Taylor Dent: This is the Story of the Year

[Marius_Hancu]

What Federer, what Nadal, what GOAT, what Grand Slams?

Look at what this guy has had to deal with and how he has come out a victor on and off the court!

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Q. How long did you spend in bed?

TAYLOR DENT: My first surgery was early March. That was until ‑‑ September was my next surgery. That March till September, late September, I was in bed all day long. So I think that comes just eight months solid in bed all day long.

Then my next surgery I was in bed for a couple more months after that. So it ended up being close to a year. It was just under a year total that I was in bed for pretty much 23 hours a day.

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interviews/2009-09-01/200909011251859746625.html
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interviews/2009-09-04/200909031252033500765.html
----

Great play in beating Lopez yesterday. Great S-Ving from both guys. Very spectacular match. Should have been on center court as an advertisement for the game.

The show these guys put on! Not the boring stuff sold elsewhere.

That a guy who went through very difficult back surgeries involving broken vertebrae, which could have left him paralyzed, is able to play like this, is mindboggling.

Hang on tough, Taylor!

 

[dropshot winner]

Back surgeries must be horrifying...

Funny how he mentions that "World of Warcraft" saved him from depression, usually this game kills people's social life .

 

[fantom]

I read that interview this morning and was shocked to hear how long he spent in bed. It is amazing that he's back playing pro tennis. If he wins another couple of matches they will probably give the story some serious air time.

 

[drakulie]

Thanks for the thread, Marius. I met, Taylor at the Sony Miami this year. Super, SUPER nice guy. he was practicing with his wife. During one of the breaks he came over so I could get a photo, and stayed talkiing for a little bit. A bunch of others came over, and he was patient, took pictures, answered questions, etc. Everyone was wishing him well, and telling him how glad he was back on the tour.

When he played, Fed, his serve and volley game brought that match to life for me.

Hoping this guy could really make a comeback. LOVE HIS GAME!

 

[wyutani]

if he wins a grand slam, his story will be bigger than lance armstrong.

 

[sureshs]

At least he could afford health care

 

[hellonewman]

Kudos to Taylor Dent for a hard fought win last night. I was there courtside, and the 1st 2 sets were high quality riveting stuff from two serve and volley players.

Lopez had chances to win the 2nd set tiebreak, but blew 2 overheads to lose it. He dipped noticeably in the last 2 sets.

That said, Dent played really really well.

 

[FlamEnemY]

Let's hope he gets the chance to pour some beer in the trophy

 

[IvanAndreevich]

if he wins a grand slam, his story will be bigger than lance armstrong.

Hell no. One thing is having a back injury, another is dieing from cancer.

 

[dropshot winner]

Hell no. One thing is having a back injury, another is dieing from cancer.

OTOH Dent didn't use EPO...

 

[JoelDali]

Taylor rocks! Great win. Will be there tomorrow for his next match.

 

[tennisdad65]

I love his game..

BUT has he changed his serving style? Does he still hit his twist serves with his back arched, rather than knee bend and body rotation?

If he has not changed his serve, it is only a matter of time before his back goes out again.

 

[abmk]

Great thread. Major props to dent. He has a great game ..

 

[JoelDali]

His serve motion looks eerily similar to Sampras'. Its beautiful.

 

[Sentinel]

A few Spanish people called me some names, but that's okay.

LOL,


Vamos Taylor !!!

 

[bdon]

Taylor Dent is a WoW nerd!!

 

[Lifted]

As many have noted above, Taylor plays a great game, and I hope to see a lot more of him this USO and in the future.

 

[gatorbait01]

Been trying to find out how he injured his back to begin with. Anyone know?

Broken vertebrae sounds like a car accident or something. Not the usual slipped or bulging disc.

 

[Sentinel]

^^^ iirc, its his serving technique.

Perhaps Dr Fraudace can enlighten us ;-)

 

[Aonex]

Taylor Dent is a WoW nerd!!

This. I wonder what class he plays.

 

[zagor]

This. I wonder what class he plays.

Probably paladin .

 

[Marius_Hancu]

Check his interview after the great match with Navarro:
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interviews/2009-09-04/200909031252033500765.html

 

[dragnoth]

I think its really wonderful that after all that he's back to tennis, take a lotta guts to do that and he's doing it well too. I mean like his volleys are crisp and WTH. his serve bloody hell broke the net in his 2nd round match? how often do you see that?

 

[drwood]

OTOH Dent didn't use EPO...

Neither did Armstrong.

 

[drwood]

Back surgeries must be horrifying...

Not usually. Most people do pretty well. The key is to have it done by a neurosurgeon and not an orthopaedic surgeon.