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| Granted he has H/E coordination, but it seemed to be some sort of unholy focus on the mechanics and mental strength that set Agassi apart from the crowd. It seemed as though he stripped down his game to the bare-knuckles, was physically fit, clinically efficient and never seemed to consider the game lost. I can't remember a game where he lost due to 'losing it' or simply through unforced errors. He may very well have made a pact with the devil :) |
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| Comparing Agassi to Hewitt is not really fair - Agassi had freakish hand-eye co-ordination, while Hewitt has done exceptionally well with relatively average physical attributes. Apart from Federer, no-one has played as consistently close to the baseline in rallies as Agassi. Hewitt will probably never win another GS - his big chance was in '05 against Safin in Melbourne. Federer was out of the way and Hewitt actually has a decent record against Safin. He won the first set easily, then blew up at a line call in the second and Safin wound up winning in four. |
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| Understood. I was just thinking that Lendl would've been a standout and auto-pick when going through players with big games (like Sampras) that did rule the sport for "x" years. On the players with one big shot (i.e. serve or forehand), or one with two big shots (serve and either f/hand or b/hand), agree in part with you there. They will have an impact for a while, then when they get figured out.... I always tend to go back to Slobodan Zivojinovic when having to think of one person with one big weapon - his serve. He served a blinder of a tournament to win the Sydney Indoors in 88. Not the best career stats with 150-138 in singles (despite a Wimbledon SF), but a huge serve back then. http://www.atptennis.com/3/en/players/playerprofil es/default.asp?playersearch=slobodan+zivojinovic As for Agassi indeed a bit of a freak of nature these days when talking tennis. Will be a while yet until I think any 30+ year old player will be collecting a major title these days. Finally good to have some decent posting on these boards again, even if it is in a thread started by everyone's favourite (and now very quiet) Andy lover. |
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| Yeah sorry on that one, I meant to write won through to US and Wimbledon finals. Routinely drawing Fed at Wimbledon and Rafa at the French (in Quarters etc) is just bad luck. He did make the finals at the Aust in that time. You have to win the games to claim them, though. Dead right with Lendl, just speaking generally. Just wanted to point out that big serve/forehand single-dimension players that gun for individual points/games by brute force - essentially on serve - will eventually lose out to the multi-dimensional, counterpunching players that play every point like Agassi or Hewitt. Agassi proved that even in the modern game, these types of players can be in the top 10 and winning titles well into their 30's. |
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| Philippoussis never won a GS tournament. Bad miss there on your part. He lost the 98 US Open final to Pat Rafter in four sets. Consider that Lendl had a big serve in his day and a big forehand and ruled for quite sometime. Surprised you missed this one as well. Yeah, I am well aware of Hewitt's string of losses to Federer at GS tournaments that Fed went on to win - line gets tedious after a while and if Hewitt was good enough, he should've taken at least one or two of those matches. I wouldn't want to live on that line for my career summation as a WHY for not coming up trumps. Not sure what his thinking was, but it could not be that if he beat Fed that he would've been a certainty to actually WIN all those GS titles. Just couldn't buy that one at all. If he had lost in the final in all those matches, fair enough to state that. But losing in the QF and SF matches mean diddly by way of guarantees. Anyhoo, enough from me on this topic. My mention of Hewitt earlier was not to divert this thread to yet another "will he / won't he, can he / can't he win another major or still be a force in the game...." 10/4 |
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| The other thing is that a big serve and forehand might get you a GS, or a couple of finals, but expect little time at the top. Philipoussis won the US. Ivan-isevic won Wimbledon. ARod won the US. They never really dominated, because they have one dimension that they do really well. But they have to be red hot on the day or they are dust. The real champions are the Borg's, Sampras' and Federer's. Multi-dimensional allcourt players adaptable at the baseline or net. They reak down opponents clinically and rarely wilt. Sam Querrey is just the US version of 'the Gooch'. |
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| Few have the misfortune(??) of having gone down in a series of some 7-8 consecutive tournaments that is what is unique, not just having gone down once or twice in random tournaments. But true. It is up to Hewitt if he can do an Agassi, I am just saying that Agassi did it (he was nowhere near as refined in his early career) and that he shouldn't be written off. He has a long career yet. |
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| I will still maintain that Hewitt is past his best. He will still be better than a number of big (inconsistent) hitters such as Querry. Anyone stronger and/or consistent will cause him a lot of trouble these days. His major strength - being his speed - is no longer as it was. He does not have any major weapon outside of the return of serve. Agassi was far, far more naturally talented and had more penetrating groundstrokes, particularly the return of serve (both sides) and his forehand. Agassi won eight GS titles over a long period. He could play on all surfaces despite hating grass for a while. Ironic that W92 was his first GS title. Hewitt was hot for a couple of seasons. As long as all the current top players are healthy, he will have no chance to compete with them and will best slot in against the also-rans. Only so many times that one can keep using the line "well at least I lost to the eventual champion" as virtually most folk who player Federer can state this. Anyway, back to the thread topic - to answer the question in the best, most appropriate manner: hahahahahahahahahahahaha. |
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| I know, I know. Hewitt's backhand is primed to set up points low across court, but he goes for the lines on winners and generally gets them. Agassi was more efficient in his 'down the line' finishing shots, but really only in his latter years. |
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| I wouldn't say past his best, but as results go, he has certainly done better. One could have said the same for Agassi after he left for Shields, who would have thought he could have come back as a force and well into his thirties. Hewitt's game - fundamentally - is a carbon copy of Agassi's. Fast, allcourt accurate counterpuncher. Strong, reliable return of serve, breaks at the right time and down the line double fisted backhand. Both have/had a weak serve but have/had multiple Grand Slam experience. Make what you want of the comparison, but it is there... |
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| He's a prime target for a counter puncher - tactics? - hit the ball hard harder or harder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| So when one considers that Hewitt is well past his best these days, it sure says a lot about Querry's game and the lack of any level that it is at. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exit Querrey.Given a tennis lesson by Lleyton. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thank you. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Yes but that label "brainless ball-basher" sure fits the autor Zedbrat | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| guccione is just a rather inconsistent big-serve/volleyer who lacks any kind of return/ground game. Wouldn't label him anywhere as a brainless ball-basher or big-forehand. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| What about the Poo? Surely he fits this category :) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I haven't seen any typical generic AUSSIE big-serve,big forehand,brainless ball bashing Wa-nkers lately either. Just Chris Guccione | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GO ANDY!!!! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Querrey is nothing more than your typical generic American big-serve, big-forehand, brainless ball-bashing player. Let's move on please." Just like Andy Rodd.ick |
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| Querrey is nothing more than your typical generic American big-serve, big-forehand, brainless ball-bashing player. Let's move on please. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You seem to pride yourself in your ability to start a thread and yet completely miss the fact that whichever deluded thread you start inevitably ends with you being slammed by numerous others for your inflammatory and ludicrous comments. These forums are predominantly for sensible tennis discussion, and yet you obviously delight in hobbling them periodically with your insanity and baseless, one-eyed comments, then proceed to attack anyone who dares question your opinion. HENCE why I felt the need to interject to shut you up, or at least force you to back up your inane statements. I see now that that was a futile exercise as clearly you are in need of some serious psychological assistance. Therefore, I feel I must retire and bid you all adieu. You don't need me to show how much of a t*w*a*t zedbrat is, he's doing a pretty good job of that himself. |
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