The Greatest Groundstrokes of the Modern Era

[DarthFed]

Federer best weapon is his serve, without that he couldn't be a good shot-maker
Nadal worst weapon probably is his serve (and it's not so bad but not enough to make more free points) due to play with his left hand which is easier for him thought he is natural right hand but not so good for the serve, maybe if he would use his right hand he would be better with that shot so important on HC and grass

Roger's best weapon was always his forehand. It's possible that it's fallen off so much that it is now his serve. However, even without his serve clicking he is still a great shotmaker. If he wasn't I don't think he'd be good anymore because there are clear weaknesses in his game now (ROS, backhand, moving to his forehand).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Federer best weapon is his serve, without that he couldn't be a good shot-maker
Nadal worst weapon probably is his serve (and it's not so bad but not enough to make more free points) due to play with his left hand which is easier for him thought he is natural right hand but not so good for the serve, maybe if he would use his right hand he would be better with that shot so important on HC and grass

Roger's best weapon was always his forehand. It's possible that it's fallen off so much that it is now his serve. However, even without his serve clicking he is still a great shotmaker. If he wasn't I don't think he'd be good anymore because there are clear weaknesses in his game now (ROS, backhand, moving to his forehand).

Agree,Roger to me has the best inside out fhand in the game,just a pleasure to watch when 'on' in his prime days it was one of the best shots in tennis I have witnessed live.I have had the pleasure of watching Roger live over many years in different tournaments around the world.

 

[auto-pilot]

I take Sampras' forehand over Federer's forehand.
Sampras has a more destructive forehand that can completely eradicate any baseliner in the blink of an eye.
And I take Nadal's forehand over both of them, because its more versatile - great for passing on the run (so is Sampras' forehand), greater down-the-line, and less error-prone.

 

[Federberg]

I take Sampras' forehand over Federer's forehand.
Sampras has a more destructive forehand that can completely eradicate any baseliner in the blink of an eye.
And I take Nadal's forehand over both of them, because its more versatile - great for passing on the run (so is Sampras' forehand), greater down-the-line, and less error-prone.

:clap

Some comments for the ages. Your opinion of course! But I believe most experienced tennis observers would say the following:

Federer's forehand is better than Sampras' although special mentioned to Sampras' running forehand. That was a bit special.

I also believe that most would agree that peak Federer's forehand was superior to Rafa's, but they're a completely different species of shot.

But what really made me laugh was your suggesting that Rafa's forehand is more versatile. Puh-leeeeze... :lolz:

Of course if you're talking about now, then perhaps you're right. But that's a rather pointless statement. Rafa's serve is better than Roscoe Tanner's serve now, but... so what?

 

[auto-pilot]

By versatile I mean--
1) Passing = Nadal
2) On-the-run = Nadal
3) Down-the-line = Nadal
4) Inside-out = Federer
5) Consistency = Nadal
6) Power = Sampras

 

[DarthFed]

Rafa's forehand is completely dependent on the surface. If it bounces high it's deadly, if not then it's barely good. That's why you see him stink on the real grass and indoor courts. Roger's forehand was deadly on every surface back in his prime. It's not anywhere near what it used to be.

 

[Carol]

Rafa's forehand is completely dependent on the surface. If it bounces high it's deadly, if not then it's barely good. That's why you see him stink on the real grass and indoor courts. Roger's forehand was deadly on every surface back in his prime. It's not anywhere near what it used to be.

Stink winning two Wimbledon titles and reaching several indoors semis and finals? really? maybe you are expecting that he has to win in all the surfaces or what? :huh:

 

[DarthFed]

He wins those titles on the worn out grass which plays slower and bounces significantly higher. For his career he is great the 2nd week of Wimbledon and dismal the 1st week, even when he made finals it was a huge struggle the first week against nobodies. No coincidence.

And a few semis and finals indoors. Wow, how special

 

[Carol]

He wins those titles on the worn out grass which plays slower and bounces significantly higher. For his career he is great the 2nd week of Wimbledon and dismal the 1st week, even when he made finals it was a huge struggle the first week against nobodies. No coincidence.

