Recent content by California

Edberg should’ve won the 89 FO Open final against a zoning Chang and the Aussie Open final where he was beating Lendl and he had to retire with an abdominal injury... he should’ve won more, not less! He is a far more accomplished player than Rafter, quicker, much better returns, better backhand...

Yet Edberg lead Sampras 2 to 1 in slams.... such an Edberg hater. Edberg always played Sampras tough even towards the end of his career when he was less interested in tennis. Why? He pressured Pete, put him on the defensive, and made him come up with passing shots. If Rafter was still doing well...

I agree. I really like and respect Rafa off the court. I think he is a great guy and means well. I also love Mallorca and have been there several times as I have a cousin that lives there. Beautiful island and nice people. On the court it is very different. I don't like his style of play, his...

I disagree. Sampras, Rafter, Henman, etc... were playing against poly players in the late 90s and early 00s. They still did fine. Poly is one part or the equation, court speeds are the other. The courts are too slow and gritty making the balls bounce very high allowing defenders to counter well...

Can the baseline bot lovers at least agree that today you can play the same style (baseline) on every surface and throughout the calendar year and win? Don't need to change your playing style, or try anything different because that style will work regardless of the surface or tournament? So...

The excessive grunting is not only annoying, it is gamesmanship plain and simple. It is unnecessary. The tours should have eliminated this nonsense decades ago.

Exactly. Edberg had a mediocre forehand that is true, but he had a great backhand, both topspin and slice. So not sure he qualifies here as someone with a mediocre ground game... Bjorkman too had a mediocre forehand, which could get hot, but had a great backhand.

Gilbert was a tough and smart competitor who just didn't have many offensive weapons. He figured out if you make balls and play steady you can frustrate and beat more offensively inclined players and it got him to a career high of number 4. He was tough to play if you weren't on your game or...

Thanks for posting as I never read Pete's book, I should probably get a copy. I don't know that I agree with Pete here, he played Stefan as late as 95 when Stefan was far off his peak level and still needed 3 sets in non majors to beat Stefan. I think the matchup wasn't good for Pete for the...

I think a lot of what I previously said would still apply. He always played Sampras tough, I imagine Pete didn't like playing him. He would rush him and not give him time, hit something weak and Stefan takes the net. Serve and play to Pete's backhand, make him pass from that side. Sampras would...

I wish the 95 was 325 grams. I think players that play that head size are used to a little weight, and getting it all from lead isn't the same... we will how it sells.

I think it would have been a great match! Sampras would've been the favorite as the number 1 seed and he beat Becker in the semifinals. Stefan was still playing good tennis and I think the matchup is better against Pete than Courier. I think after 92 Edberg had a tougher time with Agassi/Courier...

The original 6.0 85" is a 17mm beam not a 13. Just thought I would let you know....

Really? Put it this way. By the time Edberg beat Pete in 2 majors, Pete was already a slam champion by winning the US Open in 1990. Edberg beat him in 92 USO and 93 Australian Open. When did Pete get over his choking exactly??

Lucky for Sampras, as Edberg did well against him. Edberg with his constant attack game put Pete on the defensive and made Pete pass from the back of the court. He didn't let Pete dictate play to the same extent most players did. Edberg was 2 to 0 against Pete in majors, the USO and the...