Pancho Gonzalez - The Legend

[britbox]

1969 Archive Footage

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iuc5PMn3TuE

 

 

[britbox]

Pancho Gonzalez Film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wo9v33t6xI

 

[teddytennisfan]

WOW..

 

THANKS FOR THIS THREAD!!! one thing that practically most tennis websites lack is - in particular -- forums and threads of past players, the history of the swprot -- AND THE GREAT PANCHO GONZALES!!

 

unfortunate for tennis fans that grew up not in his era -- as most of us now are - including myself.

 

but simply to know about him -- see what is there of some of his playing...is such an important part, imo, of being a tennis fan .

 

it is, imo, sad and tragic , that the man many of the best-informed about tennis history considered "the father of modern tennis".

 

is unjustly not celebrated today as many of his own peers or rivals that HE dominated . ...and to whom his greatness in playing was the one thing they all feared.

 

 

[teddytennisfan]

what beautiful , agile, powerful movement -- so graceful -- and that footwork is amazing!

 

[britbox]

Thanks @teddytennisfan . Gonzalez is typically the most overlooked legend when wise sages draw up their lists.

I like your summary... "the father of modern tennis".  He is one player I think could have competed in ANY era.  Connors was asked who was the best player he ever hit with... Most expected an answer along the lines of Borg, McEnroe....   His answer... Pancho Gonzalez.  He hit with old Pancho in the early 70s and Jimmy isn't the type of guy to blow sunshine up somebody's ass without merit.

 

[teddytennisfan]

agree.

 

we all know and understand the discussions now taking for granted that ''tennis players are PLAYING better"

 

with the modern technologies, the maximizing of potential through advanced training methods, etc....

and then showing how the ''LEVEL" OF THE previous eras were below that of today's ''more physical tennis" and 'standards'.

 

based on what the players before WERE - and against the players today ARE -- it is reasonable to accept that the winners today 'WOULD WIN" -

 

BUT it is also often dismissed - that the argument can be made that based on ATHLETIC NATIVE TALENT - as well as skills and competitiveness -- that IF ''EVERYTHING WAS EQUAL"

 

that is -- the circumstances surrounding the maximizing of a player's potentials -- with GONZALES ENJOYING the present ''levels" of training, physical conditioning, TEAMS of physios etc...

 

while retaining his innate talents, athletic grace and power - etc...

 

HE would be about - at least - as dominant AS ANY player has ever been -- INCLUDING the nadals, federers, djokovics today.

 

if NOT even enjoying -- at the very least an EQUAL ration of wins against each of them -- and in toto -- even being THE superior champion  of ''THIS ERA" were HE enjoying the ADVANTAGES of today's era.

 

imo -- HE -- is quite likely the VERY GREATEST tennis player and champion that ever lived.

 

WHO SIMPLY happened to play according to the conditions of his era -- but if innate athletic and mental talents and competitiveness and presence on court were concerned - --

 

CULTIVATING that talent in today's terms or any era -- HE would be THE player of the era. just as well as he was THE player of his era - right up to even his twilight years despite others that had supplanted him as ''top ranked" player...

 

THERE IS A reason why ROD LAVER - had said:

 

"we all were really afraid of pancho -- not because of his temper -- but that we might do or say things that provoked him TO anger -- because WHEN HE GOT ANGRY -- that meant he only played BETTER -- and THAT meant -- none of us had any chance at all"

 

"who do i think was the greatest and best of us all? pancho gonzales -- he was the KING of us all" -- said -- i think by KEN ROSEWALL.