what makes players your fav. player??

[dAgEnIuS]

what makes pro players your favorite player??
is it their playing style?? nationality??? their rankings??? perhaps,,, looks???

currently, my fav. player is Juan Carlos Ferrero cuz of his playing style...
he has a killer forehand, smooth backhand, nice placement of serves, and unpredictable dropshot....

 

[MARK ANDERS]

Playing style, flair and appearance.

 

[rafael]

attitude and style.

 

[danniflava]

Game style.

 

[BreakPoint]

Playing style (e.g., one-handed backhand, all-court game, volleying ability, etc.).
Examples: Federer, Srichaphan, Haas, Henman, J. Johansson, etc.

 

[el_mago]

I like everything about Guille, but he is my #1 favorite because of his playing style. I love his movement, the way he controls the ball, drop shot, touch, feel, thinking, and his overall game.

 

[Craig Sheppard]

First I notice their playing style. Then I listen to them off-court in interviews or press conferences. If both pass muster, the player's in the running for my favorite. Sure certain more superficial things play a part, like nationality and racquet/clothes/shoes. But if I like the dude's nationality (Say, because he's a homegrown American), it would never overcome an ugly game (Hmm...I wonder who that might be?). People often critcize me about cheering for a non-US player when he's playing a US player. I can only say that just being American doesn't automatically make your game admirable, and it certainly doesn't make you a good person.

Right now Tim Henman is my favorite. Love his on-court style (game and demeanor). Haven't had the chance to hear a lot of him off court, but what I have heard has been great. He's a bright guy.

Craig

 

[Hewitt rulez]

Attitude mostly and style.

 

[el_mago]

My favorite women's player is Maria Sharapova because of her playing style. It doesn't hurt that she is very attractive too LOL.

 

[YEMntFtb]

Attitude and style, I was always a pistol Pete fan, just everything about him, but now that he has retired, its Haas and Safin.

 

[Angentunderfire38]

attitude and style of play

 

[alan-n]

Sportsmanship, game style, professionalism. I like the all court finese players who uses the angles of the court or at least play with heart and determination giving everything that had that day.

 

[sliceroni]

Playing style, attitude on and off court, respects and knows the history of the game.

 

[Swan Song]

Roger Federer: smoothness, versatility on all his shots, calmness, placement of shots, fitness
Boris Becker: fighting spirit, serve, attacking style
Stefan Edberg: smooth and natural serve and volleyer, volleys, calmness
Pete Sampras: running forehand, volleys, mentality, serve, happiness
Andre Agassi: ground strokes, fitness
Ivan Lendl: fighting spirit, fitness, groundstrokes
Alex Corretja: one-handed topspin backhand
Goran Ivanisevic: serve, volley, crazy attitude
Justine Henin-Hardenne: fighting spirit, one-handed topspin backhand
Maria Sharapova: fighting spirit, talent, placement of shots, not her looks
Guillermo Coria: speed, groundstrokes, ability to play on clay
Patrick Rafter: natural serve and volleyer, backhand overhead
Andy Roddick: serve, forehand, potential to improve

 

[equinox]

i judge my favourites by how much cleavage is shown.

 

[tykrum]

I hope equinox isn't talking about the men. Although I guess there is nothing wrong with that.

I choose my favorite players by their attitude and mental fortitude on the court, and their sportsmanship and personality off of it. Playing style is not nearly as important as these things to me. As a result my favorite player is Roddick and least favorite is Jennifer Capriati.

 

[Camilio Pascual]

Effort and mental toughness. Which is why an outgunned Amanda Coetzer is my all time fave.

 

[Tenny]

Kirilenko

My favorite women's player is Maria Sharapova because of her playing style. It doesn't hurt that she is very attractive too LOL.

Well, I spent last year supporting Sharapova and her winning at Wimby was the result! But I really don't like her on-court fashion. Too much revealing sometimes doesn't do! So, I like her tennis and attitude but don't feel she is SO attractive. But how about Kirilenko? I want/hope to see her more this year!

Tenny.

 

[Craig Sheppard]

So, I like her tennis and attitude but don't feel she is SO attractive.

This is specifically why I have to see and hear people off-court and in interviews before I make a decision if I'm a fan or not. She may be appealing at first, but I've now got a healthy dose of Sharapova off-court and I couldn't find her more UNATTRACTIVE at this point. I am so tired of her... no real personality except giggling teen and very empty between the ears, IMO. Yes you may say she's only 17, but I know 13 year olds who have deeper thoughts.

Craig

 

[VamosRafa]

I've had several fave players, on the men's side, especially Courier, Rafter, Roddick, and now Nadal.

But what I really like is getting the sense that a player is going to do something great, and wanting to be a part of it, in some small way, even before they do it.

And that's why I have done the Rafael Nadal site since 2003. I've seen the potential, and I think he's a great kid:

http://www.vamosrafael.com

Sorry for the advertisement, but that was the subject of the thread. It didn't exclude folks who run fan sites for players.

 

[Deuce]

My favorite player of all time is Patty Fendick. The older among you may remember her from the 80s. I've never seen any tennis player - professional, amateur, or recreational - give more, or try harder on every point than her. She had average talent at best, but a greater fighter with more pure determination has never existed.

Today, I still enjoy watching Arazi play - because he can hit any shot from anywhere at any time. I'd say that Arazi at his best maybe 5 years ago was the best shotmaker I've ever seen. Absolute magic. Consistency, of course, is another matter altogether with him. He had to be made a headcase, you see... otherwise, he'd be so far ahead of everyone else that no match would be close. It's all about balance and compensation...

Sorry, I operate no 'fan sites' for either above mentioned player.

 

[VamosRafa]

*lol* I wouldn't operate a fan site unless there was an interest in it. And I mean that in a positive way. I just love Moya, and he doesn't really have a website, but I wouldn't invest the time to get a site up to speed, because by the time I did, he'd be retired.

It's a bit different with Nadal.

I don't know anything about Patty, but I agree that Arazi is a great shotmaker. He's played some great matches. I still can't believe he didn't beat Pat Rafter in the first round of the US Open in 1998. Man, that was a match!!