TTW SURVEY => Since when are you following Tennis with vivid memories and a proper understanding of Tennis ?

[Adam Copeland]

Please mention since which year you are following Tennis actively.

This means you should have a proper memories of matches and understanding of Tennis as well at some impressionable level from that year.
This is a survey to get a normal understanding of the mindset of the users though I am sure most users in this forum are extremely knowledgeable and following Tennis since ages.

 

[Deleted member 748597]

Seeing Kramer straight-set Brown in the Wimbledon 1947 final made me a tennis fan.

 

[D.Nalby12]

My first match was Wimbledon 2009 final. 50 aces by Federer is my first a tennis memory. Then I watched some important events in 2010 like Wimbledon, USO, WTF. Became regular follower since WTF 2010.

 

[Adam Copeland]

Seeing Kramer straight-set Brown in the Wimbledon 1947 final made me a tennis fan.

Lol ... Vote properly please @Nole Slam

Even @Poisoned Slice seems to have voted something unbelievable

 

[Nole_King]

First memory of tennis - Boris Becker diving on grass. Didn't even knew how the game was played, but he became an instant favorite Such a heartbreak when he lost those two finals to Edberg, especially the 1990 - and then the same night Argentina also lost

 

[Deleted member 748597]

Lol ... Vote properly please @Nole Slam

Okay, it was when Trabert straight-setted Rosewall in the US Open 1955 final.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

Sorry, I'll be serious for a minute.

I was watching it in the late 80s but only because my parents watched Wimbledon. Started getting into it around 1991 when I bonded with Agassi. The triumph next year is the greatest early sporting memory. Came a year before United won the Premier League.

 

[Ledigs]

First memory was seeing jimmy connors in the later 80s. I closely followed grand slams in the 90s. I’ve attended every US Open since 2009 (when I could finally afford it). I have followed masters and all relevant players since 2009ish.

 

[Red Rick]

Proper understanding I'm getting there any day now. Just one more GOAT thread.

 

[Nole_King]

Sorry, I'll be serious for a minute.

I was watching it in the late 80s but only because my parents watched Wimbledon. Started getting into it around 1991 when I bonded with Agassi. The triumph next year is the greatest early sporting memory. Came a year before United won the Premier League.

That 92 win of Agassi has to be one of the all time best wins at Wimbledon. He was a proper baseliner playing against some real heavy servers and that too in an edition with lot of rain around, In my memory of watching Wimbledon, it is right there at the top.

 

[intrepidish]

It was the Connors/Borg/McEnroe/Panatta/Vilas years which got me started as a youngster playing and watching.

I don't know how many people here lived through that but it seemed like a miracle to have any news about so many tour events. I can recall how hard it was to see live matches even from slams much less the other significant tournaments.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

That 92 win of Agassi has to be one of the all time best wins at Wimbledon. He was a proper baseliner playing against some real heavy servers and that too in an edition with lot of rain around, In my memory of watching Wimbledon, it is right there at the top.

Yeah, it was brilliant. I can remember the commentators making a big deal out of Ivanisevic beating Sampras in the other semi, like it was a big shock. I didn't know about PETE yet. The future tells us we got lucky it was Ivanisevic in the final.

 

[augustobt]

First tennis match was Guga vs Dewulf for 1997 RG. It was broadcasted in the same network that used to show Saint Seiya (that I was a huge fan at the time). It's literally one of my first tennis memories.

 

[maratha_warrior]

My elder brother is a Fed fan , he used to watch matches during 2004-09 .
I was a kid and didn't understand much but used to enjoy watching it lol

Once i spotted Novak during that time and instantly became his fan .
Never expected him to win so many slams.
2011 was a cheery on the top for me, as a fan.

 

[Arak]

I started watching tennis with Steffi Graf and Boris Becker. Before that, I had a mild interest watching finals with players like Borg, McEnroe and Connors. During that time, tennis coverage was very limited in my country, so I didn’t really have other options. Grand slams were fully covered but on one channel only, so only one live match was shown at a time. The good old analog days.

 

[onefineday]

1987.

 

[Chanwan]

First memory of tennis - Boris Becker diving on grass. Didn't even knew how the game was played, but he became an instant favorite Such a heartbreak when he lost those two finals to Edberg, especially the 1990 - and then the same night Argentina also lost

My first memory of tennis is also Becker vs. Edberg at Wimbledon. Can't claim to have had a proper understanding back then though

 

[Poisoned Slice]

 

[alexio]

first vivd memory is that roddick el aynaoui epic match in australia, of course before that it was safin vs sampras and youzhny in davis cup that mythical encounter, but can't say it's vivid memory simply coz i've heard about that but didn't watch it, still haven't reached proper understanding of tennis though

 

[Mustard]

1990 is when I started following tennis, but I've certainly learned about past eras before that, particularly 1974-1989.

 

[TopspintheTerrible]

I’ve been following the sport since ‘74 when players smoked cigarettes on changeovers like real men. It’s been all downhill since they banned smoking on court.

