Spadea: Machine

[Chopin]

I'd like to just point people to this video, which illustrates how good an ATP Pro is. These guys are machines and are playing tennis at a higher level than ever before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8npGD6DeYo

EDIT: Mediocre is too strong a word for a guy like Spadea. He's awesome.

 

[AM95]

yea I realized that 2 years ago when I had a coach who was in the top 300 before his back injury. These guys just never mess up...it's remarkable

 

[Chopin]

Even playing a really oustanding college player can be quite an experience, to say nothing of any ATP pro. It's amazing. How anyone can see we have a "weak era" is beyond me.

 

[Claudius]

delete post

 

[Chopin]

delete post

What are you talking about?

 

[doom]

I dont understand how a guy who has been in the top 20 and has beaten several number ones can be considered a 'mediocre' pro.

What percentage of professional players ever get into the top 20? Maybe less than 5%? Maybe even 1%?

 

[iscottius]

I dont understand how a guy who has been in the top 20 and has beaten several number ones can be considered a 'mediocre' pro.

What percentage of professional players ever get into the top 20? Maybe less than 5%? Maybe even 1%?

spadea has been disrespected his whole career.

 

[slice bh compliment]

Vince and his coach are working on keeping the right knee down during the shot and the follow-through. They comment that it is helping him keep the ball in with some top.

Nice audio....despite the wind.

Thanks for posting that link here.

Vinny taped that and posted it himself. And yeah, he's kind of a Florida>CA version of a Guido. At least he used to be.

 

[OrangeOne]

I dont understand how a guy who has been in the top 20 and has beaten several number ones can be considered a 'mediocre' pro.

What percentage of professional players ever get into the top 20? Maybe less than 5%? Maybe even 1%?

Absolutely less than 1%. No question. Players that are pro - let's say the top 500 or so - turnover at a high rate as they don't make it. Players in the top 20 are normally there for a while - turnover is comparatively low.

I like the point you make too - too many people are too quick to make idiotic calls. A quick check - Spadea was inside the top 100 for about 14 years, and has banked $5,007,205 in prizemoney.

Mediocre much?

 

[joshburger]

his rapping is better than his tennis which is pathetic. and i couldbeat him in a rap off... if your reading this vince, i challenge you!

 

[OrangeOne]

his rapping is better than his tennis which is pathetic. and i couldbeat him in a rap off... if your reading this vince, i challenge you!

Show me someone who is 'pathetic' at a worldwide endeavour and has earnt 5 million bucks over a career...

 

[Rhino]

Spadea is a legend.

 

[malakas]

Show me someone who is 'pathetic' at a worldwide endeavour and has earnt 5 million bucks over a career...

paris hilton.


Any pro in the top 250 is what you would call .."remarkable"..especially a former top 20er.
I think Spadea also holds the record for most consecutive first round defeats?

 

[Puma]

Absolutely less than 1%. No question. Players that are pro - let's say the top 500 or so - turnover at a high rate as they don't make it. Players in the top 20 are normally there for a while - turnover is comparatively low.

I like the point you make too - too many people are too quick to make idiotic calls. A quick check - Spadea was inside the top 100 for about 14 years, and has banked $5,007,205 in prizemoney.

Mediocre much?

Good points you make.

Sadly, here on a tennis site people would be willing to take shots at a guy like Spadea. He was better than us so long ago it not even funny.

 

[blackfrido]

I dont understand how a guy who has been in the top 20 and has beaten several number ones can be considered a 'mediocre' pro.

What percentage of professional players ever get into the top 20? Maybe less than 5%? Maybe even 1%?

I agree with you 100%. I'm tired of reading here words such mediocre, fat, etc about professional athetles.
It seems to be that these posters never played tennis or any sports at all. They have to understand how difficult and how you have to work to get to that mediovre level

 

[borg number one]

Yes, to be in the top 500 even takes incredible determination, talent, finances, and lots of luck. Vince Spadea has played some impressive tennis over the years.

So, it's just that there are hundreds of such "machines" out on the Pro Tour.


See some wikipedia material:

He reached a career high ATP Champions Race position of World No.10 in April 2003 , as well as a career-high ATP ranking of World No. 18, achieved in February 2005. He has career prize money earnings of over $5,000,000, in addition he signed endorsement deals with Adidas and Levi's Strauss that were in the six and seven figure range. Spadea has ATP career singles wins over Roger Federer (1-2 record), Pete Sampras (1-4), Andre Agassi (2-4), Rafael Nadal (1-1), Andy Roddick (1-2), Patrick Rafter, Richard Krajicek, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Jim Courier, Michael Chang, Marat Safin, and Gustavo Kuerten. He is a 2-time Olympian team member (2000 Sydney/2004 Athens).


Spadea started 2008 with outstanding results at the Australian Open making it to the third round. In the first round Spadea had an epic comeback from two sets down to defeat former world number 8 Radek Štěpánek, he celebrated with numerous dances and raps. 2008 marked Spadea's 13th year as a top 100 ranked player. He closed the season by winning 2 Challenger titles in Waco,TX and Calabasas,CA. This takes him to a personal best 9 career pro singles titles.

 

[VGP]

I think Spadea also holds the record for most consecutive first round defeats?

I think so too. But, most guys don't hold a ranking high enough to get, or qualify for, or receive wild cards based on their reputation to be granted main draw entry to lose that many first round singles matches.

I don't know many (if any) posters on this board that are/were even good enough to be/have been granted wild card entry into the doubles qualifying rounds of a small tournament on the ATP.....