Which 5 Player Would You Pay To Watch?

Thought this would make a change from recent topics.

Many of you have been to tennis tournaments around the globe. Paid to watch some of the finest players. I have seen a few up close and most I haven't. I have to say that seeing an Ivanisevic running out of racquets was a gem. It was here in Brighton in 2000 when I went with my work colleague. You could see Goran just getting peeved and the funny thing was no one knew what was happening at first when he left the court. Just the most unique experience.

So with that said, who would you pay to see? Say you only had £100 in your pocket who would you see? It can be any player from any era and any peak. I do implore to look past your favourite and maybe past players you have paid to watch. Here are my top 5 in reverse order.

5) Andre Agassi - One of 2 players who have made the list I have paid to see. However, I wish I saw him in the early 90's. Especially at Wimbledon 1992. By far had the best DHBH I have ever seen. Especially in those conds, which weren't returner friendly. He is a unique figure of the game. The kind of chalk and cheese rivalry with Sampras. In those quick conds, the TV didn't do his shots justice I bet.

4) Boris Becker - I admit I am a Bonking Boris fan! Straight up. I loved the 80's. The tennis was so cavalier like. Those who are so accustomed to today's game, if they saw old footage would think it was like watching old men play. The pace the game is played today is frightening. In the 80's it was so different. Yes shots didn't paint lines so much, but I liked the craft. Boris had me believe I could dive around the net like a salmon. I looked up to Becker and believed I could play like he could. He really inspired me to pick up my first racquet. I wish I could've seen him play.

3) John McEnroe. A few years back I watched a documentary about Big Mac and his autobiographer said "if I could choose anyone to play a match for my life, it would be McEnroe" such a strong statement given the warrior like breed we see today. You have to say this man brought eyes to the game. People wanted to see him lose. We have all seen the tantrums and arguably the most famous quip in sport. Personality is something lacking in today's game, but I bet seeing Mac would give you your money's worth and more. This was a guy that would not be beaten and love him or hate him, he is a true legend.

2) Roger Federer - The other guy I have paid to see. And I would even when he is in his 50's! Brought a real artistry to the game. I have sat in the crowd before a Federer match and the buzz before a match is something. People are literally expecting greatness and genius. You come away from a Federer match and it's like wow. Everyone purrs over a 'vintage' Federer performance and I have never seen anyone play the game like he does and I doubt I will again. Tennis icon....which leads on to......

1) Bjorn Borg - As a kid in Britain, you know that with any rain delay during Wimbledon, the Beeb will dig out a match to occupy whilst the clouds pass. The one match which gets replayed is Wimbledon 1980 Mens Final. Borg was simply amazing. He tops Federer because I never saw him live and in the flesh. When you think tennis icons I think Federer and then Borg. Think of a time without internet or social media. Everything knew Borg and wanted a piece. I can only imagine seeing him live was an amazing experience. One of the many things I did when I got the internet was watch Borg matches. Just amazing. His matches with McEnroe and Vilas. Outstanding.

Over to you.

Great thread LK,
1) Connors: His strokes were so unorthodox but his street fighter mentality and his desire to fight till the last drop of energy. Connors was a guy who probably would have been better served as pro wrestler than in the country club game of tennis. He wasn't a good sport, wasn't popular among the officials, or his fellow players. And playing Connors in New york was like the ultimate road match for any hapless opponent as he would whip the crowd into a frenzy like a Roman gladiator.

2)Agassi: The sheer aggressiveness he had from the baseline where he could just change direction and mash the ball all over the place. No one quite like him when he would get a hold of a second serve and just treat it with complete disdain the server wouldn't even move just would have to watch smashed by him.

3) Mcenroe: still such a compelling personality. And the last guy who was a finesse serve and volleyer. An out and out attacker who finished points quickly with guile and touch not with burning up the radar gun in terms of miles per hour. And I used to love it when he would explode at the officials.

