Petr Korda-Shot maker?

[Tenny]

Hi all,

I've just watched 97 USopen Korda df. Sampras match. What a great match! I am very impressed by P. Korda. Mostly he played baseliner style and I realized that kind of style can be fun, too! Guga's 2000 championship match destroying Agassi was another example of impressive matches I watched recently. Are these players (Guga, Korda) good examples of 'shot makers'? I don't know exact definition. Any help on this and examples?

Also, what is the Volkl racquet Korda used (Black with yellow color)?
Who is the lady in Sampras' box? She is good looking but looks a little bit like Frodo.
I consider Sampras a shotmaker with power (esp. serve of course) or a Power player with shotmaking ability. Great and rare combination. What do you think?

 

[gifted_shotmaker]

The best definition of a shot-maker is Marat Safin, IMO. Basically someone who can hit or come up with all shots.

 

[Bogie]

this is a shot in the dark but, maybe federer???

 

[Richie Rich]

Korda's racquet was c-10 pro or pro tour (93 sq inch version).

Woman in Sampras' box was his girfriend at the time - can't remember first name but last name was Mulcahey (sp). Dropped her to marry his actress wife.

 

[Chadwixx]

Rios and Arazi make some nice shots

 

[Tenny]

The best definition of a shot-maker is Marat Safin, IMO. Basically someone who can hit or come up with all shots.

Er, Safin is amazing but it's a little bit different from my idea of shotmaker. I saw Guga hit 1. crazy angles, 2. shots from impossible position, drop shots, FH, BH, topspin, slice, all the fancy stuffs. So, he is an example of my version 'shotmaker', IMO.

I am wondering who is considered a typical shotmaker.

 

[gifted_shotmaker]

Er, Safin is amazing but it's a little bit different from my idea of shotmaker. I saw Guga hit 1. crazy angles, 2. shots from impossible position, drop shots, FH, BH, topspin, slice, all the fancy stuffs. So, he is an example of my version 'shotmaker', IMO.

I am wondering who is considered a typical shotmaker.

Safin can do all that you mentioned plus more on good days. Safin can make players look like club level sometimes.

 

[Grimjack]

To me, Safin (when he's on) performs all the basics with laser-like precision and ballistic power. He's like the ultimate textbook come to life. But I rarely if ever see the sort of tennis artistry out of him that I did out of a Rios or McEnroe type. Neither style is better, and if I had to pick one over the other when it came to gambling my life's fortune, I'll take the basics/fundamentals guy playing at his peak over the shotmaker every time.

But there's something about a true shotmaker that captures the imagination. Crazy spins and impossible angles. Poor tactical choices that turn out brilliantly because of the player's ability to improvise mid-stroke and make the seemingly impossible happen.

To my mind, this isn't Safin. Korda, yeah. Arazi, yeah. Rios, yeah. Not Borg, not Lendl, not Nadal, not Agassi, not Safin. It isn't good or bad. It just is what it is.

 

[gifted_shotmaker]

Grimjack, do you not agree when Safin's on he fits your description of a true shotmaker? You say you rarely see it out of him. Example- Safin was on during the match against Federer in the AO semis this year

But there's something about a true shotmaker that captures the imagination. Crazy spins and impossible angles. Poor tactical choices that turn out brilliantly because of the player's ability to improvise mid-stroke and make the seemingly impossible happen.

Safin performed all on this list.

 

[Grimjack]

Safin was definitely on. And the way I saw it, he was able to win because he wore Federer down by hitting through him. Solid, textbook balls, deep and heavy as hell. Timely approaches and intelligent netplay.

When I say Safin isn't winning through what I think of as "shotmaking," it isn't critical of him. It isn't a negative. He doesn't need gimmickry when he's at his best, because his fundamentals combined with his physical prowess make hima virtually irresistable force when he's at his best. It's guys who don't have that raw physical force to rely upon who need to (and do, occasionally) become shotmakers in the tennis-artistic sense.

