Thomas Muster comeback?
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Leelord337
Hall of Fame
^^^that is amazing. i hope muster gets a wildcard in at least one atp tournament though, lol. I guess its kinda hard for him to watch guys like federer and nadal play knowing deep inside that he could possibly take them on (well could have) but you never know...John McEnroe beat andy murray in a singles exhibition 6 yrs ago in his 40s, and just last year beat Mark Phillippoussis in a champion's tour singles event!-not to mention his atb doubles title 2 yrs ago he got with bjorkman.
Ventolin
Banned
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ca...qM5j8y_OuQ_eBbjhx4MKHVux2_TJtng?docId=4737380
Drops to 1-6
He's kinda stinking up the joint if you look at his scores against low ranked palyers
Drops to 1-6
He's kinda stinking up the joint if you look at his scores against low ranked palyers
5th Element
Rookie
Give him time...
Peter H.Gilmore
New User
What and wait until he's 50? Time is something that he does not have.
Leelord337
Hall of Fame
EnigmaticPragmatic
Rookie
hopefully, he can return to the form that brought him the no. 1 ranking...................................
Limpinhitter
G.O.A.T.
Ken Rosewall won his first major in 1953 and his last major in 1970 at 35. He also made the finals of Wimbledon and the USO in 1974 at 39.
In 1968, at 40, Pancho Gonzalez beat defending champion, Roy Emerson, at the FO. That same year, he beat Tony Roche and Tom Okker at the USO. In 1969, at 41, Pancho beat U.S. #1, Charlie Pasarell in the first round of Wimbledon in the longest match ever played at Wimbledon until the recent Isner/Mahut match. In 1970, at 42, Pancho beat Rod Laver (one year after Laver's Grand Slam), in 5 sets at a pro event. According to the ATP website, Pancho was ranked top 10 in the world from 1949 through 1969 (when he was 41). He was ranked top 10 in the U.S. until he was 44.
I guess it is inspiring that Muster is motivated to compete at the highest level, but isn't this a little too much like Brett Favre? I mean there are juniors and journeymen struggling to earn enough money to make it to the next event. I just can't help but feel that Muster is taking a spot away from somebody that needs the opportunity more than he does. Muster has already had a successful career (French Open winner, #1 ranking) and made a ton of money on the ATP tour. If he wants to make some more, play on the Champions tour and let a young, hungry player (that really needs the points) get that wildcard. Muster should think about how he would feel if the roles were reversed. What if he was a 19 yr old player who was moving up in the rankings and realized that a 42 yr old Connors was getting a wildcard into a top event, even though he had lost all of his previous qualifying matches. On top of that, I believe that Muster has played some senior events. I don't recall that he was blowing people off the court on the Champions Tour. How could he possibly compete in Challenger events? Instead of being grateful for the career he had, including his recovery from the potentially career-ending knee injury, he wants to see if he still has it. I just do not understand the point.
It is amazing, but McEnroe is not asking for wildcards into ATP tournaments. Muster could compete on the Champions Tour and in World Team Tennis if he wants to prove that he can still compete at a high level. He does not need to take a more deserving player's wildcard.
Also, McEnroe's game is quirky, unique and can frustrate younger players. He matches up pretty well on fast courts with some of the modern baseline players (but certainly could not take 2 out of 3 sets on the ATP tour). Muster is a pure clay court baseliner. It will be much, much harder for him to compete with the new generation of power baseliners on any surface.
Devilito
Hall of Fame
what he needs is a time machine. It's over, time to move on. Nothing wrong with the champion's tour. It's competitive and entertaining.
Andres
G.O.A.T.
Because most tennis fans prefer to watch a 44 years old LEGEND, than a guy ranked #440 in the world. Even if the #440 guy could kick Muster's ass. That's why those tourneys grant him WC. I'm sure he'll play ATP events in Austria next year
mellowyellow
Legend
It probably just depends on what he does from the start. If he does something with his first opportunities he will probably get more competitive match play to build on.
