What makes Marcos Baghdatis so good?

[Phil]

Another important factor is his die-hard fans. Surely when you have such wonderful support you could never just give up.

I've been told that the last time a player got such an enthusiastic (and so football-like) support from his fans was 30 years ago, when Adriano Panatta won Roland Garros and his Italian fans took over the stands shouting OLE! OLE! after every point.

Tennis needs some wild fans every now and then. It shouldn't be a country club sport. Get some blood sweat and tears into it i say!

No, actually tennis doesn't need boorish, nationalistic idiots with painted faces and waving flags. That is PRECISELY what football is for. I like it as it is, without the screaming idiots. What goes on ON the court is more interesting. Marcos has had a nice run, and he may be a force to be reckoned with in the future, but it would be a shame if he's followed around by an obnoxious rabble and is known more for THEM than for his skills on the court.

 

[= marios =]

No, actually tennis doesn't need boorish, nationalistic idiots with painted faces and waving flags. That is PRECISELY what football is for. I like it as it is, without the screaming idiots. What goes on ON the court is more interesting. Marcos has had a nice run, and he may be a force to be reckoned with in the future, but it would be a shame if he's followed around by an obnoxious rabble and is known more for THEM than for his skills on the court.

He's not gonna have a following. This was just a one-off cause Melbourne is filled with Greek/Cypriot immigrants. I doubt he'd get such huge support in France (despite training there for over 7 years), England or the US. So, expect this sort of crowd only when he plays Down Under.

I'm against excessive nationalism as much as the next guy, but sometimes tennis crowds are a total bore. Curling crowds can be more exciting.

 

[tykrum]

No, actually tennis doesn't need boorish, nationalistic idiots with painted faces and waving flags. That is PRECISELY what football is for. I like it as it is, without the screaming idiots. What goes on ON the court is more interesting. Marcos has had a nice run, and he may be a force to be reckoned with in the future, but it would be a shame if he's followed around by an obnoxious rabble and is known more for THEM than for his skills on the court.

You've seen the 2001 Wibledon final, right? I don't think that match between Goran and Rafter would be nearly as great without the crazy fans. Also, Davis Cup wouldn't be nearly as exciting, and home court wouldn't matter as much without the enthusiasm. As long as fans don't start yelling during points, etc, I think the added crowd support is great.

 

[donnyz89]

I think a lot of us are forgetting the most important aspect of pro tennis and thats mental toughness and consistancy. things we dont see on the court. Maybe thats where he excels like Jensen said.

 

[Phil]

You've seen the 2001 Wibledon final, right? I don't think that match between Goran and Rafter would be nearly as great without the crazy fans. Also, Davis Cup wouldn't be nearly as exciting, and home court wouldn't matter as much without the enthusiasm. As long as fans don't start yelling during points, etc, I think the added crowd support is great.

Okay, I think "loud and obnoxious" has its place in tennis, and you named it-Davis Cup. However, even that gets out of hand (e.g. Brazil). But as I said, a football game is a better crowd opportunity. I kind of like the enforced silence of tennis-I like hearing the ball struck. I don't like screaming idiots-that's just a personal quirk that I have to deal with.

Marios - I agree with you; good post.

 

[hyperwarrior]

No, actually tennis doesn't need boorish, nationalistic idiots with painted faces and waving flags. That is PRECISELY what football is for. I like it as it is, without the screaming idiots. What goes on ON the court is more interesting. Marcos has had a nice run, and he may be a force to be reckoned with in the future, but it would be a shame if he's followed around by an obnoxious rabble and is known more for THEM than for his skills on the court.

I agree with Phil and I lie if I said his fans isn't annoying at all!
Am I the only member who is bothered by his fans when watching a tennis matches?

But it is a great run for Baghdatis.

 

[Grinder]

S T R E N G T H S
*Solid Return
*Great fitness and mental toughness
*Good placement on groundstrokes
*Ability to regularly produce on the run winners
*Likes to play offensively, but patiently grinds out points before he waits to attack
*A serve that go as high as 135 MPH
*Big and versatile forehand
*Good backhand down the line
*Can change shot direction quickly
*Feeds well off the crowd

W E A K N E S S E S
*Inconsistency
*Sometimes goes for stupid shots
*Goes for style points when a better shot could be taken
*Goes on streaks where he can play terrible tennis for 2-3 months

 

[jhhachamp]

Hmm does that mean I should be in the slam finals?...

