Who is the poineer of modern tennis?

[spottishwood]

In my opinion it's between Becker and Lendl. Becker influenced all those late 80s - 90s power S&V players and servebots. On the contrary, Lendl brought the power baseline game to the world.
Then Kuerten was one of the early adopters of poly.

If I missed some points, lmk, haven't watched 80s -90s.

EDIT: Forgive me for the spelling

 

[travlerajm]

Jim Courier

 

[NeutralFan]

In my opinion it's between Becker and Lendl. Becker influenced all those late 80s - 90s power S&V players and servebots. On the contrary, Lendl brought the power baseline game to the world.
Then Kuerten was one of the early adopters of poly.

If I missed some points, lmk, haven't watched 80s -90s.

Imo , It was Jimmy Conors who started it and his game resembles a lot with modern baseliners . IL came after him.

 

[Kralingen]

Going really far back, before Connors (who I agree was probably the genesis of the modern blueprint), Bjorn Borg.

 

[NeutralFan]

Going really far back, before Connors (who I agree was probably the genesis of the modern blueprint), Bjorn Borg.

Not on hc , it's JC all the way.

 

[spottishwood]

Imo , It was Conor who started it and his game resembles a lot with modern baseliners . IL came after him.

I put him in the poll considering that he was the first proper baseliner, but he looks like more of a grinder sort of player to me lol.

 

[NeutralFan]

I put him in the poll considering that he was the first proper baseliner, but he looks like more of a grinder sort of player to me lol.

Well , his defense was a top notch and resembled to modern baseliners . He was a pusher at times though but definately he started the hc grindfest

 

[spottishwood]

Going really far back, before Connors (who I agree was probably the genesis of the modern blueprint), Bjorn Borg.

He played with wooden racquet so I don't consider him a modern player. As for that sort of topspin, I've heard some posters saying that Bill Tilden also played that sort of game

 

[Kralingen]

Not on hc , it's JC all the way.

I've watched some grainy Borg-Laver and Borg-Lendl HC footage and it's remarkable how baseline heavy Borg's game is, and how he slides to make gets similar to how you see the top guys today doing. Also one of the first pioneers of heavy topspin (though obviously a bit different in his era). However it's his movement which seriously jumps off the screen.

 

[spottishwood]

Well , his defense was a top notch and resembled to modern baseliners . He was a pusher at times though but definately he started the hc grindfest

That's certainly true

 

[NeutralFan]

Borg is older than Connors though.

I've watched some grainy Borg-Laver and Borg-Lendl HC footage and it's remarkable how baseline heavy Borg's game is, and how he slides to make gets similar to how you see the top guys today doing. Also one of the first pioneers of heavy topspin (though obviously a bit different in his era). However it's his movement which seriously jumps off the screen.

Hmmm, Borg was a baseliner but certainly his game on hc didn't look anything close to modern baseliners . It can't be anyone other than JC . Dude won many points that would make Nadal and Djokovic proud lol

see this

edit- JC was one hell of an entertainer lol , what a character he was.

 

[TheNachoMan]

Lendl for sure. He’s the only player from his era that seems watchable by today’s standards

 

[skaj]

I've watched some grainy Borg-Laver and Borg-Lendl HC footage and it's remarkable how baseline heavy Borg's game is, and how he slides to make gets similar to how you see the top guys today doing. Also one of the first pioneers of heavy topspin (though obviously a bit different in his era). However it's his movement which seriously jumps off the screen.

How is Borg born in 1956 older than Connors born in 1952?

 

[spottishwood]

Hmmm, Borg was a baseliner but certainly his game on hc didn't look anything close to modern baseliners . It can't be anyone other than JC . Dude won many points that would make Nadal and Djokovic proud lol

see this

Who do you think influenced all those attacking players and S&V players like Sampras, Goran, Rusedski, Forget, etc

 

[skaj]

Going really far back, before Connors (who I agree was probably the genesis of the modern blueprint), Bjorn Borg.

But Borg was not before Connors. Anyway, Borg is the pioneer of Nadal tennis.

