Shaolin
G.O.A.T.
That's cool. I miss Escude...used to love watching him play. Had a big game despite being the skinniest person to walk the earth
Which pro players have you met and what was your impression of them?
- Thread starter Hellenic Hero
- Start date
That's cool. I miss Escude...used to love watching him play. Had a big game despite being the skinniest person to walk the earth
octobrina10
Talk Tennis Guru
I can say the same about the darlings of the posters who have 'liked' the Fed devotee's post quoted above.
vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
Mark-Touch
Legend
Thanks!
I'm very curious to know how long you hit with these players and what was it like?
Could you keep up with them, were they bossing you around the court or vice versa?
Mark-Touch
Legend
"Which pro players have you met and what was your impression of them?"
Depends what you mean by "met"?
Seen in the flesh a few feet away, or talked with them?
Depends what you mean by "met"?
Seen in the flesh a few feet away, or talked with them?
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
Right, and that's enough.
I also know a club member who is a mean @$$hole on court and competition, but very gentle and friendly outside of it; I don't buy it.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
I’ve hit with Izak multiple times for about 60-70 minutes each. He and I also played doubles at Corporate challenge for out company. He played at 30% probably and the depth, action and consistency of his shots would make me take 2 days off after hitting with him. It is also mentally tolling to try to keep up with him and not “embarrass “ myself. And I consider myself to be in a really great shape for my age (48). He can serve 135mph within a 2x2ft box and out of 50 serves, I would “return” 3. During our set plays, he would not serve over 100-110. His second serves kicks were absolute killers. Jump up 8-10ft and have so much action that many times trying to block them would result in the ball bouncing off totally uncontrollably.
hitting with Safarova was a total blast. Indoor, she was fun and always in a great mood. I hit with her 2-3 times. Again, when she got serious, adios. No way I can do anything.
I hit also with Hradecka once and she was “serious” but all into me so I could keep up.
hit once with Kvitova and again, hitting into me 3-4 shots then good bye...
Moose Malloy
G.O.A.T.
did you get a chance to face zivojinovic’s serve? He’s one of my favorite players.
am1899
Legend
Totally know the feeling. When I hit with Seles the first time, initially I found myself counting my net misses vs. hers. In the first 50 min, she had 2, and i stopped counting mine at 10. But, aside from that, I felt like I was doing ok at accommodating what she asked - “hit flat, and don’t move me too much side to side,” (she was nursing an injury). Then, just when I was thinking, “Hey, I’m actually doing ok here,” she (finally) asks to stop for water. Good thing, I was dying of thirst and feeling very low sugar. Then when we sat, to both my excitement and absolute horror she says, “This is really great, do you think we can go an extra 1/2 hour?” How could I have said no? By the time we were done, I was literally seeing stars. Took me a number of days to recover.
By the way, for any random male advanced recreational player who has said (or thought) they could tool a top (or former top) women’s player...you are almost certainly wrong. Seles hit every ball within 2 ft of the baseline. I was on my heels the entire time, took more balls on the rise or short hop than I’ve ever had to by a long shot. At any given time, she could have hit the kill shot in the rally...she just rarely chose to do that.
It was a very cool, yet humbling experience.
Lendl
Semi-Pro
I used to go to the Cincinnati masters each year and stay at the player hotel which had an Applebee’s in front of it. Mingled and met a variety of players.
Some interesting experiences ...
The tournament used to provide players with small suv size Mercedes Benz cars. Guga totally blew through a stop sign in parking lot and almost hit us. Luckily we were paying attention and he smiled and waived he was sorry
Going to our room we walked to elevators and Fed was standing on one side so we hit elevator button on other side of hall. His didn’t work and kept pressing the button. Our door opened and I was watching him be frustrated so I held door open and he came and went up in ours. He was nice, no real talking just messing with him about the elevator.
The year Carlos Moya won my wife and I had a room next to him and his wife/girlfriend. We continually ran into him coming and going and in the elevator. He was always beyond nice asking us how we were enjoying the tournament, etc. Just a very genuinely nice guy. We always left around the quarters as all matches move to stadium and it isn’t as enjoyable. Got home and watched rest and was very happy he won it.
