Fastdunn, he beat Krajicek in straight sets indoors. He beat Stich easily at the US Open, and on hards just a few months later, beat Korda too same tournie. He owned Rafter and beat Rafter at Wimbledon serving and volleying much of the way(mathc of the tournament according to a BBC reporter) when he lost to him in 96 he said he was tired coming from the Olympics and didn't give as much, their last match after their French bout that year was when Bruguera wasn't playing the same level he did to start the year wheras Rafter was peaking and still a very fun match, saw it.
Did you even see his match against Sampras at the 93 Indoor year ending masters? He won the second set 6-1, when the courts were ridiculously fast and he was NOT using a Babolat or even an RD-7. In fact, he came within two points of winning the second set 6-0. Beginning of the third, Bruguera rifled a return low at Sampras' feet and Sampras just shook his head then turned around bowed down to Bruguera, after that the match was pretty much dead even. Was only one break in the first, and in the third, Bruguera played a loosed game, and Sampras two great points to get one break and close it out but even then Bruguera got some great shots in.
In the French when he lost to Sampras, he was in no shape at all, and still had a ton of break chances which he called one of the most frustrating matches of his career.
He also beat Korda indoors when the courts were lightning fast, he in the grand slam cup in 93 in fact, Korda beat Sampras and Stich in consecutive epic matches to win the title, but in the quarters he barely beat Bruguera in three sets, was like 7-5 in the third or something.
Did you see his match agianst Becker in the 94 year ending semis on Becker's home turf in the year ending championshsips? Becker said he was lucky to have won, that if Brugera didn't choke at the end of the second? In the third, he lapsed mentally Becker just rolled from there on, but it was NOT some streamroll match. He took nearly every single serve on the rise, NOT at all like Muster.
He in fact was one of the BEST indoor players of 94, only a notch below the Beckers of the world, and he also took Agassi to the limit at the masters as well, Becker watched that and se he knew it was going to very close after that.
He was an oft injured player, his fire was either there or it wasn't, as PMac said IF and WHEN he's feeling good physically and confident, THEN a great competitor...otherwise, tanker basically.
Did you see his match against Leconte at the 95 Paris Indoors? Again, very fast surface, and Leconte played extremely fired up and inspired, surreal crowd and vibe, yet Bruguera still reversed the momentum in the third...some GREAT points, Leconte twice applauded Bruguera believe it or not.
Did you see his match against Sampras at the 97 Lipton? Bruguera played some truly unbelievable passes that match, an unbelievable tie-breaker, and in the third, Sampras broke back and tried to get the crowd into it, and yet Bruguera "called his bluff."
Bruguera had some of the best passes in the game, and one of the best backhand return of serves too. His weakness on the return was the forehand, but he did pretty decently chipping it low against Sampras making him volley up on a no pace ball, totally different philosophy than Muster against net rushers. He actually WANTED Sampras to come in before their match, said passing was one of his strengths, again not like Muster.
Also, Bruguera actually took the ball on the rise to return against net rushers on faster surfaces. His chip was the weakness against baseliners, however, who could take advantage of it, or were going for it and "on" for the day. See how Guga and Agassi whooped him at the 96 Olympic finals and the French final. THEN, his chippie return was like a sitting duck.
Brugera also matched up better then Agassi against the running forehand, because Agassi always had a tendency to smother the ball into the net at full run, stubby arms, low top, bad combo. Bruguera on the other hand could often diffuse Sampras' running forehands because he was fast enough, and much better and could flick it back deep with top to the backhand resetting the point. Sampras was the type where IF you could withstand his "knock-out" blows, for an extra shot or two, then chances went up exponentially. Agassi simply didn't have the same speed or reach.
Also, Bruguera's heavy topspin to Sampras' backhand...duh, then add that his backhand was as Tony Trabert said one of the best and most versatile in the game when on. He put on a clinic with his backhand at the Lipton, he could defend, hit moonball, open stance, down the line or cross-court, or for power when he wanted to, plus he held the direction of the ball till the last possible second on the backhand pass because of the way he cocked his wrist. Also, remember Agassi hit much flatter, but not TOO flat like Korda's skidding shots, the ideal strike zone for Sampras. His backhand could go red hot against Agassi at times because of this.
Again, just matchups. It's why Ferreira matched up well with Sampras too, but look at how he did with Agassi. Ferreira was COMPLETELY owned by Agassi. Yet against Sampras? Not so. Same deal, faster than Agassi, more reach than Agassi, just like Bruguera, could track down those running forehands, but also great on the pass.
Ferreira against Agassi though, NEVER. Agassi's the best pretty good serve eater up there ever was, it's against the great serves where he might get into trouble sometimes by gambling too much thus getting aced too much.
Matchups, Bruguera vs. Medvedev, assuming Bruguera was on, very good match up for hm. But Medvedev vs. Kuerten not as good for Kuerten, yet Bruguera's game played perfectly into Kuerten's hands because Kuerten was so tall that Bruguera's main shots, the heavy topspin, didn't bug him at all, they bounced RIGHT into his ideal strike zone, plus awesome concentration. Bruguera hated playing Muster more than anyone, because of this.
Yet, take Kafelnikov on Guga, was outright dismissive at times, basically saying the only reason he won their matches was because he let him, that when he was on his game he was dominating. Kafelnikov played just like Medvedev, yet could hang tough like Guga who even on off days like against Mike Russel fought his heart out literally. When Kafelnikov was at his best, US Open match annihilation is a great example yet one match later? Kafelnikov could do NOTHING against Hewitt.
10times better, maybe to Bruguera, but that's because his game simply matched up well with Sampras'. And also, just because someone says that does not mean he means literally 6-0, 6-0 for Federer in a real match. Of course, taking it too literally. At this level, *slight* differences in match up styles count huge. Maybe was said it was not PC enough, but don't think he meant it LITERALLY.
