Miloslav Mecir

[treblings]

Originally Posted by kiki

Yes, saw Smid many times singles&doubs and was tough to beat in both seldom losing to a lesser guy
Key factor in the DC win in 1980
Good serve and great forehand, moved well at net and had strong body

didn´t he coach Becker for some time?

[kiki]

Originally Posted by treblings

didn´t he coach Becker for some time?

True, Smid spoke several languAged

[slowfox]

Originally Posted by Xavier G

Lendl had his number in the Slams though.

I recall a story about Tony Roche, Lendl's coach, telling him to just hit down the middle so Mecir won't have any angles to hit.

[hoodjem]

Originally Posted by slowfox

I recall a story about Tony Roche, Lendl's coach, telling him to just hit down the middle so Mecir won't have any angles to hit.

Roche has coached some good ones.

[Xavier G]

Originally Posted by BorgCash

His posture on court was quite unusual - he holded his back very vertical, was, probably, the only top player w/beard at that period. And his wood Snauwaert... His hobby was fishing.

He was tall and very upright and had a beard.They used to say a hobby of his was fishing, yeah.
Very good player for a few years, had a good touch for the ball.

[slowfox]

Originally Posted by Xavier G

He was tall and very upright and had a beard.They used to say a hobby of his was fishing, yeah.

He was even a hipster before it was hip.

[BorgCash]

Originally Posted by slowfox

I recall a story about Tony Roche, Lendl's coach, telling him to just hit down the middle so Mecir won't have any angles to hit.

It was at Australian Open 1989 final where Lendl won 6-2 6-2 6-2 and get back to №1 in the world.

[Xavier G]

Originally Posted by slowfox

He was even a hipster before it was hip.

Yeah, he was like a poet or a jazz cat. Just needed the shades

[loci]

i think that if he were playing today as a 25 year old, he would hold his own very nicely. mecir had serious game because he was a true minimalist.

[slowfox]

Originally Posted by loci

i think that if he were playing today as a 25 year old, he would hold his own very nicely. mecir had serious game because he was a true minimalist.

Agreed. Talent is talent, no matter what era.

[hoodjem]

Originally Posted by slowfox

Agreed. Talent is talent, no matter what era.

Ssssshhhh.

(Don't tell certain persons, who don't believe that anyone before the present era was ever any good, and if you're under 6' tall you cannot have any talent.)

Today is the best of all possible times.

[mrmike]

Originally Posted by pc1

With all the power baseliners today you wonder if we can ever have a Mecir type player again. Mecir today probably would play differently although I'm sure his speed would be still be unreal.

Who's knows? According to Carillo he was self taught so maybe he would be similar today but with the current equipment.

There is something about Tomic that reminds me of Mecir. Not the movement though. Mecir was superior at that for sure.

[jaggy]

He wore those ugly Reebok tops

[robby c]

Mecir's signature shot was inside out on opponents deep shots down the middle. He could hit it off both wings. Often he would short-hop this shot to take time away.
This is the shot that devastated the Swedes. They were all taught to play safe shots deep the the middle, and the Big Cat would casually smoke the inside-out winner. They just never saw it coming. Epic battles with Wilander.
Robby C

[robby c]

Best Thomas Smid memory.
Davis Cup Dbls in Hawaii with Petr Korda vs. John McEnroe-Ric Leach.
Smid didn't miss a 1st serve until the middle of the 2nd Set.
Korda poached like crazy. Mac and Leach just couldn't find an answer.
If anyone has a link, I'd sure like to see it again.
Robby C

[MAXXply]

Originally Posted by slowfox

He was even a hipster before it was hip.

Could it be argued Torben Ulrich was the original tennis hipster? Or was he just the first hippy?

[Captain Haddock]

Kucera played just like Mecir in the 90s.

[pc1]

Originally Posted by MAXXply

Could it be argued Torben Ulrich was the original tennis hipster? Or was he just the first hippy?

You could argue both and have a good case.

Just on a minor tennis note, I understand Torben had his service toss so perfected that he could practice his serve in the dark. I wish my service toss was so good.
Back to topic, yes Mecir seemed very relaxed but I guess it wasn't so since his serve (unlike Torben's) could really be off. Didn't he serve underhanded in one match?

[slowfox]

Serve was definitely Mecir's weaker stroke. I don't know for sure, but I think the underhand serve was at the USO final (??).

Can you imagine if he had Lendl's serve? Mecir would have been a monster!

[Mustard]

Mecir was an enigma, but a genius of a player on his day. My favourite match of his is the 1987 Miami final, when he beat Lendl 7-5, 6-2, 7-5, and drove Lendl crazy for good measure. Another excellent Mecir performance was beating McEnroe 6-0, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the 1987 WCT Dallas final. There's Mecir's 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Becker in the 1986 US Open semi finals as well.

Wilander hated playing against Mecir. Mecir gave Wilander a lot of one-sided beatings. If Wilander didn't start well and dictate the match early, Wilander would soon be chasing shadows as Mecir weaved his magic.