Tall Trees - Big servers

[Moxie]

My recent back-and-forth with @DarthFed makes me recognize that we all seem to have a funny relationship with the guys that are considered the tall players with big serves. We often hear the commies say: "He moves well, for a big guy." (About some of them.) Sometimes we groan when it's a match that is just going to be a serve-fest. So my question is: amongst the tall players (6'6"/198cm,) who do you like? Who do you root for? Who do you root against? How do you feel about the super-tall players in men's tennis?

 

[mrzz]

As long as they are not the norm, I like them. Where is @El Dude to compile a list of tall players above the mark Moxie suggested?

Besides obviously del Potro, I like Anderson. I think his forehand is quite underrated. And it is not about the power -- this is usual for a big guy -- but I think his technique is quite good. He can generate pace on low balls like very few others.

And I actually like Karlovic. He obviously lacks technique (even if he is decent volleyer), but I like his attitude on court.

 

[Moxie]

Beyond del Potro, I don't love them as a category, but I have an affection for more than others. Not exactly sure why. I don't like Raonic. I respect him for his work ethic, but his game doesn't sing to one's soul. (And then there was that net touch.) Cilic I can't warm up to. Not so much for the drug controversy, but because he's unreliable. Karlovic: I think everyone thinks he's nice, and he survived an awful illness. Since he doesn't threaten at the top, everyone seems to be happy for him, as long as we don't have to watch him play.

Anderson: He seems to be the 2nd most popular of the big trees. He moves very well, has a net game, and he seems nice.

Querrey, Isner: I think they're both pretty genial, even though I can't be enthusiastic about their games. I root for them.

Alexander Zverev: I'm guessing that, with del Potro, he's going to be the next big guy to win a Major. He and del Potro are different in this category, if you ask me.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Going back, never liked Krajicek but kind of enjoyed Ivanisevic, maybe because of the personality. Neutral about Karlovic and Isner, support Milos mostly because of the Canadian connection plus got to meet him and chat with him for an hour and liked what I saw and heard.
I like Delpo minus the drama.
I really dislike Janowicz and I am glad I do not hear of him that much.
Kevin Anderson is OK.

 

[El Dude]

What am I your secretary, @mrzz? Do your own dirty work.

 

[mrzz]

What am I your secretary, @mrzz? Do your own dirty work.

Why don't you just admit you would have done it if I had not posted it? There is actually a good chance you have one already done just in front of you. You would probably even suggest a different cut off height!

 

[Moxie]

Why don't you just admit you would have done it if I had not posted it? There is actually a good chance you have one already done just in front of you. You would probably even suggest a different cut off height!

Not to put to fine a point on it, @mrzz, this is MY thread. Enough with you and El Dude. At least El Dude had the elegance to step back and tell you off.

 

[El Dude]

Come on, @Moxie - this is a new era in which mostly-heterosexual men get to dabble with a touch of manlovery....be openminded and let us have our bromance.

 

[Moxie]

Come on, @Moxie - this is a new era in which mostly-heterosexual men get to dabble with a touch of manlovery....be openminded and let us have our bromance.

Clearly I forgot my place.

 

[Moxie]

Yikes, I better put a smiley before everyone freaks out. :lulz2:

 

[El Dude]

But to address your actual topic, it inspired a thought in me. While there's often no rhyme or reason why and how we choose your favorites, I do think that style of play has a lot to do with it. A lot of my love of Roger is because of his play style. I won't go into all the superlatives - we all know his game well - but his elegance, grace, and diversity of talents stand out as especially relevant. It is basically an aesthetic preference.

I think the reason not many of the big guys are well loved, is because the all-serve, no-game style isn't very aesthetically appealing to many. Ivo is the most extreme version the game has ever seen (well, maybe Sam Groth), while Isner is a more functional version, and Raonic even moreso along the same spectrum.

But to go to @mrzz's suggestion, I'm thinking we could start by looking at #1s and their heights...I think studies have been done. Also Slam winners. Anyhow, here is a list of current players at different heights, with retired all-time greats in italics:

EDIT: I've added some dimension to this list: Active Slam winners in bold, Next Gen (b. 1994 or later) in green.

6'11": Ivo Karlovic, Reilly Opelka
6'10": John Isner
6'8": Kevin Anderson, Jerzy Janowicz
6'6": Juan Martin del Potro, Marin Cilic, Alexander Zverev, Sam Querrey, Karen Khachanov, Daniil Medvedev
6'5": Milos Raonic, Tomas Berdych
6'4": Nick Kyrgios, Taylor Fritz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Marat Safin
6'3": Andy Murray, Grigor Dimitrov, Jack Sock, Felix Auger Aliassime, Boris Becker
6'2": Novak Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Pablo Carreno Busta, Andrey Rublev, Frances Tiafoe,Stefan Edberg, Pancho Gonzales
6'1": Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Lucas Pouille, Borna Coric, Hyeon Chung, Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Arthur Ashe
6'0": Stan Wawrinka, Roberto Bautista Agut, Denis Shapovalov, Mats Wilander, John Newcombe, Ilie Nastase
5'11": David Goffin, Andre Agassi, John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg, Guillermo Vilas
5'10": Kei Nishikori, Jimmy Connors
5'9": David Ferrer, Corentin Moutet
5'8": Rod Laver
5'7": Diego Schwartzman, Ken Rosewall

As far as I can tell, Marat Safin is the tallest multi-Slam winner, with Del Potro and Cilic being the tallest Slam winners. Becker is the tallest all-time great (if we define that as 6+ Slams). Don't know who the shortest is, but I'm guessing it has to be Muscles, at least in the Open Era.

You can also see how the weight of players is in the 6' - 6'2" range, and heights are trending upward.

I would define "tall tree" as 6'4" and higher. That seems to be the point at which altitude becomes more rarified.

 

[mrzz]

^ha! I knew it!!!! this makes up for my shitty draw challenge effort.

I agree that 6'4" is the better cut.

Kyrgios is "only" 6'4"? Probably it is due to the bad posture...

This thread of yours is very nice, El Dude!

 

[El Dude]

See, I did it anyway. I'm your bitch.

 

[Moxie]

I don't agree with 6'4. Safin, at 6'4" kind of defined it early, but I think it has to be above 6'4" now to be a "tall tree with big serve."

 

[Moxie]

^ha! I knew it!!!! this makes up for my shitty draw challenge effort.

I agree that 6'4" is the better cut.

Kyrgios is "only" 6'4"? Probably it is due to the bad posture...

This thread of yours is very nice, El Dude!

Nice of you to skip over me. And I do see what you did there.

 

[mrzz]

See, I did it anyway. I'm your bitch.

No, you´re not. You stole @Moxie's thread. She better do something about it, otherwise she is your bitch.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Everybody forgot Joe Muller who is 6'4" and who took out Rafa in last year's Wimbledon.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I like Anderson as a person. But, he is really wasting his big serve. That was very evident when he played Rafa recently (was that US open of last year). Rafa was standing a mile back and still Anderson would not come forward despite having such a big serve. That is not knowing how to make use of your asset. Since then I have no sympathy for Anderson.

 

[Moxie]

Everybody forgot Joe Muller who is 6'4" and who took out Rafa in last year's Wimbledon.

His name is "Gilles" and I'm not admitting 6'4" players.

 

[Moxie]

No, you´re not. You stole @Moxie's thread. She better do something about it, otherwise she is your bitch.

No, you stole my thread and gave it to @El Dude. And YOU are my bitch. Have you looked at the recent standings on the draw challenge? Hmmm? :devilfinger: