Unusual habits by the pros?

[gugafanatic]

Rafael Nadal, seems to expend amazing energy from hes lungs, he almost shouts after he hits the ball. Guga also grunts pretty loud, but it seems more natural and prolonged.

If i remember correctly Kafelnikov used to shake he's wrist vigorously during hes serve and backhand.

Why does Sharapova go for a customary walk few metres behind the baseline after every point.

In addition what does the curled back wrist represent. bJORKMAN seem to use it as a celebration on big points.

And why does greg Rusesdki call for the towell after every point???

please post if you know why pros use these unusual customs

[Camilio Pascual]

Virtually all the men reject the ball that was just used in an unsuccessful serve attempt. Most of the women will accept it. What I've noticed is that Roddick (and sometimes finicky Agassi!) along with a very few others will accept the ball and re-use it to serve.

[katarddx]

And why do you care?

[BLiND]

Before every serve, I bounce the ball 10 times. If my concentration if broken I have to start again.

Also if I hit a bad shot I shout F U C K !

If I hit a winner I shout S U C K IT GRANDAD !

this is just for singles... I have a different routine for doubles.

[NoBadMojo]

what bjorkman does is called the 'Vish' (i am sure the spelling of that is wrong)..one of the older Swedes did it first years ago..perhaps Wilander..dont know what it means specifically, but it is the equivalent of a solo high five or a big fist pump. its a swedish thing.ed

[Feña14]

BLiND, thats some funny stuff.

I also don't understand why Pro's make the ball kids give them 3 balls and then the player gives one back. What's the point in that?!?

Tiger Tim's fist pump and chicken head has to be the best though

-Liam

[Cypo]

Having a routine that you do before serves, between points etc is a fairly well estabilished method for keeping your concentration. I think that's what some of it's about. Grunting is supposed to help with timing and yelling "s u c k it grandad" is a way of making sure you never have to play the same person twice.

Liam Curran, its because they want the two best balls to serve with. I will do this too if I have all three

[Feña14]

Yeah if I have 3 balls I will pick the 2 best, but I don't go out of my way to get 3.

I suppose if they have done it all there life then it is natural and maintains there ryhthm.

Whatever works I suppose.

-Liam

[joe sch]

How about Hewitts "Come On !!!" I think its both self encouragement && a bit of opponent intimidation, sorta like "Bring it On !"

[BLiND]

How about "COME ON DIPSH!T!!!"?

[Richie Rich]

My fav is screaming "Let's see you get THAT one back" but only when I'm playing someone in a wheelchair.

[pound cat]

Constantly pulling up socks that don't need to be pulled up...Santoro & Ivanisevic

[mileslong]

grunting on every shot in tennis is the single most annoying thing on the planet. next to rosie o' donnell that is ...

[kaspar gutman]

I have seen several players whack the clay from the soles of their shoes with their racquets even though they were playing on hardcourts

[hippoti8]

Originally Posted by kaspar gutman

I have seen several players whack the clay from the soles of their shoes with their racquets even though they were playing on hardcourts

haha..yeah, that's funny...damn clay-courters...just kidding.

Can you name one player that doesn't spin their racquet before a return?

[Shaolin]

I heard that Sampras always had to get at least 8 hours sleep and that he would strictly sleep alone. Bet his GF loved that.

[dander]

well, his first girlfriend was about 32 when he won the us open at 19 years old, which is a bit of an idiosyncracy in its own right... i mean, how many instantly rich and famous teenagers would head straight past all the hot young poon on tap for someone a little more, shall we say, mature?

[Feña14]

I don't think any of the younger whipper snappers were fond of Pete's extreme hairy chest.

The older woman was,

-Liam

[tykrum]

Roddick's fist pump...he brings his arm straight up (not like the Tiger Woods uppercut that most players employ), makes a v with his forearm and bicep, and cocks his fist so that it is pointing straight forward. Really weird.

My personal favorite is Arazi's racquet flips. The guy is absolutely amazing, he can flip it three times without the racquet getting higher than eye level or throw it high in the air and catch it without looking.

Haha pound cat, that made me think off a fake stat that the network posted in a Rusedski match a few years ago: 48 sock touches in the last ten minutes. It was really getting ridiculous, he would pull on the left one, then the right one, and then the left one again, and probably adjust his hat and then serve.