Best Groundstrokes on the ATP

DoubleHanded&LovinIt

DoubleHanded&LovinIt

Professional
After having seen all these new clips of Gaston Gaudio up at tennisplayer.net, I'd have to say that his groundstrokes are the best I've seen out of all the men on the ATP. They are just so damn smooth and good looking. Another thing, he doesn't look like he's swinging out of his shoes--the rhythm and acceleration are awesome. I urge you all to check those clips or the next match he plays on TV. You won't regret it.
 
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tennissavy

Hall of Fame
Gaudio really is a great player. It has surprised me that he hasn't won more since his Roland Garros victory.

I think Safin has some of the best groundstrokes on the ATP.
 
DoubleHanded&LovinIt

DoubleHanded&LovinIt

Professional
Safin's groundstrokes are second in my book. Agassi third. Haas fourth. Blake fifth.

Gaudio has won a lot after his triumph at the French. Just not this year. Didn't he win 5+ titles last year?
 
Andres

Andres

G.O.A.T.
tennissavy said:
Gaudio really is a great player. It has surprised me that he hasn't won more since his Roland Garros victory.

I think Safin has some of the best groundstrokes on the ATP.
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He won 5 titles after Roland Garros... How much more do you want? 30? :mrgreen:
 
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tennissavy

Hall of Fame
I didn't say that he won absolutely nothing but he had many opportunities to win many other titles but failed to sieze his chances. His is also given almost no credit at all by the tv commentators. I think that he is a very impressive player.
 
DoubleHanded&LovinIt

DoubleHanded&LovinIt

Professional
Rickson--that Federer backhand is just not as impressive for me as some of the one handers and two handers out there. Can't argue with the results though.

tennissavy--I don't think he gets credit because he's seen as a "clay courter"

Ripper--He needs not only a stronger mind, but a stronger serve. Speaking of strength, he's very strong and one of the fittest players on tour. He's the only player I've seen wear Nadal out from the baseline (see their SF matchup at Monte Carlo)

wyutani--Umm, ten times better? Think about that for a second. Check out their rankings, career titles, etc. Nalbandian might be a better player on hard courts and faster surfaces, but he's not ten times better by any stretch of the imagination.
 
DoubleHanded&LovinIt

DoubleHanded&LovinIt

Professional
diegga--Gaudio has incredible strokes, but Nalbandian's are pretty darn good too. That Nalbandian backhand is the smoothest 2HBH out on tour. Technically (technique wise?), Nalbandian is just as good, but the ball just doesn't seem to be as heavy off of his racquet as it is off Gaudio's.
 
35ft6

35ft6

Legend
All for different reasons but...

Safin... Coria... Ferrero... Schalken (I know he looks a bit stiff, but so efficient)... Berdych... Agassi... Nalbandian.

Federer's strokes are so idiosyncratic. Yes, they're awesome, but his groundstrokes are not the kind of strokes I would tell somebody to necessarily emulate.
 
DoubleHanded&LovinIt

DoubleHanded&LovinIt

Professional
35ft6--Coria's strokes look pretty nice, but he lacks pop on his shots. They're heavily spun, but not that hard. And if he starts trying to hit hard he loses a lot of control. It reminds me of Michael Chang.
 
edmondsm

edmondsm

Legend
diegaa said:
mentally, yes, hes much stronger....technically, nalby is not even colse to gaudio.
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Its a good point. I can't figure out why Nalbandian can't get any real consistancy or any big wins. I guess there was the Masters-Cup win which is nothing to snuff at, but he has few other titles even though he has been in at least a couple other Masters-Series finals as well as a semi appearance at every slam. It makes me wonder how mentally strong he really is considering how close he's been so many times. Either way I love his attitude and his game, easily my favorite player on tour. Can you imagine if you put Nalbandian's brain in Safin or Gaudio's head.
 
