Gonzo tribute

In light of his 3 set loss to nicolas mahut i wanted to start a thread remembering 'the forehand'.
When on song he was brilliant to watch and was always entertaining to watch.

Here are some of my favs, 1) the good, 2) the bad and the 3) gonzo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBI-y0bat-E - nadal battering in aussie 07
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEL0olMmY4g - forehand tribute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGqDaBK_fxc - 2 big Fh's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E40rfx3rYc - gonzo fh's vs feds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFLJzyX58tM&feature=related - taking his anger out on stepanek. A youtuber commented 'so that is what happened to stepanek's face' :P
blake olympics incident (cant find it)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-jThxwUnAs :P - Removing the mark gonzo style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wehs2T5FFM - smashing rackets entertaining the crowd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r6Q-qzIC6w&feature=related - major spin vs dp

Thoughts on his retirement and career? Im goona miss him

Oh on AO 07 Gonzo was on fire, the best form i have seen of an outsider, only the genius of Fed stopped him from winning it. In the QF he made Rafa look like an amateur player, such was his skill on display that day.

The only other performance I can remember of an outsider competing [without winning] that good was Sod's 2009 FO, again genius of Fed coupled with Sod's nervousness made him lose it.

Gonzo on form is a real tester to anybodies game, its sad injury didn't allow him to deliver his best.

Here's a tribute video made by the atp -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0khJUxEVaDw

Almost made me cry and I didn't even like him that much. Arrghh I hate it when players retire.

I tried to find a stream of the Mahut-Gonzo match, but was sad there was none.

I will miss him on the tour. I agree with Harpo, being a little teary-eyed myself.

laverfan wrote:I tried to find a stream of the Mahut-Gonzo match, but was sad there was none.

I will miss him on the tour. I agree with Harpo, being a little teary-eyed myself.

PS: I would like him to stay around in Tennis, and consider a coaching career.

good video harpo, i just wish the aussie open roddick match in 2010, was not his end he never came back from that, a great match too, that line call affected him big time.

A very exciting player that will really be missed. The power and speed of his forehand was almost ignorant! Love players like gonzo, the likes of him and safin are a rare breed. Rather like nalbandian too, immensely talented bunch that were cruelly prone to injury

Great video - will certainly miss Gonzo

Hate to speak ill of the retired, but that Blake incident doesn't sit well with all the eulogising.

Having said that, Gonzo rubbing out a mark in the clay with his a*se was pretty funny - agains Murray at the FO I think?

reckoner wrote:Hate to speak ill of the retired, but that Blake incident doesn't sit well with all the eulogising.

Having said that, Gonzo rubbing out a mark in the clay with his a*se was pretty funny - agains Murray at the FO I think?

Gonzalez vs Soderling FO 2009. Soderling came back from 4-1 down to win, IIRC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-jThxwUnAs&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PLA0D25DEB1F55C207

I remember that match laver - actually I remember most of the FO 2009 very vividly because my fingernails were chewed down to the quick during the second week!

reckoner wrote:Hate to speak ill of the retired, but that Blake incident doesn't sit well with all the eulogising.

Having said that, Gonzo rubbing out a mark in the clay with his a*se was pretty funny - agains Murray at the FO I think?

I remember that too. It's on one of Lovsports links. The 2009 semi against Soderling. Of all the things to remember...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-jThxwUnAs

Whoops too late... everyone remembers it.

Gonzalez was always good to watch. I remember back in 2009 at the FO when he blasted Murray off the court. An explosive FH.

what?! it was funny!! poor Sod looked on bemused...

reckoner wrote:Hate to speak ill of the retired, but that Blake incident doesn't sit well with all the eulogising.

Having said that, Gonzo rubbing out a mark in the clay with his a*se was pretty funny - agains Murray at the FO I think?

Ive put all the videos up on this thread as a tribute. Did everyone just ignore it ?

LuvSports.

I didn't!

I have noticed that when giving a link its worth describing what the link is for if you want more people to look.

LuvSports, I must confess I missed the links before - but took a look and they are awesome, thanks!

hawkeye wrote:LuvSports.

I didn't!

I have noticed that when giving a link its worth describing what the link is for if you want more people to look.

duly noted HE and no worries reckoner

For me the bigger marker of the passage of time will be when Roddick retires . That said gonzo was good

thanks for the videos, much enjoyed.

The match against Blake was also a tremendous match apart from the infamous incident. Both players saved triple match point before it was over.

Shouldve reached more than 1 GS final with his abilities if only he curbed his temper. Its cruel how his achievements are matched by some punk like Berdych..

nice piece on gonzo from deuce

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE-Tennis/DEUCE-Australian-Open-2012/Fernando-Gonzalez.aspx

Busy last few days so I wasn't able to participate on this one. Have to say after Nole and Gazz my next favorite player to watch on tour. His forehand really was one of the best if not the best forehand in the game when it was on. Just an out and out attacker who would literally try to come out of his shoes when he would hit his shots. And the fact that he had a ready smile while he did it also didn't hurt the equation. Really will miss Fernando. Maybe he wants to stick around and play doubles, having nando playing doubles would make me want to watch. His two davis cup matches against the USA on Grass where he played Roddick and Blake consecutively over 5 sets was just mind boggling attack tennis.