We spent a couple evenings at hotel bar and one shocking thing to me was the amount of players that smoked. Many crazy players with their drinking and smoking (Safin and his Russian mob, Lapenti especially) but one player was the healthiest little nerd. Arnauld Clement sat there with many players just drinking ice water. He looked like he was 10 years old sitting at the bar but really stood out because he WASN’T crazy
We always saw Greg Rusedski in the parking lot by himself with a scowl. I don’t think he had any friends.
Some interesting experiences ...
The tournament used to provide players with small suv size Mercedes Benz cars. Guga totally blew through a stop sign in parking lot and almost hit us. Luckily we were paying attention and he smiled and waived he was sorry
Going to our room we walked to elevators and Fed was standing on one side so we hit elevator button on other side of hall. His didn’t work and kept pressing the button. Our door opened and I was watching him be frustrated so I held door open and he came and went up in ours. He was nice, no real talking just messing with him about the elevator.
The year Carlos Moya won my wife and I had a room next to him and his wife/girlfriend. We continually ran into him coming and going and in the elevator. He was always beyond nice asking us how we were enjoying the tournament, etc. Just a very genuinely nice guy. We always left around the quarters as all matches move to stadium and it isn’t as enjoyable. Got home and watched rest and was very happy he won it.
We spent a couple evenings at hotel bar and one shocking thing to me was the amount of players that smoked. Many crazy players with their drinking and smoking (Safin and his Russian mob, Lapenti especially) but one player was the healthiest little nerd. Arnauld Clement sat there with many players just drinking ice water. He looked like he was 10 years old sitting at the bar but really stood out because he WASN’T crazy
We always saw Greg Rusedski in the parking lot by himself with a scowl. I don’t think he had any friends.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
I did. Or I think I did because I did not see the ball, just heard it cut through the air...
Sudacafan
Bionic Poster
They say that TV broadcast normally makes people look around 20 lb heavier.
It’s either that, or you should adjust your TV settings.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
I hear ya. Very eye opening how tolling it is to hit 60 minutes with a total of 2 minutes of break...
And that mental exhaustion catches up as soon as you stop.
It a pro/former pro plays her/his 70%, no recreational player has a chance to win a point. Possibly the pros UE only.
dr325i
G.O.A.T.
Yikes Novak
Phoenix1983
G.O.A.T.
I'm very sorry for your experience, and for the fact that your TV remote didn't respond quickly enough to you turning it off upon seeing the face of the moral champion.
NicoMK
Hall of Fame
We spent a couple evenings at hotel bar and one shocking thing to me was the amount of players that smoked. Many crazy players with their drinking and smoking (Safin and his Russian mob, Lapenti especially) but one player was the healthiest little nerd. Arnauld Clement sat there with many players just drinking ice water. He looked like he was 10 years old sitting at the bar but really stood out because he WASN’T crazy
So who did you see smoking? The only two that I saw smoking at the party that I mentioned a few posts above were Benneteau and Arazi. Haven't seen many players smoking... yet.
I'm not surprised by Arnaud Clément. My brother lives in the same city as Arnaud and he tells me that he often sees him cycling.
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Sysyphus
Talk Tennis Guru
I saw Rafaello at a grocery store in Los Angeles not that long ago. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a ****** and bother him and ask him for photos or anything. He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?” I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.
The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.
When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.
The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.
When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.
kevaninho
Hall of Fame
Met Andy Murray in 2015 during the French Open. He was having breakfast with Kim, and we went over for a chat.
With us being fellow Scots, he was really friendly, and chatted away, asking us a bunch of questions, although Kim looked like she wanted us to go away LOL
Got some pictures, and wished him luck for his next match ( against Kyrgios im sure ).
Good, friendly guy.
With us being fellow Scots, he was really friendly, and chatted away, asking us a bunch of questions, although Kim looked like she wanted us to go away LOL
Got some pictures, and wished him luck for his next match ( against Kyrgios im sure ).
Good, friendly guy.
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
The are better versions of this for tennis context
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
And that brother's name? Roger Federer
Red Rick
Bionic Poster
Yeah I'm really just Federer's sister.
