Y'all are too kind!
For whatever reason, I usually pick the road less travelled. While the domination of Martina, Chris, Tracy, BJK, etc. intrigued me, I wanted to see other players rise to the occasion and knock them off. So some of those lesser known players ranked from 5th to 30th or so became players of interest for me. I remember watching Martina destroy Claudia Kohde at the French Open 6-0, 6-1 in the early 80's and was in absolute amazement that a player of Claudia's calibur could be taken apart so easily by Martina on her worst surface. Despite the upset loss to Horvath in 83, I think Renee's tactics made Martina's game viable on clay.
I tried to study the strengths and weaknesses of all of these players, and as I was being coached to do in basketball, I was curious to see how these players could capitalize on their opponents' weaknesses while defending their own. Plus, I developed a fascination for players that could step out of their comfort zone and do something that seemed out of character. That's why it thrilled me to see Martina rip a topspin backhand pass or see Chris roll her forehand crosscourt and come in behind it. We have all played the game, and so we know that is such a hard thing to do!
I did the same with the men, but in the 70's and 80's, I thought watching the women and their strategies was the way to learn how to play tennis. Their focus on fundamentals and tactics was easier for me to pick apart and try to apply it to my own game. Today, it is the opposite as I now learn more from the men. But like so many others, I am disappointed that so many of today's pros do not play a complete game.
I like to critique the coaching as well. So I always enjoyed watching and seeing the players implement what Renee Richards, Mike Estep, Betty Stove, Tony Roche, etc. were all telling their players to do. I still think that Pam's coach, Don Candy, was a brilliant strategist. Apparently others did too, because I read where both Martina and Chris asked him for advice off the record. He was a kind man as well. When Hana won the 1980 Australian Open, as a Czech, the car that she won along with the prize money was of little use to her. Don, being an Aussie, sold the car for Hana and gave her all of the money for her to hide from the Czech authorities. How easy it would have been to take advantage of her, but Don was a true Aussie gentleman.
The tour was so different back in those days. That strange mix of friendship, companionship, and competition all coming together to create a wild, wacky, and sometimes volatile mix. It was better than any soap opera!