Goodbye Guga

[Gugarocks]

In a few weeks, we'll have to say goodbye to Gustavo Kuerten. He has been my absolute sport idol since I was a kid. I have great memories about him as a sportsman and as a person. In a way, it hurts a lot that he will leave the tour. In an other way, I am excited and I wonder how it's going to be in Roland Garros. He is immortal for the audience, including myself. It will be the most emotional moment in sportsmanship to me by far, and I hope they will say goodbye to him in style, with the respect and media attention that he diserves. ( like when they said goodbye to Pete Sampras at the US open)
I just doubt if centercourt will be filled with croud if he crashes out on day 1. He diserves special attention, and a statue for fair play if it depends on me.

What are your best memories about him? and how do you feel about the Roland Garros main event this year ?

 

[Supernatural_Serve]

At the USOpen in '04 Guga was playing doubles against Nestor/Knowles.

While Guga's at the net, his partner returned a long serve from Nestor, the return was heading for the back of Guga's lower leg, out of the corner of Guga's eye he sees the ball (very little time, he's in classic service return net player position), yet somehow reflexively raises his foot and effortlessly using his foot angles a crisp volley off the side of his foot for a "winner" cross court.

We all went wild. Play stopped for a few moments while Nestor/Knowles congratulated him and the crowd settled down.

It was one of those amazing athletic moments where your jaw drops and everyone says "how did he do that?"

 

[Gugarocks]

I'll always remember his backhand. He could hit winners with it from any angle, with loads of topspin. For me, it is the best backhand for claycourt play in history by far. He strikes the ball quite late, so it's not that effective on hardcourts and grass. And he could drive his opponents mad by sending them to every angle of the court, ending the rally with a sublime drop shot that almost didn't bounce. The first one in this clip is a pretty sick shot, but he did it all the time. http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=i1oZw1vD4Hs
They say he is one of the nicest guys at the tour, always friendly and making fun with others in the dressing room. I think there will be many players thanking him at the ceremony in a couple of weeks. I really wonder how it's going to be. The French crowd really love him too, I hope they make it a very special event. He has a special place in my heart

 

[Tomaz Bellucci]

Guga is the reason I started to play tennis.
A great player and gentleman.

 

[CBORNANCINI]

Guga is the reason I´m go back to the tennis after 20 years out. My best memory about him is during the brasil open, when he said: "I´ve been retiring not because my "fire" went out, I just can´t go on playing more." And crying a lot... He really loves the tennis match.
The best moment is when he beats Agassi in the final Master 2000.
Tomaz Bellucci, are you the real ATP player or a simple username? For those who not know him, he is the Santiago, Florianopolis and Rabat tournaments/challengers champion!
If you are the guy, congratulations, dude! Good luck in the French Open.

 

[Gugarocks]

I hope guga wins a round at the french open

I hope so too. And no disrespect to the maestro, but I don't think that's going to happen. He's simply not fit and I don't see him winning 3 sets against anybody. His hip muscles bother him too much.
I already accepted the thought that he will crash out very quickly, but I hope he will be rewarded for his accomplishments as a 3 time local champion, and for the love and respect he has given to the fans for all those years. It takes a lot of guts to keep playing even though you know you are going to lose. He could have quit suddenly, like Henin did it yesterday (no offence to her), but he decided to say goodbye in style. It's a sad ending, but we have to give him an A for effort.

 

[Kobble]

I love the way he plays. One of my favorites of all time.

 

[edmondsm]

I'm very sorry, I love Keurten, but it's about time. The guy can't even get his body well enough to play a few farewell matches. He ended up pulling out of Barca after playing what like 2 matches this year. He's been trying to hang on too long. I for one will be glad to see it finally end.

 

[Gugafan_Redux]

I was a casual fan as a kid and teenager, and didn't follow the tour at all as a wayard adult in my 20s. But when I cleaned up my lifestyle, got fit, and learned how to play the game properly, in 2000, 2001, Guga was a dominant player, and my instant favorite.

One of my favorite moments, aside from the legendary drawing the heart in the clay at RG, was in the Master's Cup, Estoril, I think against Agassi, or perhaps Sampras, when he finished a long, tough point at net with a touch angle volley and gave a huge fist pump. Energy was through the roof in that match, and played some of his toughest tennis in those two matches to secure the World No 1 ranking.

I know many are tired of the long goodbye. So am I, because it is not befitting his level of play when he was strong and healthy. But he will be missed.

 

[pr0n8r]

Had he not been hindered by that hip injury, I think he could have gotten to around the Agassi level in slam titles. I'll without a doubt miss Guga. He's such an asset to tennis.

 

[edmondsm]

^^^Nah. He never made it past the quarters of any other major. His hip didn't hinder him that much. His game was completely tailored for the clay. He was so good that he could beat anyone on any surface in best of 3. But he obviously couldn't survive 7 matches at a slam that wasn't on clay.

 

[grafrules]

Had he not been hindered by that hip injury, I think he could have gotten to around the Agassi level in slam titles.

That means he pretty much would have had to continue winning the French Open either every year or almost every now until now. He was never going to win any of the other 3 slams.

 

[Gugarocks]

That means he pretty much would have had to continue winning the French Open either every year or almost every now until now. He was never going to win any of the other 3 slams.

Indeed, he was a decent player at the US Open, but his gameplay was not developed to get far at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. I do think he is the most talented player for claycourt tennis of all time. The Nadal freaks probably disagree here, but I'm convinced that it's true. Nadal moves better, but he doesn't have the same touch. I would like to see them battle if both of them were fit, but that's a dream that will never come true. Just like we will never know how Pete Sampras in his best days would do against Federer in his best days. We all have our opinions but we will never know.

 

[jmsx521]

I liked the yellow shoes! It was a bold step from Diadora. But there has been no such move from them for the last decade, and I guess they don't like to be on the spot-light... and that's why they continue to be a 2nd grade competitor to the big guys.

 

[Gugarocks]

Guga plays against Paul Henri Mathieu in the first round of the main event. Veeeery tough draw, on the other hand I'm excited because he's playing against a Frenchman --> a lot of media attention.
It will be a special match