Classic interview with Mats Wilander

[montrealforum]

Classic interview with Mats Wilander. Great champion, #1, seven majors, three out of four slams in 1988. And Mats is the coolest guy, I saw him playing doing clinics and playing fun doubles in Delray with his "Wilander On Wheels" tour which he drives around the country in a Winnebago with his buddy Cameron. Mats was doing drills, doubles for fun and after it was over I swear, Mats was picking up the balls himself and sweeping the green clay court himself! Seven time grand slam winner sweeping the courts on both sides. That just tells you what kind of a down to earth cool guy he is. So does this interview...

http://www.tennis-prose.com/articles/biofile-with-mats-wilander/

 

[pundekman]

you posted the same crap on 2 threads. I didnt know mats trolled this forum?

 

[montrealforum]

Yeah my bad, I thought the first Mats thread was dwindling. Thought it was a really good Q&A though.

 

[Rabbit]

You're spot on about Wilander. I had the great opportunity to talk to him over a couple of nights and multiple libations at a senior event. He is a great guy and very down to earth.

 

[montrealforum]

Rabbit where did you talk with Mats at? It's true, it was just like talking to another local rec player, that's how regular guy normal Mats is. McEnroe, Connors, Sampras, Agassi, just aren't like that at all.

Another thing impressive about him is how smart he is about tennis, like a genius. We talked about Rios and he said Rios was even more talented than himself but he did not know how to go about competing in slams, pretty interesting stuff.

 

[hoodjem]

you posted the same crap on 2 threads. I didnt know mats trolled this forum?

Mats is not too well-liked on here, particularly with newbs or in the General Pro Player Discussion section.

About a year or two ago he said that Fed was not the GOAT, that Fed had so many majors because this era is a weak era.

Instead of arguing with the position or the ideas or even thinking about it, the Fedulators just trashed Mats and said that he knows nothing about tennis.

It's the same old story: we don't like the message, so we'll blame the messenger. It's easier to impugn the author than to refute his ideas--a very right-wing attitude.

Pretty sad actually.

 

[Rabbit]

Rabbit where did you talk with Mats at? It's true, it was just like talking to another local rec player, that's how regular guy normal Mats is. McEnroe, Connors, Sampras, Agassi, just aren't like that at all.

Another thing impressive about him is how smart he is about tennis, like a genius. We talked about Rios and he said Rios was even more talented than himself but he did not know how to go about competing in slams, pretty interesting stuff.

The senior tour played in Memphis a few years ago. I was lucky enough to get passes to the Champions Club and was even luckier to talk to him two nights. You're 100% right, it was just like talking to a regular player. I also got to talk to Pat Cash at some length and Todd Martin. Both were great guys as well.

Mats is not too well-liked on here, particularly with newbs or in the General Pro Player Discussion section.

About a year or two ago he said that Fed was not the GOAT, that Fed had so many majors becuase this era is a weak era.

Instead of arguing with the position or the ideas or even thinking about it, all the Fedulators just trashed Mats and said that he knows nothing about tennis.

It's the same old story: we don't like the message, so we'll blame the messenger. It's easier to impugn the author than to refute his ideas--a very right-wing attitude.

Pretty sad actually.

I agree (as usual) with you.

 

[Mustard]

Mats is not too well-liked on here, particularly with newbs or in the General Pro Player Discussion section.

About a year or two ago he said that Fed was not the GOAT, that Fed had so many majors becuase this era is a weak era.

Instead of arguing with the position or the ideas or even thinking about it, all the Fedulators just trashed Mats and said that he knows nothing about tennis.

It's the same old story: we don't like the message, so we'll blame the messenger. It's easier to impugn the author than to refute his ideas--a very right-wing attitude.

Pretty sad actually.

It was after the 2006 French Open final. Wilander said something like "Unfortunately today, Federer came out with no balls. He may have them, but when he plays against Nadal they shrink to a very small size, and it's not just once, it's every time."

 

[Aobanoniji]

Thanks for the link. Wilander was always my favorite and really does seem like a down-to-earth guy. One of the smartest players ever.

 

[montrealforum]

Nice to read this stuff. Think Wilander took too much heat on his Federer has no balls comment. It's just an opinion and it seemed, on that day, to be true. He had a beautiful two-hander. That five setter with Lendl in NY in 1988 seemed to take a lot out of him. Never was the same after it.

 

[NicoMK]

Mats is my hero so thanks for posting the link, really appreciated

And to those who think it's crap, hey buddies, you don't even have to click on the link. I'm sure there are hundreds of topics much more interesting for you… So…