kiki
Banned
Behind Ashe and Smith, the US came back to prominence in the early 70´s with a solid group of players.Ralston had had his best years in the second half of the 60´s.Graebner , much alike, but Lutz and Gorman were among the world´s finest players.Riessen had great WCT seasons, qualifying for the finals twice and beating a few times Rod Laver.Richey was also a major semifinalist (USO and RG) and lead the first Grand Prix points table.
Riessen and Richey were solid, great fighters, great Fh but not what you´d call a complete all round player.marty had even more success in doubles, and became one of the decade´s best doubles mates.Okker,Ashe,Stewart can give proof of that.
Tom Gorman is very underrated.he reached the semis at RG,USO,Masters, beat Laver at 71 Wimbledon and scored big wins against many of the best players.He had a very complete all round game and a fantastic tactical sense.I really liked watching this guy play during his prime years ( 1971-73).
He was a truly sportsman: he was a mp away of eliminating Smith at the 72 Masters semi but, knowing he wouldn´t play the final ( he was injuried and could nothold on for longer), he retired and let Smith in, thus assuring the public that there would be a final.
And Lutz, well, Laver and Rosewall, I think said he was clearly the most talented of the young americans of the early 70´s.He is one of the bad cases of injuries but, when he could play his best tennis, he was also one of the finest to watch players, be it in singles or in doubles ( Lutz and Smith were one of the world´s best teams for a decade and still won the 1980 US Open well past their prime).
He had everything to succeed.Big return, great serve, lightening volleys, and a very agressive atittude.I remember how brilliant he was at times but, as I said, unfortunately, injuries tore him apart.
After this generation of players, whose leaders were Asne and Stan Smith, we got the generation of the early 50´s, led by Connors, and including Tanner,Gottfried,Solomon,Stockton and Dibbs.
With those two generations, the US leadership was well stablished in the first half of the decade.
and a solid DC stelward, too, being Smith´s teammate in the famous 1972 final agaisnt Rumania.
Riessen and Richey were solid, great fighters, great Fh but not what you´d call a complete all round player.marty had even more success in doubles, and became one of the decade´s best doubles mates.Okker,Ashe,Stewart can give proof of that.
Tom Gorman is very underrated.he reached the semis at RG,USO,Masters, beat Laver at 71 Wimbledon and scored big wins against many of the best players.He had a very complete all round game and a fantastic tactical sense.I really liked watching this guy play during his prime years ( 1971-73).
He was a truly sportsman: he was a mp away of eliminating Smith at the 72 Masters semi but, knowing he wouldn´t play the final ( he was injuried and could nothold on for longer), he retired and let Smith in, thus assuring the public that there would be a final.
And Lutz, well, Laver and Rosewall, I think said he was clearly the most talented of the young americans of the early 70´s.He is one of the bad cases of injuries but, when he could play his best tennis, he was also one of the finest to watch players, be it in singles or in doubles ( Lutz and Smith were one of the world´s best teams for a decade and still won the 1980 US Open well past their prime).
He had everything to succeed.Big return, great serve, lightening volleys, and a very agressive atittude.I remember how brilliant he was at times but, as I said, unfortunately, injuries tore him apart.
After this generation of players, whose leaders were Asne and Stan Smith, we got the generation of the early 50´s, led by Connors, and including Tanner,Gottfried,Solomon,Stockton and Dibbs.
With those two generations, the US leadership was well stablished in the first half of the decade.
and a solid DC stelward, too, being Smith´s teammate in the famous 1972 final agaisnt Rumania.