No, blow up dolls don't count...

 

[ohplease]

He may just be having a nice run; the "new" guy who beats a couple top players and gets to the finals, generates some excitement, only to fall back, hard to reality. Think Nalbandian at Wimbledon and Blake and Ginepri last year, or Johansson a couple years ago at the USO.

Poor choice of examples. Blake and Ginepri at last year's USO? Sure. I don't remember Nalbandian getting much hype at all when he made the final at Wimbledon (in fact, I think the reaction in that case was more along the lines of Filipe Dewulf - i.e. "who's this guy?"). Johansson's story is about injury at the moment.

Marcos scalped two top 5 players. That's a big deal. He'll scalp three if he wins the whole thing (which probably won't happen, but still). Chang's 1989 French? Two top 5 players. Sampras 1990 USO? Two top 5 players. Near as I can tell, the only guy to ever do it was Stich in 1991, at Wimbledon (Courier #4, Edberg #2, Becker #1).

 

[ACE of Hearts]

His girl aint going anywhere, not with the the big paper that Bags will get in this Aussie Open.Even if he loses in the final, he is getting a big pay check.I am sure his girl is salivating over that, money hungry *****

 

[BaseLineBash]

He doesn't give a ****, thats his secret weapon.

 

[Phil]

Poor choice of examples. Blake and Ginepri at last year's USO? Sure. I don't remember Nalbandian getting much hype at all when he made the final at Wimbledon (in fact, I think the reaction in that case was more along the lines of Filipe Dewulf - i.e. "who's this guy?"). Johansson's story is about injury at the moment.

Marcos scalped two top 5 players. That's a big deal. He'll scalp three if he wins the whole thing (which probably won't happen, but still). Chang's 1989 French? Two top 5 players. Sampras 1990 USO? Two top 5 players. Near as I can tell, the only guy to ever do it was Stich in 1991, at Wimbledon (Courier #4, Edberg #2, Becker #1).

Excitement (my word) doesn't necessarily equal hype. How about: a guy who hasn't done anything or else is so young that he's coming out of no where, to make a good, EXCITING but ultimately failed run? Johansson, injured or not, isn't going to do anything-too big, too awkward, too one-dimensional with a 1-handed backhand that makes Greg Rusedski's look like Guga's. And yet, when he beat defending champion Roddick in 2004, he was hailed here as the Second Coming. Not.

Sampras and Chang went on to have long and successful careers-they had to start somewhere, and they're not relevant to my comments. I'm saying that the "excitement" that this guy has generated, though nice, is way out of proportion to the player he is or will probably become. Enthusiasm, giddiness but, ultimately, not grounded in the grim reality of how difficult and grinding the tour actually is. He's not going to have a career like Sampras...Chang, maybe-if he's very, very lucky, good or both.

 

[VolklVenom]

i disagree. He is definitely a top 10 player in 18 months.

 

[RiosTheGenius]

i was just thinking watching Baghdatis play that I found some similaritieswith Marcelo Rios. they do have a similar sense of court and they move similarly, they even have the same sloppy shaving habits. though I think Baghdatis lacks some things Rios had, Rios was able to read his oponents shots better, he had better hands also I think, and you never knew in what direction he was gonna hit the ball, it was always a last second thing with him and his hands at the net were a bit better, not to mention that his serve was quite a bit better.
but likewise, Baghdatis has things Rios lacked...and I think these things will make his career a more successful one. Marcos is mentally tougher, he doesn't tank matches, he doesn't act like he doesn't care, and ultimately he's a nicier guy, and that alone will bode him well.
by the way.. can anyone tell me how this guy moves on clay??... i've never seen him play on clay. this will IMO determine his future. if he can get ATP points during the clay season I think he can be in the top 10 without a doubt by the end of this year or earlier.

 

[RiosTheGenius]

I think this chick looked more like Rios

http://www.royalpines.com.au/main/events/uth/StosurBackhand.jpg

Samantha Stosur.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/36298000/jpg/_36298074_rios_alls300.jpg

Rios.

 

[BreakPoint]

Johansson, injured or not, isn't going to do anything-too big, too awkward, too one-dimensional with a 1-handed backhand that makes Greg Rusedski's look like Guga's.

