Who is/was the most exciting to watch?

[FromThailand]

We all know that #1 players aren't always the most thrilling to watch. Some people think that guys like Lendl, Sampras or Federer were (is) even boring to watch. That being said, regardless of their ranking or what they've achieved, who do you think is/was the most exciting to watch?

 

[Warriorroger]

I really miss the Steffi Graf footwork and forehand. Federer comes very close in movement, but I kinda miss that whole mid 80s season.

 

[joe sch]

Mac played the complete game of tennis and his gamesmanship was very sensational !

Tennis needs some more characters and allcourt players that can challenge for slams.

 

[tennisnj]

None of the Above...Fabrice Santoro, the Magician!

 

[breakfast_of_champions]

jimmy connors, by far. he was the last one i can remember, that was marketable enough to play primetime tv challenge matches. probably could throw ilie nastase in that poll, too.

 

[Mugatu]

fabrice for sure!!

 

[Defcon]

I don't understand how people can possibly find Sampras, Federer boring. I don't need histrionics or showmanship, I prefer players who let their racquet do the talking., and when your game is as pretty as Federer's, thats all I need.

 

[Bogie]

santoro without question

 

[FromThailand]

jimmy connors, by far. he was the last one i can remember, that was marketable enough to play primetime tv challenge matches. probably could throw ilie nastase in that poll, too.

I totally agree. That guy really liked the game and was always giving 100% of himself on the court.

 

[Double K]

Karsten Braasch, drinking and also smoking during changeovers. Playing junkball tennis and frustrating players by likes of Sampras and who not. Look at his service motion.

"When I see my serve on TV, I have to laugh at myself.
-Karsten Braasch

 

[FromThailand]

Karsten Braasch, drinking and also smoking during changeovers. Playing junkball tennis and frustrating players by likes of Sampras and who not. Look at his service motion.

"When I see my serve on TV, I have to laugh at myself.
-Karsten Braasch

Smoking? Really! I didn't know that they were allowed to smoke! Is there a ballboy holding his ashtray during the changeovers. LOL

 

[Grimjack]

I don't understand how people can possibly find Sampras, Federer boring. I don't need histrionics or showmanship, I prefer players who let their racquet do the talking.

While I agree with you in principle, I'm still taking Johnny Mac. Yes, he displayed constant histrionics. He was a basket case, a showboater, and a pompous ass. You either liked this or hated it, but his personality merited attention one way or the other.

But as you say, that's hardly enough to make him the "most exciting to watch." But when you COMBINE the fact that he had the game's strongest personality with the fact that he played brilliant, creative tennis at (at his peak) arguably the highest level we've ever seen over a brief period of time, then the runner up in this poll ought to be well in JM's rear view mirror.

Every McEnroe match was a spectacle, for one reason or another.

 

[Double K]

Karsten Braasch smoked for a short period of time during changeovers but then the ATP banned it because it was a health concern for players.

 

[jsnj]

Well everybody has their favorites, and there are alot of Sampras fans in this pole. But if there's any sorta way to measure players appeal, it's by ratings. I think it's fair to say that the tour and TV are relatively similar today as they were in the 90's with cable in most homes and the Super 9(now called Masters-Series). So from the 90's on, just comparing the American players since Americans get higher ratings in this country obviously, the ratings winners are Agassi, Williams Sisters & Capriati. Actually Agassi has brought in ratings all over the world, seems to be popular everywhere, though not in this pole . I don't remember how Seles fared, but I think she did better ratings-wise than Graf, but of course Graf wasn't marketed here, nor was she media friendly. Roddick hasn't really brought in the ratings and Sampras never really did unless he was playing Agassi. In the 80's & 70's, both the game and TV were different animals so it's hard to compare. It was basically about Chris & Martina and Borg, McEnroe & Connors.

My personal favorites nowadays to watch are Blake because of his explosive speed & forehand and Venus when she's playing consistently like last years Wimbledon, but too often both Williams sisters' play is just so sloppy and error laden that it's not fun to watch. But Venus's retreiving skills with the ability to turn on a dime turning defense to offense, coupled with her modern day version of Lenglen's sky leg-split swing volleys can be fun to watch. Stroke production-wise I like Agassi, Federer and Henin.

 

[35ft6]

jimmy connors, by far. he was the last one i can remember, that was marketable enough to play primetime tv challenge matches. probably could throw ilie nastase in that poll, too.

Connors was a real showman. Nobody like him today. Nobody even close. But, then again, I think people will only put up with that much showmanship and cockiness if you're old.

Becker, Rios, Andrew Ilie, and Arazi. Among others.

 

[FromThailand]

Connors was a real showman. Nobody like him today. Nobody even close. But, then again, I think people will only put up with that much showmanship and cockiness if you're old.

Becker, Rios, Andrew Ilie, and Arazi. Among others.

