The Most Entertaining Tennis Player

VetoRight

VetoRight

Rookie
IMO , here are the most entertaining tennis player, all of them have something unique that i always wait will be shown in the match :) :

1. Stevan edberg, the serve n volley technique I think one of the best in tennis history, i love it.

2. Boris becker, the serve n his bachand return serve is so magical.

3. Stevie Graf, beside she is the greatest tennis player with 22 grandslam titles, she is beautiful tennis player that's rare in that era , not like today many tennis player look like super model :).
 
This thread was done not too long ago. I should know, as I started it... To your list, I'd add:

1. John McEnroe, maybe the most beautiful game (and I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder) in tennis history, truly unique, greatest peak year of the open era in 1984.

2. Andre Agassi, watching him take the ball on the rise and dictate play was truly awe-inspiring, especially later in his career

3. Guga, who I just loved to watch grinning from ear to ear as he decimated opponents at the French Open with his smooth, powerful, ground game.

4. Stefan Edberg, in addition to what you said, I'd add that he had an absolutely amazing backhand.

5. Boris Becker, boom-boom, I'll add that I still see him diving around the court winning his first Wimbledon title in my mind every time I watch video of him playing.

Lots of guys I never saw play, so sadly prior to the mid-70s I have no opinion, but I'm sure others will chime in who are older or more interested in early-Open pre-Open Era tennis.
 
Pioline - Most artistic one-handed backhand!

Tsonga - you never know what he's going to do next.

Connors - "This is what they came for. This is what they want."

Federer - artistry in motion.
 
BreakPoint said:
Pioline - Most artistic one-handed backhand!

Tsonga - you never know what he's going to do next.

Connors - "This is what they came for. This is what they want."

Federer - artistry in motion.
Click to expand...

gasquet- sick backhand
gonzo-how hard can he hit it?
monfils-the dance moves/ celebrations are laughs
 
Mikey Fresh said:
Djokovic?>
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BreakPoint said:
Pioline - Most artistic one-handed backhand!

Tsonga - you never know what he's going to do next.

Connors - "This is what they came for. This is what they want."

Federer - artistry in motion.
Click to expand...

I think they haven't retired yet. Bu tsonga , i hope he will be number one, OMO for active pro tennis player now, he is the most entertaining. I always wait for servive n the smash oh tsonga :).
 
charliefedererer said:
Though I'm not that big a fan of his, it was hard to beat the entertainment provided by Jimmy Connors at the US Open.
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I am a fan of his:)

He was definitely right up there as the most entertaining tennis player ever for sure!!!

He absolutely loved playing AND winning AND showed this on the court whenever he went out there. I wish players were more demonstrative on the court these days:)
 
Steffi Graf- da forehand, the athletic ability, the beautiful service motion, those wonderful little steps and footwork adjustments, the focus and concentration on each point.

Navratilova- incredible athletic ability, that amazing coverage and shotmaking at the net, and even sometimes from the ground when hitting passing shots especialy. Her emotions on the court.

Nadal- plays every point with a passion and a determination you cant teach. Wants to get every ball, wants to give his all on every shot. So much personality and passion. Just great.

Sampras- Every shot so smooth and effortless yet with such power and athleticsm behind it at the same time. That amazing leap smash he did, that forehand on the run. Incredible.

Seles- the single minded focus and determination. The way she flung herself into every shot. The accuracy and penetration behind almost every groundstroke, the uncanny accuracy and angles. The way she was looking to pounce on every 2nd serve. The never say die attitude at her best.
 
From the top of my head:

Gustavo Kuerten :D

You can't watch his matches without smiling every now and then. :)
 
VetoRight said:
IMO , here are the most entertaining tennis player, all of them have something unique that i always wait will be shown in the match :) :

1. Stevan edberg, the serve n volley technique I think one of the best in tennis history, i love it.

2. Boris becker, the serve n his bachand return serve is so magical.

3. Stevie Graf, beside she is the greatest tennis player with 22 grandslam titles, she is beautiful tennis player that's rare in that era , not like today many tennis player look like super model :).
Click to expand...

