Tennis Prose




Jul/15

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Dustin Brown Just May Be The Most Unlikely Looking Tennis Pro. Ever

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Watching Dustin Brown work his magic vs. Rafa Nadal on Center Court at Wimbledon. He’s up a break in the third set after splitting the first two sets with the flustered former champion visibly trying to hang in there with this dreadlocked maestro.

Brown has to be the most unlikely looking tennis pro in tennis history, with his long dreadlocked hair which may reach his knees if he took off the red rubber band. Brown also has multiple ear studs and a tongue or lip ring, which add to the oddity of his appearance which also includes a sleeveless shirt to show off the skinniest biceps in the ATP.

Brown looks like a guy you’d find singing back-up vocals for Bob Marley, not a tennis titan outsmarting one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.

Boy, can this Jamaican German juggernaut play… with all his serve and drop volleys, scoop volleys, flash winners, aces, and relentless net jamming. Whoa, Brown just tried a 128 mile an hour second serve on game point but it missed, then he follows with an ace. He won the game and then served out the third set in the next service game.

I’m looking back at tennis history and trying to think of other extremely odd looking tennis professionals who arrested our attention like Dustin Brown…

I will never forget the first time seeing John Isner practice before his first match at the Legg Mason in DC. towering at six foot nine, Isner was astonishingly solid as a rock from the baseline. He went on to win four straight third set tiebreaks before losing to Roddick in the finals.

Olivier Rochus appeared to small to be an ATP pro but he lasted on the tour for over a decade.

Marcelo Rios with his pony tail and street gang looks and attitude did not exactly fit the bill of Tilden or Budge.

Can think of any other pros with very non-traditional appearances who were able to make it big?

Outside of Rios, Rochus, Isner, Karlovic, I’m stuck…

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20 comments

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 2, 2015 at 2:21 pm

    Wow, Brown is up a break in the fourth now on Rafa. How would Team Rafa spin off this loss?

  • Harold · July 2, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    Torben Ultich. Lars from Metalica’s dad

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 2, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    Dustin Brown is going to moonwalk the netcord if he wins this ) Two games away.

  • Dan Markowitz · July 2, 2015 at 4:04 pm

    How about Karsten Braasch? That guy looked like a cross between a druggie and a professor, but certainly not a tennis pro. I thought the young Johnny Mac with his frizzy hair and tight shorts betraying somewhat chubby legs certainly didn’t look like a pro athlete. Rosie Casals did not look like a pro athlete. QBall, especially when I saw him playing the Qualis at his first US Open, looked like Jughead from Archie comics. Mansour Brahami?

    I didn’t get to see the entire match and I know Brown took Nadal out of his rhythm, but it was shocking to see Nadal miss a number of his patented inside out forehands and backhand passing shots. I thought when Nadal broke on Brown’s second service game, pummeling a few unwise Brown droppers, Nadal would routine Brown.

  • Gaurang · July 2, 2015 at 8:46 pm

    Wow. Didnt see the match, but I didnt expect Nadal to go down in the second round here. OMG. Nadal must be really disappointed. Whats happened to him? I know that he has lost in 2 early rounds here in 2012 and 2013 — and last year he lost to Kyrgios in R16, but still — this is Nadal, the fiercest competitor in tennis (or atleast he used to be).

    Lack of confidence can be a terrible thing. 🙁

    I am actually feeling sad for him now.

  • Dan markowitz · July 2, 2015 at 9:14 pm

    This is reaching epidemic proportions, Tiger Woods proportions. Nasal from 206-2010 reached the finals every year. In his last four appearances, he’s lost in early rounds to players all ranked no. 100 and lower. That’s one of the most bizarre stats I’ve ever seen.

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 2, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    Torben Ulrich is a good call, with that long beard and long hair, but Brown has him beat )

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 2, 2015 at 9:16 pm

    Taylor Townsend is another different looking player, boy did she fall off the radar recently.

