Can you believe this??? (Puerta background)

[raftermania]

If you haven't seen the Roland Garros website article on Puerta check 'er out:

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/articles/2005-06-03/200506031117808333312.html

This guy has had it rough, period.

• Suffered a serious wrist injury at the dawn of his pro career
• Nearly died in a faulty elevator
• Tested positive for an ATP banned substance
• HAD ASTHMA (If he still has it: WOW)
• Went through a bout of DEPRESSION
• Got fat

A total antithesis of Nadal's (relatively uneventful) rise to the top of the pro game. Should make for an interesting final, you got to have some sentiment for Puerta - the guy has been through hell!!! Nadal got his birthday gift, now Puerta deserves his reward.

VAMOS PUERTA!!!! :mrgreen:

 

[Andy Hewitt]

"Firstly, in January, he stepped out of an elevator on the 20th floor after hearing strange noises just seconds before the lift went crashing to earth. Had he stayed in the elevator he would have certainly died that day."
Thats nuts

And the steroid was for his asthma... He got suspended for 9 months for not telling the ATP he had asthma. Lol and I called him a drugie.

 

[Jonnyf]

i think he has had an incrediable carrer i heard that he got so close to quitting tennis when he gained weight ( he dropped outside top 400 and put on 15 kilos) remarkible i'm thinking of him as one of my favorite players

 

[Return_Ace]

Well he's already gained respect from me:
1.he's cack-handed (me being this as well i'm kinda biased)
2.he's got a beastin one handed BH (I'm now trying to convert my two hander because of this )
3.After the reading of this article it has really made me respect the amount of work he puts into tennis

SPOILER ALERT:






COME ON PUERTA Teach that little kid Nadal to respect his elders

 

[Jonnyf]

u a lefty me 2

spoiler














C'mon Puerta !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

 

[Return_Ace]

Ahhhh the great lefties: Borg, Connors, McEnroe (Yes I know I wasn't around to watch them doesn't mean I can't admire them does it?)
But I think if Puerta didn't injure his wrist he coulda been high flyin by now

 

[Jonnyf]

he has the game for all-courts IMO

 

[Return_Ace]

Yeh grass - bigish serve can volley pretty competenly
Clay - well watch the FO
Hard - Big FH and BH

That flat backhand can really get him places
oh and he has pretty good mobility

 

[Max G.]

he has the game for all-courts IMO

But he's played almost exclusively on clay. That tells me that his game isn't, in fact, suited for the other surfaces even though it seems like it could be. There's more to surface-switching besides strokes - there's strategy, there's movement. Hopefully in the upcoming hardcourt season Puerta will, with his newfound high ranking, show us that he can in fact play on hardcourts too; but I don't expect any more from him on hardcourts than from, say, Gaudio.

 

[Jonnyf]

good strategic mind imo

 

[Return_Ace]

yeh max i'm not saying that he can instantly be able to wow us on hardcourts just that had he those years when his wrist were broken to build his conf. on hard and grass he would have been in the top 10 IMHO

 

[Jonnyf]

But he's played almost exclusively on clay. That tells me that his game isn't, in fact, suited for the other surfaces even though it seems like it could be. There's more to surface-switching besides strokes - there's strategy, there's movement. Hopefully in the upcoming hardcourt season Puerta will, with his newfound high ranking, show us that he can in fact play on hardcourts too; but I don't expect any more from him on hardcourts than from, say, Gaudio.

of course it's not going to be easy but this is the first time we've seen him in the spotlight i hope he does well

 

[Return_Ace]

I hope that he goes and absolutely blows Nadal off the court but then i have to face reality - he'll win in five sets max. (hehe lol) full stop (or as you yanks like to say "period")

 

[Jonnyf]

i think that Puerta might just blow nadal off the court it would be a surprise lol

 

[Aykhan Mammadov]

Raftermania, yes he played better than Davidenko today ( if u watched). He has very sharp and strong strokes sometimes. His legs are very thick and look strong also.

I wish him good play at final but I don't really think he has any serious chances against Nadal.

