How on earth can Hewitt/Murray be considered a pusher?

[TimeToPlaySets]

When I think pusher, I think 3.0 who has no sort of offense at all, like I played in 9th grade at age 15. Someone who bunts every ball back and only wins a point by waiting for the opponents to make a mistake.

Sounds like the term pusher is very subjective. I'm sure if either of these guys played a 4.0, they would not be pushing balls back. Hewitt may have gotten the rep for simply getting to a lot of balls and keeping points alive.

They also call Andy Murray a pusher, but I am sure the is footage of both guys hitting a winner. Sounds like BS to me. True pusher won't make it past 4.0 player

I find it impossible to believe he is actually a pusher. No way a pusher can even beat a college player, let alone a pro.

LOL, Hewitt isn't a pusher in any sense of the word. Guy is a freaking monster

Only logic I can see is that against another optimized pro, I bet it's hard to get offensive, since you never get the chance, so they stay at the baseline, slugging it out. But, that's hardly a pusher, at least in my book. When I think pusher, I think 3.0 who has no sort of offense at all, like I played in 9th grade at age 15. Clearly, an 8.0 pusher means something different than a 3.0 pusher.

Ha, I watched the first 3 points of this, and was like WTF, he just hit 3 winners. How the F is he a pusher. Then I read the description and realized it was sarcasm.

 

[Shaolin]

 

[Mainad]

In my experience, people who describe tennis players they don't happen to like as 'pushers' really have no understanding of either the tennis player in question, no understanding of what the term 'pushing' really means and probably no understanding of tennis either.

Nobody ever won Slams and got to the top of the tennis rankings merely by being 'a pusher'.

 

[4-string]

Watch Wimbledon 2012 final. Murray was hitting winners left, right and centre.

Yes, he lost, but his mindset seemed very aggressive.

Federer has the ability to bring out some exciting tennis from most people though, even from snooze maestro Djokovic. [emoji12]

 

[maxxy777]

Pushing is when the main goal is to get the ball back in to the field.
Not enough for remotely serious tennis.
You will get crushed.
Starting and playing a rally is an art of its own.
Toughest thing to learn in tennis.
And this is what separates pro from amateur.
If you can get any player in the world to rally with you 2,3x in a game you have a chance of winning.

 

[TimeToPlaySets]

Does anyone have video samples of what would be called supposed "pushing" by Hewitt or Murray ?

 

[OhYes]

Adriano Panatta former world no. 4: 'He is such a pusher, what a sadness,' Panatta said speaking about the new world no. 1 Andy Murray.
http://www.**************.org/news/...ray-is-such-a-pusher-djokovic-has-a-problem-/

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Adriano Panatta former world no. 4: 'He is such a pusher, what a sadness,' Panatta said speaking about the new world no. 1 Andy Murray.
http://www.**************.org/news/...ray-is-such-a-pusher-djokovic-has-a-problem-/

Djokovic is even more defensive. At least Murray has variety in his game and isn't David Ferrer on steroids.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

 

[abmk]

Djokovic is even more defensive. At least Murray has variety in his game and isn't David Ferrer on steroids.

djokovic more defensive than Murray ? umm, how about you are crazy ?

 

[NatF]

Djokovic is even more defensive. At least Murray has variety in his game and isn't David Ferrer on steroids.

Come off it man. Djokovic actually goes to the net more than Murray and is clearly more aggressive off the ground overall.

 

[OhYes]

Djokovic is even more defensive. At least Murray has variety in his game and isn't David Ferrer on steroids.

Well with all due respect Sabratha, you are not actually former GS champion like Panatta, but you are surely living in the past.

 

[Deleted member 307496]

Come off it man. Djokovic actually goes to the net more than Murray and is clearly more aggressive off the ground overall.

At least Murray knows how to put away an overhead though.

Off the ground sure, but that's only when he wants to. We all know Djokovic prefers to play defensive until he's actually pushed, or unless he wants to unleash on a journeyman in an early round or something. Murray has the capability to be more aggressive than Djokovic, he just decides not to. Murray in 2012-2013 form was arguably as aggressive as I've ever seen Djokovic.

 

[NatF]

At least Murray knows how to put away an overhead though.

Off the ground sure, but that's only when he wants to. We all know Djokovic prefers to play defensive until he's actually pushed, or unless he wants to unleash on a journeyman in an early round or something. Murray has the capability to be more aggressive than Djokovic, he just decides not to. Murray in 2012-2013 form was arguably as aggressive as I've ever seen Djokovic.

Murray's overhead is awful as well...

