court playing on clay on youtube. Most players like Court that depend a lot on their serve to win points or set them up, don't handle clay well. I'd like to see how she constructed points on the dirt, how often she came in, what spins etc. I don't have a feel for her tactical mind.

They were both steady and heavy. Even on her slice backhand she drove through it low and with pace. I really don't remember seeing her play on clay. I would be curious if she used a little more topspin in deference to the clay. I bet on a dry, fast clay court she played close to her normal game.

[kiki]

Court was a precessor of heavy metal

[NLBwell]

Torbin Ulrich was a precessor of heavy metal.

(precessor?)

I talked to Virginia Wade for a moment at a tournament in Houston. Seemed like a really nice person.