Shaolin
G.O.A.T.
I used to go to the Cincinnati masters each year and stay at the player hotel which had an Applebee’s in front of it. Mingled and met a variety of players.
Some interesting experiences ...
The tournament used to provide players with small suv size Mercedes Benz cars. Guga totally blew through a stop sign in parking lot and almost hit us. Luckily we were paying attention and he smiled and waived he was sorry
Going to our room we walked to elevators and Fed was standing on one side so we hit elevator button on other side of hall. His didn’t work and kept pressing the button. Our door opened and I was watching him be frustrated so I held door open and he came and went up in ours. He was nice, no real talking just messing with him about the elevator.
The year Carlos Moya won my wife and I had a room next to him and his wife/girlfriend. We continually ran into him coming and going and in the elevator. He was always beyond nice asking us how we were enjoying the tournament, etc. Just a very genuinely nice guy. We always left around the quarters as all matches move to stadium and it isn’t as enjoyable. Got home and watched rest and was very happy he won it.
We spent a couple evenings at hotel bar and one shocking thing to me was the amount of players that smoked. Many crazy players with their drinking and smoking (Safin and his Russian mob, Lapenti especially) but one player was the healthiest little nerd. Arnauld Clement sat there with many players just drinking ice water. He looked like he was 10 years old sitting at the bar but really stood out because he WASN’T crazy
We always saw Greg Rusedski in the parking lot by himself with a scowl. I don’t think he had any friends.
Cool story, thanks. I always liked Moya, always seemed like a nice guy.
Im(moral) Winner
G.O.A.T.
I thought Lendl would have had more encounters with fellow prosI used to go to the Cincinnati masters each year and stay at the player hotel which had an Applebee’s in front of it. Mingled and met a variety of players.
Some interesting experiences ...
The tournament used to provide players with small suv size Mercedes Benz cars. Guga totally blew through a stop sign in parking lot and almost hit us. Luckily we were paying attention and he smiled and waived he was sorry
Going to our room we walked to elevators and Fed was standing on one side so we hit elevator button on other side of hall. His didn’t work and kept pressing the button. Our door opened and I was watching him be frustrated so I held door open and he came and went up in ours. He was nice, no real talking just messing with him about the elevator.
The year Carlos Moya won my wife and I had a room next to him and his wife/girlfriend. We continually ran into him coming and going and in the elevator. He was always beyond nice asking us how we were enjoying the tournament, etc. Just a very genuinely nice guy. We always left around the quarters as all matches move to stadium and it isn’t as enjoyable. Got home and watched rest and was very happy he won it.
We spent a couple evenings at hotel bar and one shocking thing to me was the amount of players that smoked. Many crazy players with their drinking and smoking (Safin and his Russian mob, Lapenti especially) but one player was the healthiest little nerd. Arnauld Clement sat there with many players just drinking ice water. He looked like he was 10 years old sitting at the bar but really stood out because he WASN’T crazy
We always saw Greg Rusedski in the parking lot by himself with a scowl. I don’t think he had any friends.
Completely out of context. But had me laughing when I first read it.
vive le beau jeu !
Talk Tennis Guru
i once wanted to ask an autograph to the nadal, but he was busy eating baby seals with pico.
nice guy, pico: he grabbed a seal wing and asked me if i wanted some...
#Wings @MichaelNadal
nice guy, pico: he grabbed a seal wing and asked me if i wanted some...
#Wings @MichaelNadal
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RaulRamirez
Legend
I saw that, too - commas are important!
Tshooter
G.O.A.T.
Of the Big 3 Novak is the one who seems to genuinely like crowd interaction. The other two are fine. Nadal goes above and beyond with the fans and Roger takes the "fan interaction" responsibility seriously but they don't seem to be totally into it like Novak.
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Aussie Darcy
Bionic Poster
I've been fortunate enough to meet most current players through my work at some tournaments.
Roger Federer is as kind and sweet as he appears to be. Always says hello, very friendly.
Milos Raonic was quiet but nice. He donated his shoes to be won by one lucky volunteer which was very generous of him.
