Miloslav Mecir

[Mustard]

Originally Posted by Captain Haddock

Kucera played just like Mecir in the 90s.

Yes, Mecir coached Kucera as well. Mecir's nickname was "The Big Cat", while Kucera was known as "The Little Cat".

[MAXXply]

Originally Posted by pc1

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.

Maybe he was also the first exponent of Zen Tennis and was well practised in the art of letting go and just hitting...

Originally Posted by Mustard

Another excellent Mecir performance was beating McEnroe 6-0, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in the 1987 WCT Dallas final.

See my avatar!

[kiki]

Mecir showed to public eye, I think around 1985.He beat Connors at Philadelphia, where he´d lose the final to mighty Mac.He also reached the IO final ( lost to Noah) after beating all the swede squad, one after the other.
I think he defeated, at least once, all the big players of the 80´s, from Jimmy Connors to Ivan Lendl, John mc Enroe,Boris Becker,Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander.

He also looked like it was the easiest thing in the world.

[slowfox]

Originally Posted by kiki

He also looked like it was the easiest thing in the world.

Which makes his achievement all the more impressive. Just how did he do it...??

[urban]

Boris Becker had his own theory. He said, that Mecir put him to sleep, especially with his sissy serve. I thought that Mecir looked always half asleep, walking and acting very slowly in between points. But, when the point was on, he could glide into his shots and hit very cleanly and deceptively, especially on his backhand. He was the one, who could outplay McEnroe, not only overpower him.

[slowfox]

Originally Posted by urban

I thought that Mecir looked always half asleep, walking and acting very slowly in between points.

He looked like he'd rather be fishing...

[big ted]

tomic reminds me of a modern day mecir with more power. has very laid back strokes imo

[kiki]

Mecir with a better serve and bigger will to win is an all timer
But then, it is not Mecir

[slowfox]

^^ I guess it would be odd if Mecir had a monster serve paired with those sleepy groundies. So yeah, you're right. It wouldn't be Mecir.

[timnz]

It's pretty much between Mecir, Rios and Okker as the greatest open era non-slam winner. I like Mecir.

[kiki]

Originally Posted by timnz

It's pretty much between Mecir, Rios and Okker as the greatest open era non-slam winner. I like Mecir.

Pecci, Leconte and I also would mention Gottfried, Ramirez and Lutz
Pecci, Leconte, Gottfried were FO finalists but Pecci made it close much more so than Rios and Mecir

[hoodjem]

Originally Posted by timnz

It's pretty much between Mecir, Rios and Okker as the greatest open era non-slam winner. I like Mecir.

Great list!

[loci]

Originally Posted by slowfox

Agreed. Talent is talent, no matter what era.

he had elements in his game that everybody glowingly talks about in federer's repertoire. he was called 'the cat' for good reason. he was nimble and quick but oddly always seemed like he was playing in slow motion. effortless strokes as well.

[ARFED]

Originally Posted by timnz

It's pretty much between Mecir, Rios and Okker as the greatest open era non-slam winner. I like Mecir.

Talent wise i think Nalbandian could be up there as well