So no, I didn't see that out of Safin at the AO. I saw a really, truly excellent display of tennis played the way it was meant to be played. Not fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants stuff.

Interestingly, if I had to pick a couple guys who seem to produce tennis that combines fundamental solidity and effortless shotmaking artistry, Sampras and Federer would be right at the top of that list. Perhaps that's why they seem to stand out from the crowd.

 

[mgm]

Korda is perfect example of a shot maker he could hit clean winners off both wings on any one.Beautiful one backhand soft hands at the net.Pioline was another shot maker when his was on. Safin is more of power baseliner one deep shot can setup his next shot,when his head is screw on right Safin is not a shot maker IMO.

 

[mctennis]

Back to the original question of Petr Korda's racquet. He use to use a C10 Comp ( 93 sq in) then went to the C10 Pro ( 98 sq in) or a C10 Pro Tour (93 sq in). If the racquet was bright yellow and black it was the C10 Pro series if the racquet was mostly black with a bit of faint yellow on it then it was the C10 Comp series. Before Petr used the C10 Comp he used the Volkl T9-30 bright red racquet. He also used some of the T9-30's with paint jobs to look like the C10 Comps. Volkl T9-30's also has the V shaped throat ( like the new Volkl V series now). The C10 Comp does not have the V shaped throat. Petr had a bunch ( I heard 250) of the T9-30's made with paint jobs during the conversion. Each one had a # from 1 to whatever amount he had made up. Petr was a great shot maker and a great player to watch. He has a very pinpoint backhand. I believe that was his best shot. That and his scissor kick he displayed. lol.

 

[mctennis]

If anyone has that DVD or tape of that match or his Australian Open win please contact me at mctennis@excite.com. I'd like to have a copy.

 

[Datacipher]

To me, Safin (when he's on) performs all the basics with laser-like precision and ballistic power.

Korda, yeah. Arazi, yeah. Rios, yeah. Not Borg, not Lendl, not Nadal, not Agassi, not Safin. It isn't good or bad. It just is what it is.

Yes. Agree totally on Safin, he's a straight forward baseliner who's physical qualities give him the edge.

Young Agassi however makes the shotmaker list in my book, particularly in the 80's!

Korda, Leconte, Federer, Nasty, Mcenroe, Arazi, Rios, actually sometimes even guys not thought of like Ferreira and Kiefer qualify in my book.

 

[Grimjack]

Yes. Agree totally on Safin, he's a straight forward baseliner who's physical qualities give him the edge.

Young Agassi however makes the shotmaker list in my book, particularly in the 80's!

Korda, Leconte, Federer, Nasty, Mcenroe, Arazi, Rios, actually sometimes even guys not thought of like Ferreira and Kiefer qualify in my book.

Actually, yeah, Agassi presents an interesting transition from go-for-broke shotmaker to high-percentage robot during the course of his career. Equally interesting is that he was successful with both styles.

I liked to watch him a lot more when he'd go for a winner from anywhere on the court.

 

[Tenny]

If anyone has that DVD or tape of that match or his Australian Open win please contact me at mctennis@excite.com. I'd like to have a copy.

mctennis and others, thanks for the detailed inputs. mctennis, go and check this site. I believe many of us get DVDs from here. Hmm, Adrian should give me some free DVDs, he he. Ah, his are all good quality at good price.

http://www.tennisdvds.net/

 

[Tenny]

what's wrong with Arazi's right arm???

Thanks for the postings!

I just watched a brief segment of 98 Rafter df. Sampras at US open. Before the main match, there were two scenes from
1. Sampras getting mad after defeated by Rafter at a tournament (It's very funny that Sampras seems to have more grudge towards Rafter than Agassi etc.)

2. Rafter playing against Arazi (isn't he bald now? Here he seems to have some hair...). Arazi was hitting variety of shots (Lob, Slice, here and there, cool!). Then I noticed his right arm just hanging loosely. Was he injured or was it just usual for him? Very weird...