Recent content by California

Today they are… wasn’t that way in the past, back in the 80s and 90s, singles players could do quite well in doubles. Today the singles players have limited games revolving around mainly ground strokes so they aren’t good in doubles. Edberg, Mac, Bjorkman, Becker, etc… were all great doubles...

Great write up. The most telling thing to me is you used to have to beat great players to win a slam, and many of those opponents also had slam wins on their resume! Edberg had to beat several slam winners on that road to the 92 US Open, while today in the inflation era, you can win a slam...

He didn’t dominate Edberg. 8 to 6 H2H advantage for Pete, with Pete winning the last 2 in 1995 when Edberg was far from the top of his game, and would retire the next year in 1996. Other thoughts on this thread, if people don’t realize the Big3’s major totals are inflated because of the slowing...

I had them too as a kid and the rerelease I have now from a couple of years ago. I almost never wear them, heavy, no cushioning, hard as rocks. I would avoid them. I am talk about the OG Edberg’s. The Comp is better. Lighter, fit better, cushioning is better too, although the forefoot doesn’t...

True! Don’t forget Serena had to play 10 years longer too to achieve 1 more major win and still trails in most others…. Steffi is the GOAT for ladies tennis.

True. But you can win on clay without a serve, volley, or really any offensive tactics and just play ground stroke games and retrieve for hours. Is that desirable? Enjoyable to watch? Watch Coria play from 15 years ago or so and let me know your thoughts. As for the rankings: Wimbledon US...

The Big 3 had two basic things that the Lost/Next Gen don’t have. Desire and belief! This is what the kids lack. Fed wanted to knock off Agassi and Sampras, and he did. Nadal wasn’t intimidated by Fed and played him tough and beat him right from the start. Joker came up and was drive to beat Fed...

Wow. I wouldn’t have predicted those two….

Edberg / Graf

Plus they are flawed. They are incomplete players that is why they can‘t consistently beat the older crowd. Skipping over their desire and mental abilities, they have have major weaknesses: Thiem - can’t stay healthy, no vollies, ball basher and error prone Med - no vollies, laughable court...

I agree. He plays like a 5’ 10” counter puncher. No offensive inclination other than a big serve. Really a pathetic way to play for someone his height.

I think Courier started to find things more difficult as the decade of 90s went on for a couple reasons. - I think he was a worker, and probably got tired of all the effort he put in to reach the top of the game. The fitness, running, hitting, etc, he wasn’t a “natural“ he had to work hard to...

Yeah and Mac and Lendl probably have an indoor title total over Sampras too…. But who are the best two indoor/carpet players? Sampras and Becker. You can put your money on Mac and Lendl, I’ll take Sampras and Becker.

I disagree, Mac is no indoor/carpet GOAT. Career H2H on that surface with Becker…. 1 win for Mac, 6 wins for Becker.

Highest quality was 2 hours on a tape, could be extended to 4 or 6 hours. People who were hardcore and dedicated would pause the recording when it went to commercials and then restart when they ended. This preserved a lot of tape.