 

[Jonnyf]

i think he does nadal got unsettled by Grosjean who hits with pace so Puerta might really unsettle him

 

[Astennix]

IMHO...if Gaudio defeated Coria last year, then anything can happen on Sunday...

 

[Return_Ace]

well what i never got was the fact that most people didn't actually realise that most of his (nadals) forehands were actually looping and landing on the service line and kicking with spin...if that was a hard court match people just woulda taken it on the rise for an outright winner (or near enough) but most people actually wait for it to come to them ............... Puerta's the one that I've seen who does attack the ball pretty viciously on the clay (well there's gonzalez but he attacks everything viciously )

 

[Jonnyf]

left handed Gonozo

 

[Return_Ace]

is he? i never really noticed that.....................
and i just picked something from another thread: Nadal's serve is actually pretty cr*p I mean compared to a proper lefty's serve (yep thats right he's not a proper lefty) such as puerta's.

 

[Jonnyf]

he has lots a slice

 

[Feña14]

yay thats what I like to see!

Some Puerta love! He really put me through it today, I thought watching Henman was bad enough but this fella gives us great matches and his performance under pressure is outstanding.

I saw all that stuff about him in the French Tennis Magazine that I posted a bit of a translation for.. I believe he became bulemic and Gaudio's win last year really inspired him.

If he can take Nadal all the way his coolness under pressure could well get him through.

I can't wait!

 

[Astennix]

I think that Nadals game is based 90% on his immaculate fitness...not on any particular stroke.

 

[Return_Ace]

I can't agree with you there.......his forehand is pretty big and when he steps in on his closed stance BH it can really put up quite a few sitters but the main thing is his serve........grrrrrrr but then thats what you get for not being a proper lefty . Oh and fena14 were you rooting for Davy?, i was showing my support for puerta and lets face it we both know that henman has absolutely no chance of winning wimbledon.

 

[Jonnyf]

oh no they replied to his complaints the balls will be opened on the court right b4 use noe

 

[Return_Ace]

yet again wtf are you on about???

 

[Jonnyf]

henman complained that Wimb opened the tennis balls like 4 weeks in advance and now they won't

 

[Return_Ace]

yeh and this is a problem because...........now they won't be as flat

 

[wildbill88AA]

return ace-borg was righthanded, mayb u mean laver or martina.

 

[Jonnyf]

which means the ball is hit harder and faster

 

[Feña14]

Oh and fena14 were you rooting for Davy?

wash your mouth out young man!

The amount i've been praising Puerta over the past month it doesn't even bare thinking about.

I have never got so into a match as I have with his previous two. And after reading about his background in the May version of French Tennis magazine he has really grabbed my attention.

It's going to be one mad day on Sunday

 

[Return_Ace]

Ouch that must have really insulted.........I'm really sorry.
My respect for him has grown alot (see prev posts) but you said that you thought seeing henman was bad enough: Oh i get it now you were saying how nervous you were bout how he nearly couldn't close the match (stupid me) but i kinda fell asleep during the davy match (hey GCSE revision really saps away ur strength ) but i did wake up in time to see him win it though.

 

[Feña14]

Ouch that must have really insulted.........I'm really sorry.
My respect for him has grown alot (see prev posts) but you said that you thought seeing henman was bad enough: Oh i get it now you were saying how nervous you were bout how he nearly couldn't close the match (stupid me) but i kinda fell asleep during the davy match (hey GCSE revision really saps away ur strength ) but i did wake up in time to see him win it though.

No worries

I got up early to see it, I had a feeling it would be a great match because they built Nadal V Federer up soo much that it could only be an anti climax.

It's also more nerve-racking when there's some nice money on the line

 

[Jonnyf]

hey liam why aern't u e-mailing me bak time 4 dat skotch

 

[Return_Ace]

You woke up early to see it? man that was like scheduled to start at like 12 but got pushed back till 1pm so you wake up round two i take it then?

 

[Jonnyf]

i was a skool so i was soooooooooooo pleased when it got ain delayed

 

[ProStaffTour90]

Ahhhh the great lefties: Borg, Connors, McEnroe (Yes I know I wasn't around to watch them doesn't mean I can't admire them does it?)
But I think if Puerta didn't injure his wrist he coulda been high flyin by now

:|

 

[tricky nicky]

Great thread started by the Raftermania man,

I think with a history like his that the french crowd will make him the underdog and root for him like theres no tomorrow.

personally I think he will prevail over Nadal in hopefully 5 long gruelling and edge of the seat tennis.