Graf is not the greatest tennis player.
 
Too many people are mentioning play styles. To me, I like a player based on his/her personality. It has nothing to do with their game.

Andre Agassi because he brought a human element to his game. He was up, he was down, and lots of people could relate to that on a personal level.

Verdasco because he shows his emotions on court. I found his Semi with Nadal at the Aus Open far more “dramatic” than the Fed/Nadal wimbledon final. Mostly because of Verdasco and his entourage.

Guys like McEnroe, Safin, Becker… Guys who really emote their disappointment when they make mistakes and play poorly. They’re not afraid to show that they know they’re messing up and they don’t like it regardless of what other people think

Jimmy Connors who tore down the house in 1991. Cool, composed? Forget about it. He was all fire!

To me, players that keep their emotions hidden and just play the game are boring and take the human element out of the sport. I could watch robots hit the ball at 200mph and be just as entertained, what’s the difference? When I watch humans play a sport, I expect them to act human, not like robots.
 
tonyg11 said:
Too many people are mentioning play styles. To me, I like a player based on his/her personality. It has nothing to do with their game.

Andre Agassi because he brought a human element to his game. He was up, he was down, and lots of people could relate to that on a personal level.

Verdasco because he shows his emotions on court. I found his Semi with Nadal at the Aus Open far more “dramatic” than the Fed/Nadal wimbledon final. Mostly because of Verdasco and his entourage.

Guys like McEnroe, Safin, Becker… Guys who really emote their disappointment when they make mistakes and play poorly. They’re not afraid to show that they know they’re messing up and they don’t like it regardless of what other people think

Jimmy Connors who tore down the house in 1991. Cool, composed? Forget about it. He was all fire!

To me, players that keep their emotions hidden and just play the game are boring and take the human element out of the sport. I could watch robots hit the ball at 200mph and be just as entertained, what’s the difference? When I watch humans play a sport, I expect them to act human, not like robots.
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I absolutely agree mate:)

As an example, however a much of a great player Sampras was, it was only towards the end of his career, when he started to show some emotion on the court, that I started to appreciate his play, until then, to many people, he was not entertaining!!!

Well it was entertaining watching his awesome serve and volley and forehand for 3 or 4 games, then it became dull. An amazing sportsman, but not entertaining a lot of the time.
 
I throw some names out.

Nastase-For his touch and artistry.

Mecir-Movement, touch, angles and he played shots that I have rarely seen.

McEnroe-For his incredible reflexes at the net, subtle angles and spins and his weird looking serve that was so effective.

Leconte-For his great skills and personality.

Noah-For his athleticism and his emotion on the court. Also because he took the subway to play the Tournament of Champions in Forest Hills.

Borg-Because you couldn't believe a guy can play like this.

Laver-Because he's Laver.

Kuerten-As someone wrote earlier, he just made you smile.

Goolagong-See Kuerten.

Connors-Just for the pure ball striking and fight.

Henin-Because she could do everything.

Nadal-Because of the way he fights for every point, his speed and the way he improves every time you see him.

Ken Rosewall-Because he was so smooth, economical and his backhand was perfect.
 
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If the rules would change again so players could argue more with the referee without being disqualified it would become more interesting. I loved it when Mcenroe got mad and how Connors reacted at the other end of the net. Emotions should be part of the game. Now they complain about the lack of personalities but what else can you expect. The rules are so strict. Nothing is allowed and they turn players into robots.
Anyone can have their opinion about Mcenroe's behaviour and say it was a disgrace but these same people wanted to see him. Change the rules back and tennis will become much more popular again.
 
