I was a Connors fan, who detested Borg publicly even though I privately loved to watch him play. I am more emotive in tennis, so the Swede's icy coolness seemed unnatural--lacking some sort of human quality--such that I used to think it was a put on. Yet, I admire and respect him more now and realize he was a helluva nice guy, whereas Jimmy ... well, his on court demeanor was his off the court in large part!
McEnroe I came to like next, even though he vied for my favor with Jimbo. I could not NOT praise the genius that he was on court--but I never liked him as a player. Now, I like him as a person better than before, and I rooted for him intensely against Ivan the Terrible from Czechoslovakia. I did not like Lendl at all.
In the Eighties and early Nineties, I largely fell out of tennis and did not watch much of it. I did enjoy Edberg's game and his manner, but he was not an all time favorite. I did NOT like Andre and still don't--not his game or his glam back then. Sampras reminded me of Borg in terms of his other worldness--I never warmed to Pistol Pete, but that service!!!! Never have I seen anything like it.
The guy that got me back to playing tennis, and who reminded me of Johnny Mac in terms of sheer tennis brilliance, was Federer. Ironically enough, the first match I ever saw of his was the 2005 Lipton final whilst on vacation with my new girlfriend (now wife) up in Atlanta, Georgia. I flipped on the television set to see this new hot shot I had heard folks talk about on ESPN and he was down two sets to love to some teenaged boy wonder from Spain!! Needless to say, I was singing Roger's praises when he mounted a comeback to win in five sets, but that Nadal kid impressed me too. I have been more a Federer fan than a Nadal fan over the years--not because of personality or on court demeanor (I used to live in Spain and follow and otherwise root for Spaniards against all, sometimes even my own paisanos (if they are nasty and undeserving) and often have with Rafa)--but because of the beautiful brutality of his game. I had never seen anyone play and hit winners from all over the court like Federer from 2005-2008--and with such ease and grace. The guy was unbelievable--with the most dangerous FH from anywhere I had ever seen. Yet, I love Nadal, more so for how he is and how he has lived his life, than his actual tennis. He has the fight and heart of a Connors, which earns points with me. Yet, I don't find his style of play appealing--kind of the way I did not like Lendl's bashing and outlasting folks (I know they both hit a ton of winners, but they often win by attrition).
So, those are my guys. Sorry to make it so long, but I start thinking about these things and just let it out.
I dreaded every time he played there and felt sick in my stomach,kind of already knowing the outcome.