I have cancelled my family on sunday as a mark of respect to the best clay final we gonna see for a while.

No doubt.

regards,

tricky.

 

[Jonnyf]

Great thread started by the Raftermania man,

I think with a history like his that the french crowd will make him the underdog and root for him like theres no tomorrow.

personally I think he will prevail over Nadal in hopefully 5 long gruelling and edge of the seat tennis.

I have cancelled my family on sunday as a mark of respect to the best clay final we gonna see for a while.

No doubt.

regards,

tricky.

i totally agree Tricky hopefully a stunning match and the second to add to my brand new video collection (started with fed v nadal today)

 

[Return_Ace]

Heya prostaff your bk, how was that ilustrator thingy you had to do and plyed urself with caff to get it finished at like 5am?
uhhhhhhhhhh yeh just realised that he's a righty, sorry.
But if your post was who is borg then don't tell me you haven't heard of THE great Bjorn Borg? he was only THE greatest player of his time until he retired at summit lie 24 (I know bloody stupid-but his life kinda got screwed up with a divorcve)

 

[tricky nicky]

Jonny f,

There s no need to big me up for the dampeners.

at least thats what I'm thinking that your doing.......cos someone actually agrees with me..........and it's you.

only 24 days to go to dampener day.

regards,

tricky.

 

[Jonnyf]

imo Puerta deserves all and more of the respect we can give to him imagine: nearly not having a pro carrer because of an injury, being seconds away from death (so luckily i bet he still can't believe it, having asthma on the pro tour and reaching a GS final with it, being banned unfairly (alright his mistake) and gaining so much weight (15 kilo's) yet love of the game helps him come back to the tour reach i highest ever ranking and reaching a Grand Slam Final exceptional

 

[Feña14]

You woke up early to see it? man that was like scheduled to start at like 12 but got pushed back till 1pm so you wake up round two i take it then?

yea study leave so I usually get up at 1.30 - 2.00 then watch French Open and usually play tennis at night.

Those exams just get in the way.

 

[Return_Ace]

Ahhh exams.......... I have my jessies now but I get up at round 9-10 (no not to revise - i'm not that supid lol) I usually get on here and have arguments with Deuce (have a look around pg 9 of that high school rants thread) Tennis? I have absolutely no one to play tennis with ... but at least my coaching and matchplays start again 2morrow

 

[eLterrible]

LEFTY VS. LEFTY IN FINALS! ah i cant wait, not everyday you see two south-paws playing in a final I hope it's a good 5 setter.

 

[Deuce]

Nice link, 'mania - interesting stuff.

You should have definitely put a 'Spoiler' tag on the title, though...

 

[Deuce]

Ahhh exams.......... I have my jessies now but I get up at round 9-10 (no not to revise - i'm not that supid lol) I usually get on here and have arguments with Deuce (have a look around pg 9 of that high school rants thread) Tennis? I have absolutely no one to play tennis with ... but at least my coaching and matchplays start again 2morrow

No - we don't have arguments - simply because it is a grossly unequal match-up.

What you DO do is gossip endlessly with JonnyF, using these boards as your own personal Instant Messaging workshop, and messing up several threads in the process.

YOU POST FAR TOO MUCH. Give it a bloody rest.

 

[Dilettante]

south-paws

What's the meaning of "South-paw" expression? Thank you.

 

[Yours!05]

Left-handed (from boxing)

 

[Jonnyf]

No - we don't have arguments - simply because it is a grossly unequal match-up.

What you DO do is gossip endlessly with JonnyF, using these boards as your own personal Instant Messaging workshop, and messing up several threads in the process.

YOU POST FAR TOO MUCH. Give it a bloody rest.

look Deuce i've already appologized and have told Return_ace to just e-mail me but in the end it isn't ure board i'm soz but u aint incharge

(ill try 2 stop then ok)