why didn't novotna do better against graf?

[pc1]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

It is ironic Don Candy would give advice to Pam`s biggest nemisis, who he couldnt help her to beat for 17 tries.

You can't blame Candy for her not being able to beat Chris Evert. Shriver just didn't have the firepower to approach the net that effectively against Evert and she had no chance in a baseline duel.

[KneisslDestroyer]

Originally Posted by matchmaker

In short, Novotna was technically not good enough and mentally even worse.

I'd give my left nose hair to play as good as Jana, anyone contributing to this insane thread would get slammed by her in a match head to head, Jana had amazing timing and perhaps the best volley capabilities of any of the top serve and volley pro's...she was number two in the world and a hairs breath from number one at the end of one of her campaigns...do any of you realize how hard it is to become a professional tennis player...now were talking about one who won Wimbledon, was in a few slam finals and many semis, held the number one dubs ranking for quite some time...really people? Know your place before ****ging a talent such as Jana.

[KneisslDestroyer]

Originally Posted by suwanee4712

This will sound strange but I believe this to be true: Novotna's (not Graf's) lack of a topspin backhand stopped her from winning big matches. What's one of the most effective ways to beat an s&v player? Take the net away from them.

Graf's net game wasn't great. But there are two players she charged the net an unusually high amount of times against ....Shriver and Novotna. They were the safest players to attack. Each dinked and lobbed quite well but neither could hit a flat or topspin backhand on a consistent basis. Me, you, and half this forum could attack Novotna's backhand with reasonable success.

Many times, even at Wimbledon, when Graf got into trouble she served out wide to Novotna's backhand or she she waited for a short ball to approach to that side. Now once in a blue moon Jana might rip a successful flat backhand for a winner or force a volley error. But 9 times out of 10 she would slice a backhand down the line or dink a chip crosscourt. Sometimes she would chip a lob and charge the net behind it. But the smart players knew what to expect and made Jana pay.

This is, of course, how why Martina beat Jana much more easily than she did Hana or Helena, both of whom had excellent topsoin backhands.

I recal screaming out loud for Jana to hit her backhand, she had the ability to do it but refused...I am a two hander and can slice one handed very effectively...I find I get stuck in a rut of slicing too much and get too comfy doing it...she was waaay too comfortable with that slice...I blame he coaching.

[KneisslDestroyer]

Originally Posted by NadalAgassi

An interesting thing to wonder is who is really a better player, Novotna or Shriver. Breaking down their games:

Serve- I would go with Shriver
Forehand- Novotna by alot
Backhand- Novotna by alot as well, even if both sucked passing off this side
Movement- Novotna by alot
Volleys- Err, not really sure, a toss up really
Overhead- Shriver, Jana missed alot of smashes when she got nervous
Intangibles- Shriver, stronger nerve, smarter player

Shriver's poor ground game and movement was too easy to exploit for a really good player, she almost had to come in on the 2nd shot off each point as she was that hopeless from the baseline vs a tough oppopnent, so probably still Jana overall, but it is close, and their main strengths, Shriver is superior in most.

Did you ever see Pam Shrivers last career point at Wimbledon? Her second serve went into the ground on her side of the net in her own service box...horrible.

[NadalAgassi]

Originally Posted by KneisslDestroyer

Did you ever see Pam Shrivers last career point at Wimbledon? Her second serve went into the ground on her side of the net in her own service box...horrible.

Had Jana been playing singles tennis at age 35 I hazard to guess it wouldnt be pretty either, but she was retired long before that point. Are you seriously judging Shriver's serving prowess vs Jana's by how she serving over a decade past her prime?