4) Djokovic: Yes others may not like watching him. But I love how he moves love the fact that he can hurt an opponent in so many ways from drop shots, to lobs, forehand, backhand, return, serve, or volley. Also I like the fact that he is emotional and dramatic and that he goes through these wild ups and downs which often result in him taking part in more 5 set wars than anyone I can remember

5)Becker: Loved his raw power his athleticism at net. Who could forget his diving volleys at wimbeldon as a teenager. Really what drew me to becker as a kid was that he was so young and came out of nowhere to win the biggest prize in the game and he didn't fade away after that. Also had very strong ground strokes as well.

All of these players are in the "peak" incarnations:

1) McEnroe. Aristotle once said said: "There is no great genius without a touch of madness". McEnroe is a case in point. Wonderful talent and a unique character on court.

2) Connors. A bit like McEnroe, he had a great game and a large, controversial character. I feel a bit nostalgic for the days when players used to really dislike each other and be desperate to beat each other.

3) Becker. To win Wimbledon as a 17 year old is amazing. To defend the title as an 18 year old is even more incredible. I'm not really a fan of S&V but there is an energy to Becker that makes it more compelling.

4) Federer. Rarely is aesthetic beauty allied to such a potent game.

5) Agassi. Insane reaction speed and incredible ability to change the direction of play. Another player with a totally distinctive on court character. Who could forget that famous waddle?!

1) Steffi Graf. Since no one specified that it had to be male players only I'm going for Fräulein Forehand at n°1. The first tennis player whose game I fell in love with (bear in mind that I started watchin mid-90's), the sheer beauty of that FH is what clinches it for me.

2) Steffan Edberg. Fabulous hands, and a game that seemed to just flow with no effort. His serve a case in point: potent, but its main goal was to get him where he was most comfortable - at the net - so he would land a meter inside the baseline.

3) Rafa Nadal. Maybe a slightly odd choice, but the ultimate fighter who never gives up. We'll miss him when he's gone.

4) Justine Henin. Remarkable that in an era where so much was dominated by power she managed to hold her own against the Williamses and Sharapovas. Another with a lovely flowing game to watch.

5) Fernando Gonzalez. Just have space for one of him or Del Potro, and ultimately have plonked for THE FOREHAND. Remember a match at Bercy a few years ago where they played each other and there was one point where both creamed a couple of FHs as hard as possible in succession, you could barely even see the ball! For sheer entertainment value, Fernando sneaks in.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:5) Fernando Gonzalez. Just have space for one of him or Del Potro, and ultimately have plonked for THE FOREHAND. Remember a match at Bercy a few years ago where they played each other and there was one point where both creamed a couple of FHs as hard as possible in succession, you could barely even see the ball! For sheer entertainment value, Fernando sneaks in.

I was very tempted to have these guys on my list too.

There's a definite thrill in seeing sheer velocity and these guys have the biggest forehands I've seen.

This is chock full of the JMDP howitzers but the ones at 1:04, 1:50, 3:50 and 4:00 are particularly delicious.



I miss JMDP.

Ana Ivanovic
Maria Sharapova
Anna Kournikova,
Gabriella Sabatini
Daniella Hantuchova

Oh, sorry , you were talking about their tennis

I saw Gabby live at Wimbledon on Centre once, against Steffi. I was hugely disappointed. Swimmers shoulders doesn't cover it. Also I assume you're talking about non-anorexic Daniella?

Ana........ ahhhhhhh! True beauty, not just babe-like or whatever; classical.

Do the two comments above give me a good enough excuse to post this?:

http://instagram.com/p/y5C4tSkH94/?modal=true

Feds, Laver, McEnroe, Santoro, Henin.

Nadal Borg Conners Agassi Becker

HMM
Then Serena complains about "giving a twirl"

I think Bogbrush should give a twirl after that comment.

I would like to see Fernando Gonzales, Dolgopolov, Krygios, and for past players how about Laver, Rosewall, Pancho Gonzalez, Bill Tilden and Lew Hoad.

Also would be curious to see Wimbledon in about the 1890s just to see what the standard was like.