Nick Kyrgios is an interesting one. He's incredibly loud, definitely has ADHD. However, he's very involved in working with the underprivileged, he was the first person to volunteer to take photos with some people with disabilities.
Jan Lennard Struff also was very kind and helped out some people with disabilities.
Andy Murray was quite friendly and he had to withdraw from the tournament and was really apologetic about it.
Benoit Paire is an absolute hothead. Kept my distance from him.
Stefanos Tsitsipas was rather quiet, his father is not nice at all and definitely appears to be a controlling figure in his life.
Diego Schwartzman was nice. A lot shorter in person, ATP definitely has the incorrect height listed for him.
John Millman and Alex De Minaur are very humble and down to earth.
Ash Barty is an absolute sweetheart. She's always up for a chat, doesn't have a big team surrounding her, has a joke and a laugh with whoever.
Petra Kvitova is very kind as well, not overly serious, friendly and nice.
Sloane Stephens was not great. Might have just caught her on a bad day but she was very rude and a bit of a diva.
Angelique Kerber was also not the best but she had just lost her 1R match so i'll give her that.
Naomi Osaka was always surrounded by her team so was hard to gauge her.
Victoria Azarenka was very sweet
Sam Stosur is also incredibly nice, had a great chat with her. The Aussies usually tend to be down to earth.
Maria Sharapova, there's a reason she's called the ice queen. That's cause she is, she's cold, distant and knows how to command a room. It was blatantly obvious nobody on tour likes her. I will admit that this is a trait for many of the Russian female players. They're all very cold and serious. Not necessarily rude but just intense. This goes for Kasatkina and Samsonova.
Svetlana Kuznetsova was really friendly though, quite enjoyed talking with her.
One of my favourites was actually Alison Riske. I'll admit I wasn't initially a fan as she ended my home girl Barty's run at Wimbledon last year but Riske was so sweet. We had a few lovely conversations and she was incredibly down to earth.
Roger Federer is as kind and sweet as he appears to be. Always says hello, very friendly.
Milos Raonic was quiet but nice. He donated his shoes to be won by one lucky volunteer which was very generous of him.
Nick Kyrgios is an interesting one. He's incredibly loud, definitely has ADHD. However, he's very involved in working with the underprivileged, he was the first person to volunteer to take photos with some people with disabilities.
Jan Lennard Struff also was very kind and helped out some people with disabilities.
Andy Murray was quite friendly and he had to withdraw from the tournament and was really apologetic about it.
Benoit Paire is an absolute hothead. Kept my distance from him.
Stefanos Tsitsipas was rather quiet, his father is not nice at all and definitely appears to be a controlling figure in his life.
Diego Schwartzman was nice. A lot shorter in person, ATP definitely has the incorrect height listed for him.
John Millman and Alex De Minaur are very humble and down to earth.
Ash Barty is an absolute sweetheart. She's always up for a chat, doesn't have a big team surrounding her, has a joke and a laugh with whoever.
Petra Kvitova is very kind as well, not overly serious, friendly and nice.
Sloane Stephens was not great. Might have just caught her on a bad day but she was very rude and a bit of a diva.
Angelique Kerber was also not the best but she had just lost her 1R match so i'll give her that.
Naomi Osaka was always surrounded by her team so was hard to gauge her.
Victoria Azarenka was very sweet
Sam Stosur is also incredibly nice, had a great chat with her. The Aussies usually tend to be down to earth.
Maria Sharapova, there's a reason she's called the ice queen. That's cause she is, she's cold, distant and knows how to command a room. It was blatantly obvious nobody on tour likes her. I will admit that this is a trait for many of the Russian female players. They're all very cold and serious. Not necessarily rude but just intense. This goes for Kasatkina and Samsonova.
Svetlana Kuznetsova was really friendly though, quite enjoyed talking with her.
One of my favourites was actually Alison Riske. I'll admit I wasn't initially a fan as she ended my home girl Barty's run at Wimbledon last year but Riske was so sweet. We had a few lovely conversations and she was incredibly down to earth.
