Coria: more like Chang or Rios?

[@wright]

Mary "the MANbeast" Carillo just said that Coria reminds her more of Rios than Chang. I have a hard time seeing this comparison, as he reminds me more of Chang. He does have the superior court sense and point development of Rios, but he just reminds me alot more of Chang. Carillo also said Coria was like Rios in that Rios gets alot of balls back, which completely makes him sound like a pusher, which I couldn't disagree with more. If anything Chang was the one with that strategy, Rios is a shotmaker/all courter. What are your thoughts?

 

[jmckinney]

I believe that Coria is more like Rios than chang. His strokes are bigger than a Michael Chang. Coria actually works the points well, especially in the French last year against Agassi. He controlled alot of points. Coria has more than just speed, which was Chang's biggest weapon. Coria can flatten his strokes out as Rios could or hit mega topspin as Rios could also. I see the genius in Coria's game that I could see in Rios' game. I think that Coria can not volley as well as Rios could though.

 

[Ballmachine]

In my opinion, Coria is a combination of Rios and Chang. He has Chang's speed, and Chang's ability to keep one more ball in play over and over until his opponent misses, but he does not have Chang's fighting heart. True, he did show heart today against Gonzo, but Gonzo basically gave the match away. I have seen Coria throw in the towel many times when things weren't going his way. He did it against Agassi several times. Also, just like Chang, he can be overpowered when playing the big hitters.

He is similar to Rios, in his great court sense. He always seems to be more aware of the entire court than his opponent. He's not exactly a shotmaker the way Rios was, and he is not exactly a pusher the way Chang was. So, to me he is a combination of both. Time will only tell how far this guy can get in the men's game, but so far he has been very impressive. I see him as the favorite to win Roland Garros this year, and he has proved his worth on the hardcourts here in Miami. This little guy can make the men's game very interesting over the next couple of years.

 

[10s]

I like to measure a player's overall greatness by how many times they scalp Agassi and make him cry at important moments:

Chang d. Agassi semis Australian Open 1996
Chang d. Agassi semis US Open 1996
Rios d. Agassi finals Miami 1998 to become numero uno in the world.
Coria d. Agassi qtrs French Open 2003

As you can see, all 3 players perform the necessary deed quite nicely and with similar frequency.

 

[@wright]

Didn't Rios beat Agassi in 5 at the Master's Cup in '98 or '99?

 

[Kevin Patrick]

I see more of a similarity to Rios than Chang. Though, ultimately all 3 seem pretty different. Coria can hit with more pace than Chang & has more variety. Obviously Rios took the ball a lot earlier & could hit a lot more winners than Coria, but I can see why Carillo might compare the 2.
Awright, Rios beat Agassi in 5 sets at the now defunct Grand Slam Cup in '98.

 

[The tennis guy]

I would agree Coria is more like Rios than Chang. Both Rios and Coria take the ball early, have tremendous court sense and touch. Coria is just not as flashy as Rios because Rios is a lefty. Some shots can only come from lefty. Coria is not a grinder like Chang.

 

[Max G.]

Coria reminds me more of Chang... though I might just be out of my element here, I haven't seen that much of any of them.
Coria and Chang both win more matches through great defensive play and counterpunching rather than shotmaking a la Rios, I think.

 

[roundiesee]

Agree with Ballmachine and @wright. Coria is definitely not a Rios in terms of shotmaking; Rios is pure genius especially if you watch him in person playing in a tournament. Coris is sort of "in-between" Chang and Rios (if there is such a term). Definitely has more agreessive shots in his arsenal compared to Chang, but less shotmaking ability compared with Rios.

 

[guernica1]

Coria serves more like Chang than Rios. Rios had that swinging lefty serve that really was very very good and could hit a lot of aces. Coria serves more to get the point started.

Rios is a bit more of a 'mad genius' style than Coria but shot making wise they are pretty similar.

 

[AndyC]

More like Chang I think. Coria has very good court coverage and when he has to can just keep getting the ball back in play. He does have bigger shots for the occasions he needs them but not as aggressive as Rios (nor quite the same shot making ability).

Nalbandian is probably more in the Rios mould.

