Tennis

[Joan]

Gotta say I'm jealous of Horatio. Regular tennis was amazing. I had been training tennis since I was a little kid and loved it. Used to play regularly with friends later but we somehow stopped and I miss it so much. Guess none of them could run these days.

God, I gotta get fit.

 

[Joan]

On a less personal note, happy for Alcaraz.

 

[DonAK]

Madridista winning this one. Disgusting.

At least Nadal has some connection to Barca even if he's also a Madridista.....and he's not the weird fanatic type like this lad.

 

[Horatio]

Gotta say I'm jealous of Horatio. Regular tennis was amazing. I had been training tennis since I was a little kid and loved it. Used to play regularly with friends later but we somehow stopped and I miss it so much. Guess none of them could run these days.

God, I gotta get fit.

Why are you jealous? I am sure you can get a game going if you played before. I am thinking of joining a club to play recreationally. So far just been going around Amsterdam looking for public courts.

 

[Alik]

Gotta say I'm jealous of Horatio. Regular tennis was amazing. I had been training tennis since I was a little kid and loved it. Used to play regularly with friends later but we somehow stopped and I miss it so much. Guess none of them could run these days.

God, I gotta get fit.

Have you tried out Padel? Less physical effort, more accessible for everyone.

 

[Temptation]

Gotta say I'm jealous of Horatio. Regular tennis was amazing. I had been training tennis since I was a little kid and loved it. Used to play regularly with friends later but we somehow stopped and I miss it so much. Guess none of them could run these days.

God, I gotta get fit.

You're trained at Tennis too? That's so cool.

I'm trained too.

Got a huge serve and forehand. Single handed Backhand and love playing them drop shots with backspin.

 

[KingLeo10]

Huge serve and forehand would have you somewhere on the professional tour

 

[Temptation]

Not really. If you have played in and around the kids national level you'll know that it doesn't mean you'll go pro at all.

For going pro, you have to be all in and devote most of your time and lifestyle to that. Many talented kids don't take it seriously enough due to other commitments.

I treated Tennis as a recreational thing although I trained regularly. I didn't try going pro. I enjoyed it but didn't want to prioritise Tennis over every other commitment I have. Don't regret it. You can't do everything in 1 life now.

Every player has certain qualities and strengths and weaknesses no matter if it's pro level or casual grassroot level. Just like in every other sport.

You have been digging Football Forum posts for years now while policing club loyalties of strangers. Tell us why you're not an official mod yet...

 

[KingLeo10]

Not really. If you have played in and around the kids national level you'll know that it doesn't mean you'll go pro.

Also, for going pro, you have to be all in and devote most of your time and lifestyle to that. Many talented kids don't take it seriously enough due to other commitments.

I treated Tennis as a recreational thing although I trained regularly. I didn't try going pro. I enjoyed it but didn't want to prioritise Tennis over every other commitment I have.

Every player has certain qualities and strength no matter if it's pro level or casual grassroot level. Just like in every other sport.

You have been digging Football Forum posts for years now while policing club loyalties of strangers. Tell us why you're not an official mod yet...

Relax. Was just a fun little jab

At the pro level in tennis, players only have 1 or 2 big strengths (forehand, serve, backhand, net game etc.) So, it was funny how you framed it.

Even big 3 have only 2-3 big strengths. Forehand and serve and net game for Fed. Forehand and court coverage and mental strength for Nadal. Mental strength and backhand and court coverage for Djokovic.

 

[Temptation]

Relax. Was just a fun little jab

At the pro level in tennis, players only have 1 or 2 big strengths (forehand, serve, backhand, net game etc.) So, it was funny how you framed it.

Even big 3 have only 2-3 big strengths. Forehand and serve and net game for Fed. Forehand and court coverage and mental strength for Nadal. Mental strength and backhand and court coverage for Djokovic.

As was mine.