Hellenic Hero
Rookie
Thanks for this! Great stuff
Interesting about Benoit, he's meant to be lovely off the court
BeatlesFan
Bionic Poster
Your sample size is absolutely breathtaking!
In contrast, I’ve seen Fed, Rafa and Djokovic sign autographs more than 100 times each, easily, and have watched them practice even more times than that. I’ve never seen any of them be anything less than pleasant, though Nadal is more shy and anxious to get away from crowds. Fed is more protected now once he leaves court. I’ve also spoken to them all at IW over a period of 15 years. The longest convo was about 5 mins with Djoker and Marko while they were playing soccer at IW.
So my sample size is more reliable than a one-time “interaction.” And I’m not so partisan that I can’t say the two funniest are by far Novak and Andy. Novak is great with the fans, especially kids. He will pose for 15 minutes, while Fed and Rafa are hustled off more quickly. But they pose as well and are perfectly nice.
The first time I saw Fed at IW was in 2001 and he, Mirka and some other guy were just sitting cross legged on the lawn eating what looked to be olives out of a can.
Fridge
Professional
Oh Im sorry. I didn't know that eating olives out of a can is a data point and represent good fan interaction.
Quality over quantity.
boris becker 1
Semi-Pro
Becker,Edberg,Lendl, Connors,Murray,Sampras,Kuerten,Nadal, Djokovic,Federer,Moya, Robredo, Aranxca,Bruguera.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
I saw Bernard Tomic at a grocery store in Miami yesterday. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a jerk and bother him and ask him for photos or anything.
He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”
I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.
The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.
When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.
He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?”
I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen Milky Ways in his hands without paying.
The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to pay for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.
When she took one of the bars and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each bar and put them in a bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.
TheAssassin
Legend
I gotta go grocery shopping more often.
Maybe I will run into Ruud yawning loudly somewhere in Oslo.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
I saw Roger Federer at a grocery store in Flushing Meadows before the US Open this fall. I told him how cool it was to meet him in person, but I didn’t want to be a jerk and bother him and ask him for photos or anything. He said, “Oh, like you’re doing now?” I was taken aback, and all I could say was “Huh?” but he kept cutting me off and going “huh? huh? huh?” and closing his hand shut in front of my face. I walked away and continued with my shopping, and I heard him chuckle as I walked off. When I came to pay for my stuff up front I saw him trying to walk out the doors with like fifteen break points in his hands without paying.
The girl at the counter was very nice about it and professional, and was like “Sir, you need to break serve for those first.” At first he kept pretending to be tired and not hear her, but eventually turned back around and brought them to the counter.
When she took one of the break points and started scanning it multiple times, he stopped her and told her to scan them each individually “to prevent any electrical infetterence,” and then turned around and winked at me. I don’t even think that’s a word. After she scanned each break point and put them in Mirka's bag and started to say the price, he kept interrupting her by yawning really loudly.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Lmao I didn't even see this before putting Bernie there. Excellent meme.
As for my real answer: I've been to real matches but haven't met anyone directly.
Breakpointerer
Legend
I slept with Federer once but I'm not sure if he knew I was there or not
KineticChain
Hall of Fame
they don't call him ruude for nothing
accidental
Hall of Fame
Hewitt was the number 1 junior player in Australia at age 14... and played the main draw at the aus open at 15
Met the following on a sweltering and humid summer’s day in Cincinnati:
Djokovic - great guy, took selfies with every single person lined up against his practice court fence. Signed basically everyone’s stuff too. Seemed engaging and really nice.
Murray - didn’t really say anything, just signed a few balls and slowly sauntered away.
Zverev - pretty arrogant even though he was only 17 (had just practiced with Federer).
Federer - waved to the fans only, didn’t sign anything or approach anyone.
Raonic - quiet, focused.
Fognini - seemed like he was complaining about something in Italian despite winning the match. Still signed balls.
Wozniacki - seemed like a nice person.
Serena - didn’t acknowledge a single fan.
Bruno soares - pissed that I didn’t know who he was despite asking for an autograph.
