Mac/Bjorkman WIN SAP!!!!!!! - Page 2

joe sch · 02-20-2006, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmastous

This is amazing. Mac at 47 and Bjorkman at 3??? (who has the best McEnroe serve other than Mac himself) win an ATP doubles event!
Isn't this a teer 3 event? Was the field deluted?
Does this show that the talent level in doubles has dimished to the point where a 47 year old can compete at a high level, or is Mac such a freak of nature that he is that dominate a doubles player at that age?

Doubles is about talent and reflexes and Mac has unreal natural abilities in these areas.
Singles today is about conditioning and strenght, so Mac could not last 3+ sets. If the mens tour was like todays new dubs format (2 sets, no-add, 10pt TB) then Mac could probably still contend for slams today !

dmastous · 02-20-2006, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe sch

Doubles is about talent and reflexes and Mac has unreal natural abilities in these areas.
Singles today is about conditioning and strenght, so Mac could not last 3+ sets. If the mens tour was like todays new dubs format (2 sets, no-add, 10pt TB) then Mac could probably still contend for slams today !

I'll give you conditioning, but strength isn't the most important thing in tennis. You are correct about doubles being about talent and reflexes, but it's also quickness. An the thing that goes with age first to me would be quickness. You can maintain strength and conditioning with age, but you can't maintain quickness.
Having said that, one of the reasons you lose quickness is that with time you gain weight, and that slows you down. Mac seems as fit and slim as when he played. And I think he is in better shape than he was in his playing days even. He was known to have a poor diet and exercise habits while he was playing.

Brent Pederson · 02-20-2006, 07:46 AM

I saw their two of their matches, as well as seeing Mac in person at the local tennis shop where he was signing autographs (he signed the grip of my 200g!). He is skinny as a rail. Six feet tall, looks like he wears about a size 27 inch waist in pants.

As for his playing, I agree that if he is around long enough for the others to get used to his shots, they might get a little better at playing him. At this point though, he's hitting shots that the other guys look like they've never seen before. His hands are so soft and he seems to be able to hold the ball on the strings and massage it at the last second to the open court. And they're having a lot of trouble getting his serve back over the net. In the matches I watched, he was getting 2 or 3 easy points off his nasty hook serve every game. The fastest serve I saw him hit was 118, which is probably faster than he ever used to hit it when he was on the tour, but, more importantly, he just seems to be able to nail the corners with it at will.

Rabbit · 02-20-2006, 08:13 AM

Look at a picture of McEnroe in '77 when he was at Stanford and look at him now. He's much thinner now than then.

Anyone who watched the Masters' Doubles competition knows that the talent on the doubles tour is not second rate. It's a different brand of tennis. I agree that the majority of these guys couldn't hack it on the singles tour, but most of the top singles players can't volley to save their lives. How are they going to make it on the doubles tour?

McEnroe proved that he can hang in doubles.

UpTheT · 02-20-2006, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe sch

Mac with Rick Leach would be a good combo, if Bjorkman or Mirnyi are not available.
I think we could also see Mac played mixed with Martina Hingus or maybe even Steffi Graf, if Andre approaved

Leach isn't the right partner for Mac. Mac needs a big hitter to get easy points. Leach has a style too similar to Mac's.

joe sch · 02-20-2006, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpTheT

Leach isn't the right partner for Mac. Mac needs a big hitter to get easy points. Leach has a style too similar to Mac's.

Oh well, guess he could not win with Martina Hingus either then.
There was once a saying that Mac could basically win with any other good partner.

BreakPoint · 02-20-2006, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austro

Uncalled for. If you're looking for a fight, look elsewhere. You won't get it from me...

A fight? I don't know what you're talking about?

I merely pointed out that sometimes I don't know enough about a sport to know what I don't know, and that this can be true of anyone and any sport. How is that picking a fight?

BTW, how often do you play doubles anyway?

Steve Dykstra · 02-20-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreakPoint

Well, either doubles isn't your thing or you're not all that knowledgable about tennis or you haven't been playing very long.

Quote:

Originally Posted by austro

why do you have to be playing very long or be knowledgeable to enjoy what you are watching?? I don't think this sort of ad hominem jibe supports your argument.

austro, he didn't say that you are not knowledgable or anything of that sort. He listed that as a possiblilty and the other possiblilty is that doubles isn't your thing. Nothing he said remotely resembles trying to start a fight, you are way overreacting, IMO.

ACE of Hearts · 02-20-2006, 11:50 AM

Would love too see Mac go after a GS in doubles, hopefully he enters the FO!