Djokovic is clearly more aggressive than Murray, he's much more often looking to dictate off the ground than Murray is. In pretty much every big match they played in 12-13 Djokovic hit more winners than Murray, the exception being the Wimbledon final.

If by capability you mean he can up the mph on his shots more then sure I guess...but the amount of times Murray actually unleashes on a forehand compared to how often Djokovic spreads the court with controlled aggression does not favour Murray.

 

[Noelan]

Adriano Panatta former world no. 4: 'He is such a pusher, what a sadness,' Panatta said speaking about the new world no. 1 Andy Murray.
http://www.**************.org/news/...ray-is-such-a-pusher-djokovic-has-a-problem-/

A bit harsh from Panatta. He will get his share of bashing from deluded british media who promote Murray as among the Best 5 player ever LOL, but as Italian he won't give a ffck

 

[SumYungGai]

Once you're at the pro level everyone can unload and hit winners when they feel like trying one, but players like Djoko and Murray are a special breed that play amazing percentage tennis and force their opponent into tough positions. They just don't miss, and both of them cover the court like maniacs which forces their opponents to go for more, giving them the advantage.

I don't consider these buys pushers because, even like Simon, they're executing a gameplan with percentage plays and just playing smart. You don't have to go for 90s to be a good player. Pusher is a term I'd consider only for players who have no offensive game, but every pro has one.

 

[Gullyfoyle]

Italians, their arrogance takes many forms, Fabio's is amusing, but Adriano's always been an arrogant tool.

 

[tennis_pro]

Adriano Panatta former world no. 4: 'He is such a pusher, what a sadness,' Panatta said speaking about the new world no. 1 Andy Murray.
http://www.**************.org/news/...ray-is-such-a-pusher-djokovic-has-a-problem-/

Why isn't this a separate thread?

 

[junior74]

Once you're at the pro level everyone can unload and hit winners when they feel like trying one, but players like Djoko and Murray are a special breed that play amazing percentage tennis and force their opponent into tough positions. They just don't miss, and both of them cover the court like maniacs which forces their opponents to go for more, giving them the advantage.

I don't consider these buys pushers because, even like Simon, they're executing a gameplan with percentage plays and just playing smart. You don't have to go for 90s to be a good player. Pusher is a term I'd consider only for players who have no offensive game, but every pro has one.

I´ll have the cream of SumYungGai

 

[6august]

By calling a top pro a pusher, some people just want to express their hatred, bitterness and sorrow.

"Pusher" simply doesn't exist among ATP250 and above. You can't beat a top pro by just Pushing.

Andy's average groundstrokes and net clearance is far from pushing the ball.

 

[Bukmeikara]

Djokovic is even more defensive. At least Murray has variety in his game and isn't David Ferrer on steroids.

Ferrer next to Djokovic is like Mickey Mouse next to Godzila. Watch again Djokovic in 2011 probably only Federer comes nearby him considering succesfull attacking game. I agree that in later years he started playing more % tennis but considering his success, can you blame him?!

 

[OhYes]

A bit harsh from Panatta. He will get his share of bashing from deluded british media who promote Murray as among the Best 5 player ever LOL, but as Italian he won't give a ffck

True

 

[OhYes]

Why isn't this a separate thread?

Because it's kind of nasty to make a thread using this.

 

[tennis_pro]

Because it's kind of nasty to make a thread using this.

Tell me about it...

 

[captainbryce]

The only thing you've said that I agree with so far is that "pusher" is subjective (as your own definition seems to confirm).

In tennis, a pusher is a defensive player who "pushes" back any shot they can chase down, without deliberately hitting a winner. They can angle shots, aim deep, as well as produce effective lobs. Pushers are extremely quick and consistent, rarely making errors. This style of play, similar to a "human backboard", often tires and frustrates more offensive opponents. They will try to win games by eliciting unforced errors from the opponent, i.e. by waiting for them to make the first mistake and losing the point.[1]Pushers love to "dink" balls back with sidespin or backspin, placing their shots at disadvantageous locations for their opponents. The pusher's strategy also tends to involve a fair amount of psychological warfare.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pusher_(tennis)

Both players meet the definition of the word pusher (compared to other top players). That doesn't imply that they ONLY ever play defense, NEVER make unforced errors, NEVER hit winners, and NEVER alter their style of play. But one match is hardly representative of how a player approached tennis throughout the course of a career. "Pusher" is a legitimate tennis strategy and can be successful if employed effectively. That some people don't like that style of play does not mean that a pusher can never win at the top echelons. Players like Hewitt and Murray prove that they can!