 

[Kralingen]

Hmmm, Borg was a baseliner but certainly his game on hc didn't look anything close to modern baseliners . It can't be anyone other than JC . Dude won many points that would make Nadal and Djokovic proud lol

see this

yeah agreed. I always hear that Connors was the one guy who younger fans can't really appreciate with his 'only 8 Slams' in terms of how huge he was in the game.

His returning/close to baseline style definitely influenced the top guys a lot.

How is Borg born in 1956 older than Connors born in 1952?

edited my post, it was 40 years before I was born, so no need to bring up mistakes

 

[skaj]

Lendl for the ATP, Seles for the WTA.

 

[spottishwood]

But Borg was not before Connors. Anyway, Borg is the pioneer of Nadal tennis.

That's what I thought. Both won their 1st slam the same year but Connors turned pro earlier

 

[TheNachoMan]

Lendl for the ATP, Seles for the WTA.

Seles definitely played a part in the grunting/shrieking trend

 

[speedysteve]

Yeah, where is The Borg?

 

[skaj]

yeah agreed. I always hear that Connors was the one guy who younger fans can't really appreciate with his 'only 8 Slams' in terms of how huge he was in the game.

His returning/close to baseline style definitely influenced the top guys a lot.

edited my post, it was 40 years before I was born, so no need to bring up mistakes

The need has nothing to do with your age(he was born decades before me too by the way, but it was still not hard for me to find out his age), but with false info in the thread.

 

[skaj]

Seles definitely played a part in the grunting/shrieking trend

Rafa and Djoko for the men?

 

[spottishwood]

Lendl for the ATP, Seles for the WTA.

That's what I had expected when I made this thread

 

[skaj]

That's what I thought. Both won their 1st slam the same year but Connors turned pro earlier

And became number 1 earlier.

 

[spottishwood]

Yeah, where is The Borg?

He played with wooden racquet, so I thought he'd not be considered a modern player. Adding him now, as many posters have demanded.

 

[NeutralFan]

Who do you think influenced all those attacking players and S&V players like Sampras, Goran, Rusedski, Forget, etc

I think prototype for S and V type of player would be Rod Laver and more refined version would be J Mac in their evolution series.

 

[skaj]

Lendl for sure. He’s the only player from his era that seems watchable by today’s standards

Yes, it tells you a lot about the today's standards.

 

[spottishwood]

And became number 1 earlier.

That was bound to happen . Connors won 3 slams in his 1974 while Borg won 1 only

 

[Sudacafan]

Jack Sock

 

[Bruteforce_Tennis]

Hewitt is the Pioneer

- Roger Federer

Federer hails Hewitt as Wimbledon pioneer

Ahead of Lleyton Hewitt's last Wimbledon, Roger Federer has praised the manner in which he took on and beat the game's big servers at SW19.

www.beinsports.com

 

[TheNachoMan]

Yes, it tells you a lot about the today's standards.

Yeah, we don’t get to watch Sampras and Goran have a servebot fest at Wimbledon every year. Really low quality!

 

[skaj]

In my opinion it's between Becker and Lendl. Becker influenced all those late 80s - 90s power S&V players and servebots. On the contrary, Lendl brought the power baseline game to the world.
Then Kuerten was one of the early adopters of poly.

If I missed some points, lmk, haven't watched 80s -90s.

Maybe for the serve, but there were other big servers before him. His playing style has little to do with the today's game.

 

[Sudacafan]

Seriously, Björn Borg. Heavy top spin.
Where I voted Lendl, it must be read Borg. The Swede was not among the poll options.

 

[spottishwood]

I think prototype for S and V type of player would be Rod Laver and more defined version would be J Mac in their evolution series.

Don't you think that style of S&V became obsolete with Edberg retiring? The only later players were Rafter and Henman.

 

[Bambooman]

It's still Borg. Lendl just got the idea from him.

 

[spottishwood]

Maybe for the serve, but there were other big servers before him. His playing style has little to do with the today's game.

That's what I actually meant though, but yeah there were guys like Pancho who played a similar style. Rosewall, Laver, Cash, Newk were more of Edberg style players.