A real showman with funny antics, talking to someone in the crowd between points or in the backcourt microphones to the commentators in the studio. He was something to watch. He was simply having fun and was trying to enjoy every moment he could out there and most of all, he was a winner. It's true that we don't unfortunately see players like that anymore. The guys take the game too seriously sometimes I think. After all, let's not forget that tennis is a game and was invented to have fun!

 

[penpal]

A real showman with funny antics, talking to someone in the crowd between points or in the backcourt microphones to the commentators in the studio. He was something to watch. He was simply having fun and was trying to enjoy every moment he could out there and most of all, he was a winner. It's true that we don't unfortunately see players like that anymore. The guys take the game too seriously sometimes I think. After all, let's not forget that tennis is a game and was invented to have fun!

Funny, but those are the very reasons I wouldn't choose Connors and voted for McEnroe in this poll. I never liked the way Connors seemed more concerned with entertaining the crowd than he did with winning, whereas it seemed Mac could care less about how he came across and was ONLY concerned with the match at hand (I'm speaking, of course, before he got old and started to ham up his histrionics for the benefit of the crowd).

 

[frida]

Roger Federer

 

[RadekStepanekTheKing]

Andre Agassi

 

[FromThailand]

Funny, but those are the very reasons I wouldn't choose Connors and voted for McEnroe in this poll. I never liked the way Connors seemed more concerned with entertaining the crowd than he did with winning, whereas it seemed Mac could care less about how he came across and was ONLY concerned with the match at hand (I'm speaking, of course, before he got old and started to ham up his histrionics for the benefit of the crowd).

McEnroe always seemed to be angry at something while Connors had fun. That doesn't mean that he wasn't interested in winning? That guy always gave 100% on the court no matter if he was leading or not. In fact he was a five setters specialist. I can't remember how many times he came back from 2 sets down trailing in the 3rd, when all the odds were against him and ended up winning the match. But don't get me wrong, I don't mean that Old Mac wasn't exciting to watch. It's just that I personnaly prefered Jimbo.

 

[LowProfile]

Mac's serve and volley style was always interesting to watch. I'd pick him from the ones listed here, but among the modern players, I'd have to say Fernando Gonzalez's kill-the-ball style and his 100 mph groundstroke winners is pretty exciting and ridiculous to watch.

 

[Moose Malloy]

Connors seemed more concerned with entertaining the crowd than he did with winning

He won 8 slams, 109 tournaments, 5 year end #1's. Winning was the only thing he cared about. Even Mac says Connors was a more fierce competitor than himself. He called him the Pete Rose of tennis. The guy was so intense it was scary. Most of today's players seem like little girls compared to Connors.

 

[FromThailand]

He won 8 slams, 109 tournaments, 5 year end #1's. Winning was the only thing he cared about. Even Mac says Connors was a more fierce competitor than himself. He called him the Pete Rose of baseball. The guy was so intense it was scary. Most of today's players seem like little girls compared to Connors.

Well said! Nothing to add.

 

[Andres]

Goran Ivanisevic, on and off the court

 

[oscar_2424]

Rafael Nadal and BAghdatis

 

[diegaa]

i really enjoyed boris´flies......

 

[ask1ed]

If you are a student of the serve, it's Sampras, hands down, due to hitting over a 1,000 aces/yr. at 6'1". If you're a student of personality it's Mac/connors/nastasie. I once saw Nasty hit a shot for a winner by reversing his stick and using the butt handle to volley with on red clay. If you are a student of strategy, it's Santoro, the pusher's hero. If you're a latino, it's Nadal. If you're a student of history it's Laver/borg. (Can you ever see anyone else winning five frenches/wimbys in a row, or two grand slams?) How many slams would Sampras have if three of four were played on grass as they did when Laver won? Sampras would have beaten Laver every time. So would Fed. Look at the tapes and high school girls hit faster by far now.

 

[slice bh compliment]

...ilie nastase...

Mister Nastase on a good day? Number one.

Hoad, Mac, Boris, Noah, Leconte, Korda, Rios, Goran, Cashy and Rafter on a good day? No's. 2 through 10.

Day in and day out: Laver, Pete, Stich and Federer (but I do not mind a stoic tennis star).

Honorable mention (even though I think he is a fake and a phony): JS Connors.

The Godfather of exciting tennis: Pancho Gonzales.

 

[slice bh compliment]

...Sampras would have beaten Laver every time. So would Fed. Look at the tapes and high school girls hit faster by far now.

Maybe in 20 years, my daughter will play high school tennis....and make Pete's running forehand look like a Hingis second serve.

 

[tennisadict]

jimmy connors, by far. he was the last one i can remember, that was marketable enough to play primetime tv challenge matches. probably could throw ilie nastase in that poll, too.

Amin like his backhand