And a few semis and finals indoors. Wow, how special

But it's not how you start but as ends, others start to play well and finish pretty bad....
Last Wimbledon was a huge surprise losing against Kyrgios but this guy made the match of his life doing 38 aces and playing pretty well though his next match was the opposite. The other previous two years his knee obviously didn't allow him to play well and he had to take some months off to take a good care with that bad injury which now it seems to be much better

Wimbledon surface is the same since many years ego, same worse out grass where Federer won before, slower and bounce significantly higher

 

[Front242]

Rafa's knee was just fine against Rosol as evidenced by Rosol even having a set point for a 2 sets to zip lead the last time they played at Wimbledon and basically dominating much of that match till he lost that second set narrowly in the end.

 

[Carol]

Rafa's knee was just fine against Rosol as evidenced by Rosol even having a set point for a 2 sets to zip lead the last time they played at Wimbledon and basically dominating much of that match till he lost that second set narrowly in the end.

Sure......he probably got a bad knee when he was flying back to Spain and then he had to be 7 months off....come on!

 

[Front242]

My point is the result was very nearly the same so what does that tell you? It tells me Nadal is just plain crap on the faster grass in the first week of Wimbledon when the grass is fresher and faster and his knee(s) have no impact whatsoever on the result as he was deemed 100% healthy last time those two played and the result could quite easily have been the same if Rosol hadn't lost that 2nd set breaker.

 

[DarthFed]

What was wrong with his knee in 2013 when he got tossed up by Steve Darcis?

 

[Carol]

What was wrong with his knee in 2013 when he got tossed up by Steve Darcis?

Yep, after to win Sao Paulo, IW, skipped Miami , winning Barcelona, Madrid, Roma, RG he lost against Darcis limping in the final set and many people thought his season was over, later he won Montreal, Cincinnati and the USO. This granted him 3'6 million UD Dollars in prize money, the most money earned a tennis player at a single tournament.
A few day later he played in Madrid to help Spain secure their World Group Playoff for 2014 with a victory against Stakhovsky who had beaten Federer in the second round Wimbledon 2013, and also scored a victory in doubles with Marc Lopez clapclap:clap
Almost nothing.........so who cares if he lost Wimbledon 2013?

 

[Front242]

What was wrong with his knee in 2013 when he got tossed up by Steve Darcis?

Sweet **** all.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I take Sampras' forehand over Federer's forehand.

Oh my Jesus Christ.

 

[brokenshoelace]

Rafa's knee was just fine against Rosol as evidenced by Rosol even having a set point for a 2 sets to zip lead the last time they played at Wimbledon and basically dominating much of that match till he lost that second set narrowly in the end.

Wait what? Nadal's knee was fine in a match in 2012 that ended up being his last for 7 months because he had a competitive match against the same guy at the same tournament two years later (but somehow ended up with Nadal winning in 4 instead of losing in 5. Let's ignore that detail)? Did auto-pilot hack into your account?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think some poster's havent seen Federer's fhand in his prime years,his inside out fhand was one of the best shots in tennis period.Sampras had a great running fhand,still Federer's fhand rules.BTW my dad said to me Rod Laver had a great running fhand as well...

 

[Carol]

Federer best weapon is his serve, without that he couldn't be a good shot-maker
Nadal worst weapon probably is his serve (and it's not so bad but not enough to make more free points) due to play with his left hand which is easier for him thought he is natural right hand but not so good for the serve, maybe if he would use his right hand he would be better with that shot so important on HC and grass

Roger's best weapon was always his forehand. It's possible that it's fallen off so much that it is now his serve. However, even without his serve clicking he is still a great shotmaker. If he wasn't I don't think he'd be good anymore because there are clear weaknesses in his game now (ROS, backhand, moving to his forehand).

I've never said that his fhand wasn't good (maybe one of the best but not better than anyone) but without his good serve which has saved him many times and still...I don't think he would have been so great shoemaker.

 

[Federberg]

Federer best weapon is his serve, without that he couldn't be a good shot-maker
Nadal worst weapon probably is his serve (and it's not so bad but not enough to make more free points) due to play with his left hand which is easier for him thought he is natural right hand but not so good for the serve, maybe if he would use his right hand he would be better with that shot so important on HC and grass

Roger's best weapon was always his forehand. It's possible that it's fallen off so much that it is now his serve. However, even without his serve clicking he is still a great shotmaker. If he wasn't I don't think he'd be good anymore because there are clear weaknesses in his game now (ROS, backhand, moving to his forehand).

I've never said that his fhand wasn't good (maybe one of the best but not better than anyone) but without his good serve which has saved him many times and still...I don't think he would have been so great shoemaker.

cobblers :snicker