Phil,
Have you seen Joachim Johansson play live? I know that they don't televize too many of his matches. I have seen him play live and I can tell you with no BS whatsoever that this guy has a HUGE, I mean HUGE, one-handed backhand. I sat court-side when he played Blake a couple of years ago and he literally made Blake look like a 4.0 player. Johansson blew Blake away 6-4, 6-2. He beat him again a week later, 6-3, 6-3, so it was no fluke. Johansson had the BIGGEST one-handed backhand I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of pro tennis (including Haas live many times). He could crush his one-handed backhand at probably close to 100mph. I agree that, if you're basing your comment on his match against Roddick at the '04 US Open QF, that you didn't get to see much of what he could do with his one-handed backhand since the points with Roddick were so short. But trust me, this guy has a MASSIVE one-handed backhand. (Not sure if he changed his backhand at all when he switched from the i.Prestige to the RDX 500)

 

[Phil]

Phil,
Have you seen Joachim Johansson play live? I know that they don't televize too many of his matches. I have seen him play live and I can tell you with no BS whatsoever that this guy has a HUGE, I mean HUGE, one-handed backhand. I sat court-side when he played Blake a couple of years ago and he literally made Blake look like a 4.0 player. Johansson blew Blake away 6-4, 6-2. He beat him again a week later, 6-3, 6-3, so it was no fluke. Johansson had the BIGGEST one-handed backhand I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of pro tennis (including Haas live many times). He could crush his one-handed backhand at probably close to 100mph. I agree that, if you're basing your comment on his match against Roddick at the '04 US Open QF, that you didn't get to see much of what he could do with his one-handed backhand since the points with Roddick were so short. But trust me, this guy has a MASSIVE one-handed backhand. (Not sure if he changed his backhand at all when he switched from the i.Prestige to the RDX 500)

Yeah, right. Must not get to very many pro matches.

 

[BreakPoint]

Yeah, right. Must not get to very many pro matches.

So I gather that means you have not seen him play live? But you still claim that you've seen his backhand more than I have, although I've sat court-side at several of Johansson's matches? Hmmmmm.......

And if you're referring to me, I've been going to the US Open since the late-'70's, and I also regularly attend other smaller tournaments. And I usually sit court-side for most of the matches that I attend.

 

[AngeloDS]

He doesn't use an extreme grip on his forehand and on his backhand he can drive through the ball. His defensive shots are very offensive. His defensive block shots have a lot of power behind them so the players are forced to do more with it. His serve packs heavyness and accuracy. His shots are clean.

Above all he doesn't look like he's ever nervous out there. He does lose his cool but very fast to regain composure and think about the point at hand not the points ahead.

 

[Phil]

So I gather that means you have not seen him play live? But you still claim that you've seen his backhand more than I have, although I've sat court-side at several of Johansson's matches? Hmmmmm.......

And if you're referring to me, I've been going to the US Open since the late-'70's, and I also regularly attend other smaller tournaments. And I usually sit court-side for most of the matches that I attend.

I did not claim that I have seen his backhand more than you have...didn't say anything of the sort, but if you can find where I did that, good for you...it ain't there. More lies and distortions from you (you never did post a link wheree I said, according to you, that you post under other user names, now did you?). I don't need to see him "live" to recognize that he's got no b/h. Your "Pride" at seeing this guy play is only slightly more looney than your "pride" in your post count. Now go away, please.

He's got a lousy b/h and that's all there is to it. I'm sure you were one of the cheerleaders in HIS improbable USO run...

 

[alienhamster]

S T R E N G T H S
*Solid Return
*Great fitness and mental toughness
*Good placement on groundstrokes
*Ability to regularly produce on the run winners
*Likes to play offensively, but patiently grinds out points before he waits to attack
*A serve that go as high as 135 MPH
*Big and versatile forehand
*Good backhand down the line
*Can change shot direction quickly
*Feeds well off the crowd

W E A K N E S S E S
*Inconsistency
*Sometimes goes for stupid shots
*Goes for style points when a better shot could be taken
*Goes on streaks where he can play terrible tennis for 2-3 months

Yeah, I was gonna say changes direction well. Maybe someone else has said this already, too, but he's capable of taking the ball really early, and that really helps his court positioning out.