 

[ND-13]

Borg vs McEnroe , McEnroe vs Connors , McEnroe vs Pernfors are some early matches that i recall.

 

[Sport]

Wimbledon 2003 final. First match I ever saw.

 

[Martin J]

End of 80s. Even though I was a kid back then, my father was a club player and tennis was very popular in our home. First memories are Becker and Edberg at Wimbledon and Monika Seleš (I think the first big one she won - Berlin), and my fav players were Sampras and Seleš.

 

[kishnabe]

Start watching Tennis fervently in 2007.

I have seen the odd match when it was on the telly 2000-2005.

 

[Sudacafan]

I started watching tennis in the mid to late 70’s, but I’m very young at heart.

 

[GhostOfNKDM]

1984 Wimbledon championship finals. I remember Martina v Chrissy better.

All I remember about the men's final was Johnny Mac's hair and headband lol

But I remember the occasion vividly because my family bought a new 'color' TV in time for the 84 summer Olympics, which was right after Wimbledon

 

[GhostOfNKDM]

End of 80s. Even though I was a kid back then, my father was a club player and tennis was very popular in our home. First memories are Becker and Edberg at Wimbledon and Monika Seleš (I think the first big one she won - Berlin), and my fav players were Sampras and Seleš.

1985-95 were my best memories of tennis. Loved watching Steffi, Edberg, Becker, Martina, Jmac, Stich, Cash...

When the trio of Courier, Agassi and Sampras came on the scene, Agassi became my favorite.

 

[Poisoned Slice]

End of 80s. Even though I was a kid back then, my father was a club player and tennis was very popular in our home. First memories are Becker and Edberg at Wimbledon and Monika Seleš (I think the first big one she won - Berlin), and my fav players were Sampras and Seleš.

I've learned that platonic love can exist between two grown men. Andre Agassi played a huge role in this.

And I've learned something, too. I've learned that a flawless profile, a perfect body, the right clothes, and a great car can get you far in America - almost to the top - but it can't get you everything.

 

[spottishwood]

I started watching in 2007. Saw Gonzalez straight setting Haas. Surprisingly became a Haas fan.

 

[socallefty]

In the Borg era.

 

[mehdimike]

I started following tennis seriously at the age of 29 in 2019. I guess Fedal Semi at RG was my first experience of watching Rafa at RG. Since then I have been following almost all big tourneys.
In 2020 I started watching snooker and that has been fun too

 

[Nole_King]

My first memory of tennis is also Becker vs. Edberg at Wimbledon. Can't claim to have had a proper understanding back then though

I have pretty clear memory 87 onwards. Becker's shock loss to Doohan which is probably still the biggest shock at Wimbledon followed by the famous nobody died comment, Lendl beating Edberg in SF and then losing out to Cash after leading 5-2 in the third set. Next year Becker streamrolling Cash and then losing the final after being ahead. 89 was a brutal display by him in the final beating an in form Edberg. 90 was the real heartbreak - he lost first two sets 6-2 6-2 and the commentators joked that probably he was in hurry to fly out to Rome. He came back to win next two sets 6-3,6-3 and was leading 3-1 in the final . 91 was a big letdown of a final where Becker hardly turned up after Stich prevented a fourth consecutive Becker Edberg final by winning those three tiebreaks - still remember that horrible double fault at one of the set points by Edberg where the second serve landed outside the tramline.

Becker Edberg rivalry was so good. My bro being an Edberg fan used to have bragging rights as he lead Becker 3-1 in slams and with non slams not covered by TV, I was not aware of their wider rivalry. It was much later when both retired that I came to know that Becker kind of owned Edberg outside of slams

 

[Nole_King]

1984 Wimbledon championship finals. I remember Martina v Chrissy better.

All I remember about the men's final was Johnny Mac's hair and headband lol

But I remember the occasion vividly because my family bought a new 'color' TV in time for the 84 summer Olympics, which was right after Wimbledon

My family was only 4 years late. Got a color TV just before the Seoul olympics. What times when such decisions were dictated by important upcoming milestone

 

[Nole_King]

1985-95 were my best memories of tennis. Loved watching Steffi, Edberg, Becker, Martina, Jmac, Stich, Cash...

When the trio of Courier, Agassi and Sampras came on the scene, Agassi became my favorite.

Steffi Graf - simply wow. Has there been any player with such perfect beauty & grace. Her how much money do you have remark still cracks me up

 

[estigma2001]

Since 1984 Davis Cup Peru-Brazil in Lima then following Boris Becker, Andre Agassi....

 

[Thriller]

Arthur Ashe vs Jimmy Connors at Wimbledon 1975 is where it started.
My fandom lineage is
Ashe -- Borg -- Lendl / Becker / Edberg -- Sampras / Henman --Rios / Moya -- Nadal -- Nadal / Djokovic / Murray -- Nadal / Murray

 

[Steffi-forever]

First match I saw was the final between Graf vs Sanchez Vicario at 1995 French Open, and the next day it was Muster-Chang!