EnigmaticPragmatic
Rookie
Mad props to the guy, definitely. Hopefully he can continue to improve with each match. I was sort of wishin McEnroe could come back if only for ***** and giggles. That doubles win in 2006 was sick stuff.
I guess your definition of a LEGEND is different from mine. Rod Laver, Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors are LEGENDS. Muster is a 44 yr old ex clay court specialist, who won the French Open and won enough clay court events to become the #1 player for a few minutes. I guess that you will be telling me that Gaston Gaudio is a LEGEND as well.
If tennis fans prefer to see Muster, then go see him play on the Champions Tour. Oh, I see. He would not be considered a LEGEND on that tour! He has to be compared to the #440 ranked player to be considered a LEGEND! Compared to McEnroe, Courier, Sampras etc., he would not be considered much of anything.
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That's a little tough on the guy. He is one of the top handful of clay court players in tennis history.
As far as his comeback, have you seen the pictures of him when he was fat? This isn't like a Rosewall who played continuously, this is a guy who started over completely. Congratulations to him for making such an effort. Don't think he will go very far, but no reason not to keep on playing at whatever level he can.
As far as his comeback, have you seen the pictures of him when he was fat? This isn't like a Rosewall who played continuously, this is a guy who started over completely. Congratulations to him for making such an effort. Don't think he will go very far, but no reason not to keep on playing at whatever level he can.
Look, you are correct. I was a little harsh on Muster. I just do not believe that his comeback is necessary.
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
Heck...it isn't necessary for any of us to go play tennis.
Roger and Rafa could go get normal 9-5 jobs, and go bowling in a Thursday night league.
I could take up basket weaving as a hobby instead of tennis.
J
Bud
Bionic Poster
Muster should have started playing futures instead of challengers on his comeback. That would have gotten him into better shape (as he'd have gone further in each tournament) and would have given him more confidence with additional wins.
He's currently ranked #985 with 7 ATP points
He's currently ranked #985 with 7 ATP points
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Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever! Seriously, he is taking the spot of a up and comer, looking for an opportunity to start a career. He is taking the spot of a minority player or a journeyman looking to maintain his ranking. I can't believe that I am the only person on this thread that feels this way!
Mustard
Bionic Poster
Tennis is a survival of the fittest sport. A 43 year old like Thomas Muster has as much right to be in tennis as a teenage up and comer. If Muster wants to play tennis, he has every right to do so.
That's fine. You are correct! But, I have the right to give my opinion as to why I do not think that it is good for the growth and improvement of the sport.
Bud
Bionic Poster
He should have been more realistic when choosing a starting point, IMO.
Starting off in challengers at 43 and not in the best shape seems unwise. It appears he'd be competitive in futures, based on his challenger results.
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
What if the interest that he brings to the tournaments that he plays raises more money through sponsorships and grows interest in the game and inspires others who are not 18 to play more?
Most of these smaller tournaments struggle for funds, and if a name like Muster can bring interest to them it is an immense help.
Maybe that helps the growth of the game too?
J
That would be good! Did not think of it that way. It's really not a personal thing with Muster, just the general idea of a successful retired pro tennis player coming back just to prove that he can. Maybe I feel a little too strongly about this. Might need to look at it from a different point of view.
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
Yea, I mean, the dude just wants to play.
Who are we to deny him that?
If you want to play, and you want to compete at the highest level you can, even if you aren't as good as you once were, what right does anyone have to tell you not to just because you are older?
Nobody told Greg Maddux towards the end of his career "Hey, you are taking the spot of a prospect, why don't you go pitch in charity games?" The dude could still pitch, and he still wanted to play. So what if he wasn't the Greg Maddux of 1995?
J
You make a good point. If his game is not up to snuff, he will be weeded out anyway.