 

[Safina]

Pimpim can crush his backhand... he is strong as an ox. Good form too.. so not sure what phil is talking about. He showed plenty of evidence of this, between his aces, in his 2005 Agassi win and 2004 Roddick win. Once his arm heals up, watch out mr.phil!

ps - i agree win another poster about b-diddy's hitting flatter shots than most of the other pros (because he usually uses less western of a grip)which causes opponents to have less time to get in position and he is able to blast a lot of passing shots by them too. He can roll them with topspin OR blast winners on both sides, which is something Roddick has forgotten how to do.
combine his shotmaking, with 15aces a match, and good mobility and defense... and you have another example of a modern all-court player in the Federer model. His transition from defense to offense is also quite good.. but not quite as good as the Fed.

 

[BreakPoint]

I did not claim that I have seen his backhand more than you have...didn't say anything of the sort,

OK, then if you agree that I've seen his backhand more than you have, then don't you think then I have more experience than you in seeing how hard he can hit his backhand?

I don't need to see him "live" to recognize that he's got no b/h.

It certainly helps. Just like when you see Roddick's serve live, it's so much more impressive than on TV. You also need to see more of J. Johansson's matches to see how he can absolutely nail his backhand.

Your "Pride" at seeing this guy play is only slightly more looney than your "pride" in your post count.

"Pride", what "pride"? Just merely pointing out this guy has a massive backhand. And what pride in my post count are you referring to? I merely pointed it out recently as that was the only way to distinguish my posts from those of my imposter. Now that we have the green colored user names, that won't be necessary. BTW, I don't think I got as much as a thank you from you for hunting down and getting rid of the phoney "Phil" for you. He even stole your avatar and personal info and was likely about to start posting under the name "Phil", like he did under half a dozen other names.

Now go away, please.

Uh...last time I checked, I started this thread. So maybe you're the one that should please leave?

He's got a lousy b/h and that's all there is to it.

OK, whatever you say......... BTW, ask Thomas Enqvist sometime how PimPim hits his backhand, or James Blake for that matter.

 

[Phil]

OK, then if you agree that I've seen his backhand more than you have, then don't you think then I have more experience than you in seeing how hard he can hit his backhand?

I've seen him play on TV and a bad backhand, whether viewed live or on TV, is a bad backhand.

BTW, I don't think I got as much as a thank you from you for hunting down and getting rid of the phoney "Phil" for you. He even stole your avatar and personal info and was likely about to start posting under the name "Phil", like he did under half a dozen other names.

That's the second or third time someone has "stolen" my user name-honestly, I don't care. The other "theives" were eventually deleted, as the most recent one would have been, with or without your foolish and hysterical ranting about it on every forum. I would thank you, BP, but I just don't CARE. You're an easy mark for Internet miscreants like this to push your buttons and he obviously succeeded in upsetting you to the point of panic. I hope you're feeling better now.

Uh...last time I checked, I started this thread. So maybe you're the one that should please leave?

Yes, but I would still prefer if you just leave, anyway.

OK, whatever you say......... BTW, ask Thomas Enqvist sometime how PimPim hits his backhand, or James Blake for that matter.

Okay, next time I bump into Thomas or Jim (it's "James" for most people, but Jimmy and I are tight) I'll get the dope on Johansson's b/h, and, of course, let you know what they say.

 

[Zealisa]

I think he becomes so successful just because he really loves the game and gives all his heart and soul in every match! I am a VERY big fan of Andy Roddick, but I loved his game-he glues me to TV everytime!

 

[pound cat]

He says he loves the game, loves to win, loves the spotlight, & believes he's destined to be a great tennis player,

 

[The Pusher Terminator]

Safin. Agassi and Nadal all being out does not hurt either.

 

[spam]

Great balance
Big serve,first and second-not keen on his action though,too many moving parts.
HUGE groundies off both wings and the ability to flatten out his shots down the line on both wings
Guts,will to win
Pedigree
Good court craft,looks like he's improving all the time
Natural tennis player
Good footwork
Patience during rallies ,then sudden intense aggression when sees opening
nuff said........

 

[sureshs]

Baggy is "in the zone" right now. It is well-known in sports pyschology.

 

[bismark]

Solid all round game. Good running forehand. Decent serve, big enough with good placement. Quick, gutsy, fit, and full of determination.

Amusing personality. Nice quirky quotes, sounds a bit like Marat and Goran.