The Ugliest Shot in Tennis

First topic message reminder :

I am truly amazed at the comments on this site and TV regarding the "legend" Nadal.

I have no axe to grind and congratulate Nadal on his success. He's a great player, with mighty groundstrokes, but in my (very objective) view others are clearly better and deserve the win more.

This latest final is almost a replay of previous finals vs Fed. Djokovic plays almost all the offensive tennis but just can't get the ball past Nadal.
On his forehand side when stretched out wide Nadal simply hustles sideways and with an open stance, gives the ball a flick back over the net. Over and over and over again. Surely this is the ugliest shot in the history of tennis.
One man is smashing the ball with all his might and is still able to control the ball with great skill, the other is literally just putting his racquet on the ball.
For me, this makes a mockery of the result and diminishes the entertainment.

I'm also amazed that Djokovic, Fed and Murray don't pressure the organizers into speeding up the courts.
They should give the French a miss for a year or two and send a message. They would actually increase their chances of winning in subsequent years.

Nole got a couple of good ones in against Rafa during the final.. Gasquet is pretty good at it too. Such a telling shot.

legendkillarV2 wrote:The master of the squash shot is Federer!

Bizarre that your criticising Nadal for this.

Have you watched tennis over the last few years?

Federer's success in 2009 was down to a squash like drop shot. He deemed this 'cheap' and has been using it since to maintain position and placing in long points.

I'm not criticising Nadal.

Haddie-nuff wrote:How can you criticise that defending- Thats what it is unbelievable defence.
Other players would be beaten trying to retrieve it.. but he does and he gets a winner. .You say that other players remain more upright and go into the splits...so they get one shot back.. but no Rafa does it the second time.
Why should we look at it from his opponents point of view .. a winning shot is a winning shot.. thats what makes Rafa Nadal who he is. This is the man that Federer once said.. "you never know you have beaten Rafa until you play that last shot"
Im sorry I dont understand your reasoning you want conventional tennis then dont watch Rafa, dont watch Tomic and above all dont watch Dolgopolov.. what year are you stuck in.

I'm not criticising the defending.

I'm talking about the whole overall match. I think Djokovic simply deserved a better payoff for his offensive shots, because they take a lot of guts and skill.
Nadal's scramble defence is brilliant, but I don't think it should be the deciding factor in a tennis match.

Lightbreeze wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:The master of the squash shot is Federer!

Bizarre that your criticising Nadal for this.

Have you watched tennis over the last few years?

Federer's success in 2009 was down to a squash like drop shot. He deemed this 'cheap' and has been using it since to maintain position and placing in long points.

I'm not criticising Nadal.

In your thread is:

On his forehand side when stretched out wide Nadal simply hustles sideways and with an open stance, gives the ball a flick back over the net. Over and over and over again. Surely this is the ugliest shot in the history of tennis.

I can't see how that statement cannot be seen as criticism. Any player worth his salt would utilise the same very shot if they are to do well in tennis.

So what would you suggest that Rafa lets Novak win the point because it deserved a better payoff. He shouldn´t make such defensive shots because it isnt fair on his opponent.
In short if you are an offensive attacking player you should win the match .
No defensive shots like you illustrate are allowed ???
Maybe Nadal should not have accepted the winning point because it was a Double Fault made by Djokovic and he really deserved better


If you are not aware of the guts and skill that it took to win 7 RG finals then Im afraid you are watching the wrong sport. Because that is what Nadal is a defender and the greatest at that. :doh:

I'll give it one more go !

I'm only being critical of the conditions which allow Nadal to do what he does (brilliantly I might add).
The conditions (court surface, racquet, strings etc.) change every year and currently allow a great defender to completely dominate.
All offensive players have NO CHANCE because you just can't hit through a great defender.

Again, congratulations to Nadal, but in the future imagine numerous Nadal clones in the top 10. That's not going to be very entertaining.

if there were more Nadal clones where are they... 11 Grand Slams
21 Masters, an Olympic Gold Medal all at the age of 26 ... I think we might have noticed by now had there been some clones out there dont you. Id rather have a clone of Nadal than one of Djokovic. Please dont give it another go on my account your not doing a good job of convincing me of your argument thanks all the same

Lightbreeze wrote:I'll give it one more go !

I'm only being critical of the conditions which allow Nadal to do what he does (brilliantly I might add).
The conditions (court surface, racquet, strings etc.) change every year and currently allow a great defender to completely dominate.
All offensive players have NO CHANCE because you just can't hit through a great defender.

Again, congratulations to Nadal, but in the future imagine numerous Nadal clones in the top 10. That's not going to be very entertaining.

The exact same conditions that have allowed other players to play the same shot.

I am afraid this is like watching a dog chase it's tail.

It is not a shot 'exclusive' to the racquet of Nadal!

Lightbreeze wrote:I'll give it one more go ! I'm only being critical of the conditions which allow Nadal to do what he does (brilliantly I might add).

Having called Nadal's FH ugly per se, firstly you move to it was only meant outwide.
After a backlash of contrary opinion you then move to "I'm only being critical of the CONDITIONS"...i.e. not Nadal.
Haha, this is hilarious. 2 goalpost movements in 1 thread!!

If you're only talking about the slowing conditions then why single out Nadal given that 99% of the ATP plays from the baseline????

Keep digging

Really, now I give up.

You guys need to go back to school and LEARN TO READ ENGLISH as you've misread and misrepresented every comment I have made.

You need to learn not to be such a Mr Winklechops when trying to bash a shot based on first viewing and misinterpreting it as one which only one player plays!

LB, you wrote -
1. Nadal's FH - "Surely this is the ugliest shot in the history of tennis."
2. "I'm not criticising Nadal."

Can you not see how those 2 statements conflict somewhat? Perhaps you've misrepresented yourself in there somewhere?

I think this thread has run it's course JHM. I am still unsure what the OP is actually trying to suggest.

I have no doubt you will get 'I am not criticising' response which goes against the nature of the thread.

legendkillarV2 wrote:I think this thread has run it's course JHM.

Not until you tell me who Mr. Winklechops is

Lightbreeze wrote:
You guys need to go back to school and LEARN TO READ ENGLISH.

No I'm sorry I only know Norwegian

Luckily though I managed to translate this article with Google Translate and funnily enough the article is still s*** and contradictory in Norwegian too.

JuliusHMarx wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:I think this thread has run it's course JHM.

Not until you tell me who Mr. Winklechops is

In true Charades fashion I will obliege:

2 syllables

First word. Something that rings.
Second word. The conclusion of a story.

Can I phone a friend