 

[BGod]

1995 and 1999

I immigrated to Canada in 95 and I quickly found out about the Sampras vs. Agassi rivalry in 96-97. But I didn't start watching matches regularly until 98 and moreso understanding in 99 when Agassi had his monster year. I started playing tennis in summer of 99 so it was cool because Agassi was winning in Australia but I'd have to sneak to watch most of his matches. I quickly hated Sampras with a passion and watched his 01 match loss to Fed and became an instant Roger fan, but Agassi was my #1. The 2002 USO and 2003 AO Slams were the first one I tried to watched extensively.

 

[alexio]

1995 and 1999

I immigrated to Canada in 95 and I quickly found out about the Sampras vs. Agassi rivalry in 96-97. But I didn't start watching matches regularly until 98 and moreso understanding in 99 when Agassi had his monster year. I started playing tennis in summer of 99 so it was cool because Agassi was winning in Australia but I'd have to sneak to watch most of his matches. I quickly hated Sampras with a passion and watched his 01 match loss to Fed and became an instant Roger fan, but Agassi was my #1. The 2002 USO and 2003 AO Slams were the first one I tried to watched extensively.

from russia?

 

[TheNachoMan]

Federer vs Nadal Wimbledon 2007 final is my earliest memory of watching tennis.

 

[GhostOfNKDM]

.

1995 and 1999

I immigrated to Canada in 95 and I quickly found out about the Sampras vs. Agassi rivalry in 96-97. But I didn't start watching matches regularly until 98 and moreso understanding in 99 when Agassi had his monster year. I started playing tennis in summer of 99 so it was cool because Agassi was winning in Australia but I'd have to sneak to watch most of his matches. I quickly hated Sampras with a passion and watched his 01 match loss to Fed and became an instant Roger fan, but Agassi was my #1. The 2002 USO and 2003 AO Slams were the first one I tried to watched extensively.

Same here.

I went off to college in 1995 and watching tennis on TV became less frequent, but my brother and I stayed in touch and bonded over Agassi. We hated Sampras with a passion.

Steffi marrying Agassi was a total 'fangirl' moment for me (I'm a guy lol)

@Steffi-forever

 

[Sabrina]

Hewitt - Agassi 2002 Us - first match I was watching live with my parents. It has been nearly 20 years since that.

At the very next GS, Bumped into Roddick - Schuettler SF AO and became a Roddick fan from that tournament. As for Nadal, my first memory about him was in 2004 in a double match, he was partnering Tommy Robredo at that time. However, I didn't really became a Nadal fan until the sunshine double in 2007.

 

[Forgive Me Father]

2009 got in touch, 2010 started watching live and being a religious Rafa fan.

 

[GhostOfNKDM]

Federer vs Nadal Wimbledon 2007 final is my earliest memory of watching tennis.

Its funny you should post something about this forum forgetting Roger's 'prime' when you only started watching him 2007 onwards... LOL

Roger Federer is at risk of becoming underrated here

I’m seeing a lot of anti-Federer posts, mostly from jubilant RAFA fans who are psyched to see their fav surpass Fed. Which is fine. Just don’t forget how incredibly dominant this man was in his prime. We must respect our elders. An example of a geriatric Fed demolishing a young and soon to be...

tt.tennis-warehouse.com

(sorry if this comes across as snobby, but if someone did not watch Roger live 2003-2007, they have no clue what his prime was like)

 

[intrepidish]

For those of you who started watching in the 70s (like myself) or earlier, do you recall when you first watched early rounds of a slam on television or other tennis events?

I've tried looking up information on how tennis was shown in the early years of the open era around the world but found very little information and just have my own spotty memories for the countries in which I lived.

 

[Thriller]

For those of you who started watching in the 70s (like myself) or earlier, do you recall when you first watched early rounds of a slam on television or other tennis events?

I've tried looking up information on how tennis was shown in the early years of the open era around the world but found very little information and just have my own spotty memories for the countries in which I lived.

Action from the other tournaments including the slams was rarely shown on terrestrial TV in the 70s in the UK unless a Brit was involved but I did watch Wimbledon obsessively from Day 1 after school.
It was really when cable TV and satellite TV really kicked in that things like Eurosport and Sky Sports appeared and you could get tennis from all around the world. My memory is hazy too but I think it was very late 80s / early 90s when I first got cable TV. I distinctly remember following the USO that Sampras won in 1990, so I must have got cable by then.

 

[catskillthunder]

Started following around 87-88, can't remember which year. Some of my earliest memories are of Stratton Mountain Volvo International tournament. I used to also frequent the OTB Open in Albany, NY when the tournament was held there.

 

[King No1e]

Since the Hellenistic times @Nole Slam @TheNachoMan

 

[Seth]

The first matches I recall watching were the 2002 USO semis and final. I started seriously following the tour with the 2003 Aussie.