Monfils - didn’t take match warmup seriously at all. Hit a few hard first serves down the T. Kept headphones on a lot of the time. Played soccer with the tennis balls on the court for a decent amount of time. Pretty sure he was singing to himself. Tournament official notified him that he needed to be ready for the TV match against Fed, yet didn’t seem to care or pay attention to the guy. Arrived to the court late. Still took it to three tough sets.
Djokovic - great guy, took selfies with every single person lined up against his practice court fence. Signed basically everyone’s stuff too. Seemed engaging and really nice.
Murray - didn’t really say anything, just signed a few balls and slowly sauntered away.
Zverev - pretty arrogant even though he was only 17 (had just practiced with Federer).
Federer - waved to the fans only, didn’t sign anything or approach anyone.
Raonic - quiet, focused.
Fognini - seemed like he was complaining about something in Italian despite winning the match. Still signed balls.
Wozniacki - seemed like a nice person.
Serena - didn’t acknowledge a single fan.
Bruno soares - pissed that I didn’t know who he was despite asking for an autograph.
Monfils - didn’t take match warmup seriously at all. Hit a few hard first serves down the T. Kept headphones on a lot of the time. Played soccer with the tennis balls on the court for a decent amount of time. Pretty sure he was singing to himself. Tournament official notified him that he needed to be ready for the TV match against Fed, yet didn’t seem to care or pay attention to the guy. Arrived to the court late. Still took it to three tough sets.
Georgepeppard007
Rookie
Had several tennis lessons from Michael Russell and Jack Brasington. Extremely nice guys. When you play a set with them you realize that they are playing an entirely different sport.
Also hit with McEnroe, Roddick, Courier, and James Blake in the Champions Tour. Couldn't return McEnroe's wide, can-opener serve even though I stood way in the doubles alley. Roddick's serve was a bomb, no surprise. They never missed, even though McEnroe looked like he just woke up with bed hair. I realized hitting a tennis ball to them is like walking. All were nice in Q&A session, especially Blake. Roddick came off as cocky and sarcastic.
Did Wilander on Wheels clinic. Wilander talked afterwards and shared some stories. Again, like the others, he never missed a ball. Our head pro said Wilander could still beat division I college players.
Also hit with McEnroe, Roddick, Courier, and James Blake in the Champions Tour. Couldn't return McEnroe's wide, can-opener serve even though I stood way in the doubles alley. Roddick's serve was a bomb, no surprise. They never missed, even though McEnroe looked like he just woke up with bed hair. I realized hitting a tennis ball to them is like walking. All were nice in Q&A session, especially Blake. Roddick came off as cocky and sarcastic.
Did Wilander on Wheels clinic. Wilander talked afterwards and shared some stories. Again, like the others, he never missed a ball. Our head pro said Wilander could still beat division I college players.
daggerman
Hall of Fame
Maybe he meant when his brother was 14 and Hewitt was...6
Mainad
Bionic Poster
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
Not many, but:
-Two years ago, Zverev after a win. Very friendly, in amongst fans, very chill.
- Giorgi with her dad. Actually pretty nice, stopped and took a ton of photos, I think it was after a match. More relaxed than I would have thought among a crowd of gross clingers.
- Taylor Fritz: cool dude, spent time with fans, signed autographs, had some good laughs
- Opelka: more aloof, not a bad guy, but not as personable as Fritz. Also spent time with fans but not same extreme friendliness
- Federer: came out from practice to sign a bunch of autographs when he didn't have to
Not a straight fan interaction per se, but I saw Kyrgios play doubles (courtside) at USO and the tool cursed out the fans (can't type his words here).
-Two years ago, Zverev after a win. Very friendly, in amongst fans, very chill.
- Giorgi with her dad. Actually pretty nice, stopped and took a ton of photos, I think it was after a match. More relaxed than I would have thought among a crowd of gross clingers.
- Taylor Fritz: cool dude, spent time with fans, signed autographs, had some good laughs
- Opelka: more aloof, not a bad guy, but not as personable as Fritz. Also spent time with fans but not same extreme friendliness
- Federer: came out from practice to sign a bunch of autographs when he didn't have to
Not a straight fan interaction per se, but I saw Kyrgios play doubles (courtside) at USO and the tool cursed out the fans (can't type his words here).