 

[The tennis guy]

Well, I am just completely opposite of AndyC. I would say Nalbandian and Hewitt are more of Chang mold than Coria. Coria to me is not just a defensive player to me. He hits the ball quite early. Yes, he is not as flashy shot making as Rios, but he is definitely more like Rios rather than Chang.

Just look Coria vs Agassi, and Chang vs Agassi. Coria hits as many winners or even more winners than Agassi in their matches, while Chang had to depend on Agassi to miss.

 

[Nosoupforyou]

I like to measure a player's overall greatness by how many times they scalp Agassi and make him cry at important moments:

Chang d. Agassi semis Australian Open 1996
Chang d. Agassi semis US Open 1996
Rios d. Agassi finals Miami 1998 to become numero uno in the world.
Coria d. Agassi qtrs French Open 2003

As you can see, all 3 players perform the necessary deed quite nicely and with similar frequency.

you know nothing, Agassi has a 15-7 record against chang and a 4-1 record against Coria, with Coria's sole win coming on clay....
FOOL

 

[Kobble]

More like Rios than Chang.

 

[Count Grishnackh]

I think If anyone is like Chang it would be Arnaud Clement, he's just legs and not much else. As for Coria he's not a shotmaker like Rios in which he wins matches by controlling rallies from the baseline. He's a fast player with good court knowledge, very crafty player. He also has great touch and feel which is very much like Sebastien Grosjean. Grosjean and Coria are fast counterpunchers who have excellent lobs and drop shots in their arsenal but also win their matches based more on their defesive skills and guile.

Hewitt and Nalbandian seem different to me than Coria & Grosjean, they're the grinding type of counterpunchers that can not be overpowered by the likes of a Safin or Roddick. They both absorb power excellently and shotmakers like Federer, Guga and Haas are the ones who give them the most trouble. If anything, Coria is not like Rios or Chang, he's of a different mold that is almost his own, Grosjean shares that department with him.

 

[BreakPoint]

I think Coria is more like Chang. They both have this uncanny ability to keep the ball in play for just one more shot until their opponent goes for too much to end the point and misses. They are the type of player you play that are both persistent and annoying to play because everything keeps coming back. They are both also short and incredibly fast on their feet which allows them to get to just about every ball and somehow get it back over the net.

BTW, how can anyone say Coria has no heart after this week? He saves four match points today in the 2nd set and then breaks Gonzo to take the match to the 3rd and then wears down Gonzo for the win. He never once gave up or lost faith but kept trying when the cards were stacked against him. He also came back from 2-5 down in the 3rd against Benneteau earlier in the week, perhaps an even more amazing feat. I think he has as much heart as Chang ever had.

 

[rmsblue]

Coria is the new Hewitt. I don't know if he has the same tenacity, never-say-die attitude. But game-wise, they both belong to the same chase-every-ball-down school of tennis. Not very interesting to watch. Although between the two I'd rather watch Coria, none of that chest-thumping, in-your-face histrionics.

 

[@wright]

Coria has more shotmaking ability than Hewitt, plus he can volley well.

 

[Nosoupforyou]

I thought hewitt could volley too, he won the us open doubles a few years back with Mirnyi

 

[10s]

you know nothing, Agassi has a 15-7 record against chang and a 4-1 record against Coria, with Coria's sole win coming on clay....
FOOL

'Fraid I did know that, Jew boy. Try again.

No Soup For Jews.

 

[edge]

Nosoupforyou, what is with your signature quote,"Aint no chinese people in middle earth- gandizzle?" Are you anti-chinese or something?

 

[Hawaii 5.0]

Coria is more like Rios in some senses, but more like Chang in many more.His court sense and touch are with Rios, but Rios hit the ball soo much earlier than any South American of his time or later and he moved very well and didn't stay that far back at all.He is like Chang in that he doesn't outhit people and he gets alot of balls in play,passes well, but Coria has better touch.

 

[ErwinFromParis]

I don't think Coria is like Rios.
Rios was far more complete. No question.
Moreover he's Lefter. Far better service, Better volleys, better touch from all court position. More flashy shots. Always unpredictable...
He got all, so sometimes makes him too versatiles... loosing the rope.
But come on, Coria is a great Clay player, great defenser (Huge fitness) but he has not the HAND.