But I actually was/am a cracking player. Call it arrogance but I believe I was good enough to be a pro if I went balls in for this. Had the ability and physicality in junior circuits. But I didn't go balls in so it's irrelevant.

The thing is when you reach pro level, your "huge forehands" need to be consistent enough combined with the right in-game IQ and sense. Also, you need to be physically blessed to avoid major injuries.

Also different strengths at different age is part of your career evolution. For instance, you listed the permanent strengths of Federer but remember in the 2017 ish phase his Backhand was his Trump card for a good while.

 

[Horatio]

I see potential friendship starting to blossom.

 

[Richard.H]

Good tennis from Alcaraz. His 1-2 with serve and forehand winner reminds me of Federer at times, and his mental game sometimes reminds me of Djokovic. Only time will tell if he will stay consistent like the big 3. I remember when people hyped up Raducanu and Fernandez in the womens game but they were mostly irrelevant this year. Lets see how he does in Australian and French.

Consistency is the one thing IMO that makes the big 3 such GOAT's. It's really hard to play so well and motivated/driven for each slam knowing you just won one.

 

[KingLeo10]

Good tennis from Alcaraz. His 1-2 with serve and forehand winner reminds me of Federer at times, and his mental game sometimes reminds me of Djokovic. Only time will tell if he will stay consistent like the big 3. I remember when people hyped up Raducanu and Fernandez in the womens game but they were mostly irrelevant this year. Lets see how he does in Australian and French.

Consistency is the one thing IMO that makes the big 3 such GOAT's. It's really hard to play so well and motivated/driven for each slam knowing you just won one.

Raducanu is a one hit wonder.

Alcaraz has been on fire all season. Even won matches v Nadal and Djokovic earlier in the season.

At the absolute top level, it's mostly about mentality. I'm confident in predicting he'll win somewhere around Agassi's slam count. Don't think he's as talented as Agassi though (Agassi had the best hand eye coordination and reflexes, possibly ever), but definitely more focused.

 

[Richard.H]

Raducanu is a one hit wonder.

Alcaraz has been on fire all season. Even won matches v Nadal and Djokovic earlier in the season.

At the absolute top level, it's mostly about mentality. I'm confident in predicting he'll win somewhere around Agassi's slam count. Don't think he's as talented as Agassi though (Agassi had the best hand eye coordination and reflexes, possibly ever), but definitely more focused.

Even 10 is a lot mate. The big 3 has really hazed the memory of tennis fans. Having 4-5 GS wins was considered a massive success for a tennis player before Federer. There is so many factors in winning 10 slams, here is just a few: Physical health, mental fortitude, clutchness (facing match points, set points). Ya he beat Djokovic and Nadal in a 3 set tournament, can he do the same in a GS? I still think Djokovic is the most clutch player and he is healthier than Nadal who was running on fumes after French. If he can beat Djokovic in a slam, I am convinced.

 

[KingLeo10]

Even 10 is a lot mate. The big 3 has really hazed the memory of tennis fans. Having 4-5 GS wins was considered a massive success for a tennis player before Federer. There is so many factors in winning 10 slams, here is just a few: Physical health, mental fortitude, clutchness (facing match points, set points). Ya he beat Djokovic and Nadal in a 3 set tournament, can he do the same in a GS? I still think Djokovic is the most clutch player and he is healthier than Nadal who was running on fumes after French. If he can beat Djokovic in a slam, I am convinced.

I'm factoring in that players in the old days didn't take GS as the end all and be all. Just like teams in the old days didn't have their seasons defined by CL success or failure, irrespective of league win. In this social media and instant adulation/criticism age, Alcaraz will prioritize slams, especially after the benchmark set by the big 3.

Players back in the day didn't even play the AO and routinely skipped other slams as well. I think the likes of McEnroe, Agassi, and Borg would have way more slams than they did without the skipping.

So I'm not saying Alcaraz is of their level; he's lower (for now), but he's in an age where he will prioritize slams and win at least 7 IMO.