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First Tier: Laver,Connors,Mac and Becker

Second Tier: Rosewall,Edberg,Nastase and Sampras

Third Tier:Ashe,Panatta,Orantes and Roche

4 th tier: Rafter, Gerulaitis, Leconte and Mecir
 
1970´s: Laver,Rosewall,Connors,Nastase,Panatta,Ashe and Vitas
1980´s: Mac,Edberg,Becker,Cash and Mecir
1990´s: Rafter,Stich,Sampras,Agassi and Korda
2000´s: Safin,Federer ( rest is boring, including Nadal,Hewitt,Djoko)
 
What?!

Why no Kafelnikov, Wilander, Rafa, Tracy Austin, Chris Evert or Andrea Jeager?
Where is Chang? Aranxta Sanchez? Mary Joe Fernandez? Thomas Muster? How in the heck did Jim Courier not make this thread?

Kidding.
This is a great thread. All of my favorites:
Goran Ivanisevic, Evonne Goolagong, Maria Bueno, Guga, Mac, Becker, Edberg, Noah, Leconte, Nastase, Federer, Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, Edberg, Sampras, Cashy, Rafter, Mandlikova, Navratilova, BJKing, Stich, Safin, Rios, Arazi...if I may add Ronald Agenor, Manuel Santana and Manolo Orantes.
 
slice bh compliment said:
What?!

Why no Kafelnikov, Wilander, Rafa, Tracy Austin, Chris Evert or Andrea Jeager?
Where is Chang? Aranxta Sanchez? Mary Joe Fernandez? Thomas Muster? How in the heck did Jim Courier not make this thread?

Kidding.
This is a great thread. All of my favorites:
Goran Ivanisevic, Evonne Goolagong, Maria Bueno, Guga, Mac, Becker, Edberg, Noah, Leconte, Nastase, Federer, Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, Edberg, Sampras, Cashy, Rafter, Mandlikova, Navratilova, BJKing, Stich, Safin, Rios, Arazi...if I may add Ronald Agenor, Manuel Santana and Manolo Orantes.
Click to expand...

Great list!!
 
Thanks, man.
Arthur Ashe played some high-voltage tennis, too. And he was easy to root for.

Time for a secondary list:
I also liked Johan Kriek on a good day, Wojtek Fibak, Chris Lewis, Guillermo Vilas, Gaston Gaudio, Jaime Oncins, Fernando Gonzalez, Shuzo Matsuoka, Nicolas Pereira, Gianluca Pozzi, Charlie Steeb, Slobodan Zivojinovic, Paradorn Srichaphan, Yayuk Basuki, Dally Randriantefy, Nino Louarsabishvili, Martin Damm, Virginia Ruzici, Mima Jausovec, Juan Aguilera, Eric Fromm, Simon Youl, Jason Stoltenberg, Gabriela Sabatini and Cassio Motta.

Adding Tsonga, the new Becker.
 
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FedExpress 333 said:
Obviously Bahrami.
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I've only seen videos of Bahrami playing in recent years, at seniors events or as part of the invitational doubles at GS tournaments.

How did he play when he was actually on tour? Did he play singles and doubles? What kind of results did he have? Did he clown and hit trick shots, or play seriously?
 
Jimmy's histrionics are legendary. What a charismatic performer.

Michael Chang's heart and improbable success are now legendary.

Agassi's duck walk and frequent hookups with the superior Sampras, a great contrast in personalities and games, was fun to watch.


Today, Serena's complete dominance is pretty amazing. I doubt she has a natural physique, but hey, that's a topic for another thread.
 
tonyg11 said:
Jimmy Connors who tore down the house in 1991. Cool, composed? Forget about it. He was all fire!
Click to expand...
Yeah, and he was all gamesmanship, whipping the crowd into a frenzy at the expense of his opponents. Lucky them, they stood waiting as Jimbo posed and preened for the crowd and bought himself lots of extra time between points. Nice.
 
Most entertaining player? In the past 25 years, Tommy Muster gets my vote. Hands down. (Arazi is an excellent choice, though. Pioline, too.)
 
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