Devilito
Hall of Fame
Funny how as you get older you can start to relate. I recently got back into tennis again and even though I should be playing 5.0 tournaments I really, really don’t want to. I’d rather lose first round in an open and work my way back against competition I used to play against instead of starting out low and potentially underachieving in matches I should win. Like I said, I KNOW I should start out playing 5.0. Muster probably feels the same way. At his age he doesn’t have time or patience or energy to “build up” he wants to start out as high as he can and test himself against the best right away. Win or lose.
tacou
G.O.A.T.
Melzer is doing bettter than ever?
J011yroger
Talk Tennis Guru
Muster is an amazing guy! He's the king of comebacks. I remember in the early 90s when he was climbing up the rankings and qualified for the final of Miami (I think), and he got this accident with the drunk driver who broke his legs the day before the final! I remember reading a story of him in a wheelchair hitting forehands, and preparing his come-back to the top.... This guy has amazing will power. One year only after his accident, he was back on tour winning big matches. 
Beacon Hill
Hall of Fame
How old are you? Agassi dropped down and played some Challenger events. It worked well for him.
Sure he has every right to do so. And we as fans have every right to be baffled at why he would want to. I can see Date's comeback. She is coming back to a historically weak WTA tour and actually can be competitive.
I found this youtube video of Muster playing in 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itqn1Rda6lA
I'm not sure what kind of tournament it is, but he surely seem to be enjoying himself out there!
Do you guys have more recent ones of him playing Challengers?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itqn1Rda6lA
I'm not sure what kind of tournament it is, but he surely seem to be enjoying himself out there!
Do you guys have more recent ones of him playing Challengers?
nfor304
Banned
there might be a clip about him on the atp website, since he was featured in that atp uncovered show. He was looking in really good shape when they profiled him a month ago or so. I dont think fitness will ever be a problem for someone with his work ethic, more getting back into the groove that only several years of playing full time can get u into
chalkflewup
Hall of Fame
Time is something he does not have. I think it's great he is looking for competitive tennis, however; in my opinion it sounds like an attention seeking publicity stunt. I hope he doesn't get hurt out there.
niff
Legend
BTW, he got the vienna WC: http://sport.orf.at/stories/2020561 !
Yeah, but Agassi never completely stopped playing professionally. He made a decision at age 27 or 28 to play challengers after his ATP ranking fell out of the top 150. This decision was made so that he could gain confidence from some consecutive wins. It was risky, but feasible for a talent like Agassi. Muster retired something like 10 years ago. He is 42 years old, has won one qualifying match in the challengers and is lobbying for a wild card into an ATP event.
Muster is an amazing guy! He's the king of comebacks. I remember in the early 90s when he was climbing up the rankings and qualified for the final of Miami (I think), and he got this accident with the drunk driver who broke his legs the day before the final! I remember reading a story of him in a wheelchair hitting forehands, and preparing his come-back to the top.... This guy has amazing will power. One year only after his accident, he was back on tour winning big matches.
Now this is what we should focus on in regard to Muster. THIS story is inspirational. This knee injury could have ended his career and he had the determination and focus to make a miraculous comeback! He played for another 11 years, won a French Open and was the #1 player for a while! Muster had an outstanding career.
There is nothing noble about what he is doing now. He RETIRED! Now he is coming back to prove what?? I'm not saying that he might not inspire people with what he is doing now, I just do not put it in the same category as his recovery from the accident/knee injury. He certainly deserves more respect for the comeback from the knee injury, than his return to competitive tennis following a 10 year retirement.
Finally, an opinion I can relate to!
mental midget
Hall of Fame
he should just hope edberg doesn't decide to lobby for a vienna WC as well.
all kidding aside, it's a great story. i always liked to watch him play, and if he's making it even reasonably competitive out there, hats off for having a go at it. the game has only sped up since he left it.
all kidding aside, it's a great story. i always liked to watch him play, and if he's making it even reasonably competitive out there, hats off for having a go at it. the game has only sped up since he left it.
nfor304
Banned
He won a main draw match in a challenger.... but over a young fellow wild card, so not exactly a quality win anyway.
Story on the ATP website about his comeback to Vienna:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2010/10/Other/Muster-Returns.aspx