 

[skaj]

Yeah, we don’t get to watch Sampras and Goran have a servebot fest at Wimbledon every year. Really low quality!

No, we don't get to watch Sampras play his beautiful, skillful, athletic, elegant all-court game. Against a wonderful serve and volleyer for example, like here:

I advice to learn about the tennis of the era you are making comments about.

 

[Sudacafan]

It's still Borg. Lendl just got the idea from him.

And Zverev also took ideas from Borg, mainly about hair, but not as successfully.

 

[thrust]

In my opinion it's between Becker and Lendl. Becker influenced all those late 80s - 90s power S&V players and servebots. On the contrary, Lendl brought the power baseline game to the world.
Then Kuerten was one of the early adopters of poly.

If I missed some points, lmk, haven't watched 80s -90s.

I would say Connors, as I think he was the first to win slams using a non-wood racket and the two handed backhand that most players do today. Lendl came after Connors.

 

[NeutralFan]

yeah agreed. I always hear that Connors was the one guy who younger fans can't really appreciate with his 'only 8 Slams' in terms of how huge he was in the game.

His returning/close to baseline style definitely influenced the top guys a lot.


First of all he was playing such brand of tennis with old racket technology , not just his return position but his insistence to hug the baseline during the points , quality of his passing shots , could defend like today's baseliners with with old rackets and that too on fast hard courts lol . On top of all that he was one hell of an entertainer and could create atmosphere like a football match . Connors is severely underrated and doens't get the credit he deserves.

 

[TheNachoMan]

No, we don't get to watch Sampras play his beautiful, skillful, athletic, elegant all-court game. Against a wonderful serve and volleyer for example, like here:

I advice to learn about the tennis of the era you are making comments about.

Sorry, I’ve watched a few Sampras and Edberg matches before. It’s not my cup of tea. To each their own, I guess.
I like Agassi, Kafelnikov, Chang, Courier, from that era.

 

[spottishwood]

I would say Connors, as I think he was the first to win slams using a non-wood racket and the two handed backhand that most players do today. Lendl came after Connors.

Agreed

 

[spottishwood]

Sorry, I’ve watched a few Sampras and Edberg matches before. It’s not my cup of tea. To each their own, I guess.
I like Agassi, Kafelnikov, Chang, Courier, from that era.

I'd say watch Agassi vs Becker WC'95 and summer of revenge. I absolutely love S&V vs Baseliners matches.

 

[NeutralFan]

Don't you think that style of S&V became obsolete with Edberg retiring? The only later players were Rafter and Henman.

SnV style of tennis would be suicidal in today's era with slow court and modern strings. People love to pin point lack of net game in today's player but it's certainly not a skill which a player need in order to dominate.

 

[TheNachoMan]

I'd say watch Agassi vs Becker WC'95 and summer of revenge. I absolutely love S&V vs Baseliners matches.

I like Becker, he could play well from the baseline too.

 

[skaj]

Sorry, I’ve watched a few Sampras and Edberg matches before. It’s not my cup of tea. To each their own, I guess.
I like Agassi, Kafelnikov, Chang, Courier, from that era.

Enjoy the tedious baseline exchanges, I will stick to touch, court smarts, variety and elegance of Sampras, Edberg, Pioline, Date, Rios, Hingis.

 

[Kralingen]

Pete killed SnV because he did it the best that it could humanly be done, so the courts were slowed to not embarrass the Next Generation who would always be hopelessly inferior to him.

 

[Bambooman]

SnV style of tennis would be suicidal in today's era with slow court and modern strings. People love to pin point lack of net game in today's player but it's certainly not a skill which a player need in order to dominate.

Djokovic still used it with great success in Paris last year.

 

[spottishwood]

I like Becker, he could play well from the baseline too.

Becker and Sampras were two of the serve and volleyers who could play well from baseline also. Sampras was a bit better due to his movement and somewhat better forehand.

 

[NeutralFan]

Djokovic still used it with great success in Paris last year.

Well, i said it's not the skill that you require it to dominate the modern tennis. Djokovic, Nadal dominated tennis World without using net game.