Sixpointone · 02-20-2006, 11:53 AM

Congratulations to both John McEnroe and Jonas Bjorkman. I am very pleased to have both been able to see the match on The Tennis Channel, as well as seeing them win.

Fred132 · 02-20-2006, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by austro

I also didn't find Mac that impressive. His volleying was nothing like impeccable and indeed Bjorkman was at least as good. He also missed a few quite easy shots. Maybe all this changed in the next sets but the first one was definitely nothing to write home about. Maybe people here are getting a bit too taken by the myth...

Wow, I don't know what match you were watching. McEnroe hit great volleys. It's the thing he does best!

Fred132 · 02-20-2006, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmastous

I'll give you conditioning, but strength isn't the most important thing in tennis. You are correct about doubles being about talent and reflexes, but it's also quickness. An the thing that goes with age first to me would be quickness. You can maintain strength and conditioning with age, but you can't maintain quickness.

After playing a lot of aging tennis players, my experience is that guys with quick hands seem to STILL have good hands as they age. It's the LAST thing to go. Maybe they can't cover the court like they used to, but they can still hit amazing volleys.

As Goldstein and Thomas kept hitting right at McEnroe, and McEnroe kept sticking back good volleys I had to laugh. I imagine he did, too.

danix · 02-20-2006, 04:10 PM

If anyone has the match on tape or DVD, I'd love a copy. I called Dish to request the Tennis Channel but the nice fellow in India had never heard of it. He noted my comments ($!%$^#$#) and send them along as suggestions

superman1 · 02-20-2006, 07:04 PM

No wonder austro didn't appreciate the match. When McEnroe questioned the lines calls he must have been personally offended. "That is way out of line, McEnroe. I'm not here to pick a fight with you. I'll turn off the TV if you do it again, I swear to God."

scotus · 02-20-2006, 09:13 PM

Wouldn't it be great if Mac teams up with another great from the past and win Wimbledon?

How about Mac and Becker, or Mac and Edberg?

Those are doubles matches worth buying tickets for.

UpTheT · 02-20-2006, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotus

Wouldn't it be great if Mac teams up with another great from the past and win Wimbledon?

How about Mac and Becker, or Mac and Edberg?

Those are doubles matches worth buying tickets for.

Mac and Edberg would be insane-- Not many could break them.

superman1 · 02-20-2006, 10:18 PM

Mac and Laver? Nah, that might be asking for a bit much. Tony Roche?

No, I still like the idea of McEnroe and Sampras. Now that Pete has plenty of free time, let him focus solely on doubles. The man is younger than Agassi, he's still got to have some juice left in those legs.

...Tennis is in an odd state right now. All the old greats must be thinking, "Hey, I'm better than these guys, why did I ever leave?" The new retirement age will be the same as everywhere else - 65.

BreakPoint · 02-20-2006, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superman1

...Tennis is in an odd state right now. All the old greats must be thinking, "Hey, I'm better than these guys, why did I ever leave?" The new retirement age will be the same as everywhere else - 65.

Ha ha ha! Good one, superman1 !!!

LOL

BTW, I agree with you. Mac and Sampras would make an amazing doubles team. They've had success playing Davis Cup doubles together in the past, so they've already played together before. Would love to see that again!

North · 02-21-2006, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UpTheT

Mac and Edberg would be insane-- Not many could break them.

That would be incredible! I'd travel a long way to see them play as a team.

Moose Malloy · 02-21-2006, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Wouldn't it be great if Mac teams up with another great from the past and win Wimbledon?

Wimbledon is best of 5 all rounds(and no tie break in the 5th) No no-ad either. That would be too much for Mac, plus he's too busy doing commentary during the slams.

I think he should play more non-Slam doubles events, but Bjorkman is commited to Mirnyi. But Mac won't have trouble finding another partner.
I'd like to see Mac play singles at Newport. It has a very weak field & is on grass. I'm sure he could get a win or 2.

Would be nice to see Becker have a go as well. Maybe with Haas or Kiefer at that Halle event on grass?

02-20-2006, 08:13 AM	#24
Rabbit G.O.A.T. Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: at the bottom of every hill I come to Posts: 11,113	Look at a picture of McEnroe in '77 when he was at Stanford and look at him now. He's much thinner now than then. Anyone who watched the Masters' Doubles competition knows that the talent on the doubles tour is not second rate. It's a different brand of tennis. I agree that the majority of these guys couldn't hack it on the singles tour, but most of the top singles players can't volley to save their lives. How are they going to make it on the doubles tour? McEnroe proved that he can hang in doubles. __________________ Wilson Steam 99S poly Luxilon 4G 1.25 @ 45

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