D

D-Bomb

Rookie
safins got everything, federer (he's gotta be on the list), then i guess nalbandian (mainly backhand), oh and haas
 
S

str33t

Professional
D-Bomb said:
safins got everything, federer (he's gotta be on the list), then i guess nalbandian (mainly backhand), oh and haas
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tommy haas is alright, i like robredo's forehand
 
F

fallen.

New User
gasquet has the nicest backhand i think
and forehand belongs to federer no doubt.. even though i like fernando gonzalez's
 
35ft6

35ft6

Legend
DoubleHanded&LovinIt said:
35ft6--Coria's strokes look pretty nice, but he lacks pop on his shots. They're heavily spun, but not that hard. And if he starts trying to hit hard he loses a lot of control. It reminds me of Michael Chang.
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For his size, I think his shots are very potent. I saw him practicing at the US Open and he does NOT hit moonballs, at least not on hard courts. Some of the best stroke production I saw all week. Come to think of it, Alberto Costa had some really sweet looking swings also.
 
A

alienhamster

Hall of Fame
Is Gaudio's forehand really that awesome? Sometimes the follow through seems a little off to me.

The backhand, though--NO question. Best on the tour. I love watching the guy play just to see that backhand in action.

Federer's forehand is really nice to watch, especially in super slow-mo.
 
RiosTheGenius

RiosTheGenius

Hall of Fame
wyutani said:
nalbandian is ten times better than him...
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why would you bring up Nalbandian?... they are absolutely different in every way. nothing about Nalbandian can possibly be compared to Gaudio. ...... aside the fact that both of their passports say Argentina. :)
it's like comparing Gonzo with Rios only cuz they're both chileans. while they clearly come from different schools.

about Gaudio... the guy has a sick BH, great ground strokes, a fair serve, good drop-shot.... too bad he's so weak mentally.
 
D

djones

Hall of Fame
diegaa said:
mentally, yes, hes much stronger....technically, nalby is not even colse to gaudio.
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Nalbandian doesn't seem very mentally impressive to me.
Remember Us open 2003, he had a matchpoint in the semis against Roddick in the 3rd set, didn't win it, and then losing the 4th and 5th set easily.
Nalbandian breaks down quite easily, is what it seems to me.
 
L

LeCiel

New User
djones said:
Nalbandian doesn't seem very mentally impressive to me.
Remember Us open 2003, he had a matchpoint in the semis against Roddick in the 3rd set, didn't win it, and then losing the 4th and 5th set easily.
Nalbandian breaks down quite easily, is what it seems to me.
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That kind of reminds me of the AUS Open 2006 match between Marcos Baghdatis vs. David Nalbandian semi-final. Especially at the very end of 5th set where he could have tooked advantage to win it, I believed it was the time where they had that "strange" rain-delayed incident (If my memory is correct). Just didn't have enough confidence to finish and win that match to go on against Federer that time. Also remember the Masters series in Shanghai against Federer in the finals? That's another story...
 
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byealmeens

Semi-Pro
alienhamster said:
Is Gaudio's forehand really that awesome? Sometimes the follow through seems a little off to me.

The backhand, though--NO question. Best on the tour. I love watching the guy play just to see that backhand in action.
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I agree that Gaudio had a fantastic topsin backhand, but his slice is very mediocre. I also think that his forehand is not very good technically. His preparation is poor & his take-back is somewhat abbreviated and "jerky". I would agree that his weakness has been mostly mental, but I'd also have to add that his serve is pretty awful. Even for a clay-courter, he has a pretty weak serve, and double-faults more than you would expect.

I'm surprised there isn't more support for Federer here. I feel he has the smoothest strokes by far, and though his topsppin backhand may not ne as good as Gaudio, the combination of the topspin and slice is by far the best on the tour.
 
M

Mugatu

Rookie
amazed more aren't sayin federer!!!! he is lethal..

i like watching nalban too and safin. but they're not as textbook..

mine are up there to
 
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