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 2, 2015 at 9:20 pm

    After the match Rafa actually admitted that he is not sure if he can ever regain his top level form again. Stunning admission by the always sincere Rafa. After the FO loss he said he would work as hard as it takes to get back to his best level. But this loss really really has shaken his foundation. I hate to say it but I think it’s over. Rafa has lost that speed, reflexes, timing his full speed level, that sixth gear of intensity and ferocity which was based on confidence and desire. Now everything is off. Remember, grinders don’t usually have great longevity. Rafa is the ultimate super grinder in tennis history. Look how the other great grinders faded fast – Hewitt and Chang. Looks like Rafa is going into his premature fade just like Hewitt and Chang. Hard courts is only going to compound his problems.

  • Harold · July 2, 2015 at 11:07 pm

    I hate to say it, but Nadal just needs to play Fed. He never misses that inside-out forehand against Fed.

  • Dan Markowitz · July 3, 2015 at 8:28 am

    I was thinking the same thing, Harold. A little Federer served up a little any court platter would be nice for Rafa to feast on. I’ll tell you, Brown played well, but Rafa missed some passing shots and lobs and open court forehands like I’ve never seen before. It’s only the second round and he had to be fresh so what was the problem. I’ll admit, the net-rushing Brown employed, I think something like 77 out of 111 serves he rushed the net off of, and the drop volleys and shots on grass were a great mix as Rafa or no one can run as fast on grass, you’re not going to get as good as a first step as you would on hard or even clay courts.

    But the Pink Elephant in everyone’s head now certainly is: Why did Rafa go off the Roids or whatever he was taking? He’s not as physically imposing, he doesn’t have the same beastly will and presence and the guy’s tennis has dropped considerably. Come on, you don’t lose it like Rafa’s done at the age of 29 without either a major injury (and Murray’s had more of those) or you just lose your verve for the game, and that’s probably part of Rafa’s problem, too.

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2015 at 9:00 am

    Fed would beat Nadal now, it’s ironic now that Fed could beat this faded version Rafa finally, he has not had the chance to play him in over a year. Fed would dissect this version of Rafa IMO but it would be interesting to watch, because you know Rafa would feel a special confidence and inspiration just seeing Fed across the net.

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2015 at 9:04 am

    Dan, I think Rafa’s fade is due to the fact of physical decline and loss of speed and agility, same thing that happened to other extraordinary grinders Chang and Hewitt. Grinders lose their physicality and reflexes and smooth speed then their games fall off. Rafa has worked so hard, practiced so hard, his shelf life was always going to be short, it’s near miraculous he has lasted this long. He won the FO last year on pure fight, his desire were better than his game last year, this year his game has sunk even more. It’s not drugs or PEDS, it’s inevitable physical decline by fractions and fractions make the difference between winning and losing, it’s a game of fractions and inches.

  • Dan Markowitz · July 3, 2015 at 9:33 am

    Yes, it is a game of fractions and inches, but Rafa’s has declined in yards. I mean look at the cold hard stats, since he beat Djoko to win Wimby in 2010, he’s lost in the early rounds the last four times he’s played. The guy was playing like a beast only 17 months ago in Australia until he fell flat in the finals, you’re telling me his injuries alone have deflated Rafa to the point now where the guy is a middle of the road player after his heights of greatness. I’m not buying it. This guy was so much better and more dominant than Chang and Hewitt. Those two were light weights; Rafa was a heavy weight.

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2015 at 9:44 am

    Wawrinka kicked his ass in Aus, it’s been downhill ever since. As a HWT Rafa has more weight to pull, it’s even harder on him than Chang and Hewitt. It’s not the injuries, it’s the fractional decline in speed and reflexes, agility and movement, this decline has caused everything to fall off, especially his confidence and desire.

  • Thomas Tung · July 3, 2015 at 7:15 pm

    LOL Dustin Brown is a decent pick for unlikliest tennis pro, but I volunteer the infamous Johnny “Blaze” Valenti of Futures fame) as the most unlikely tennis pro. Here’s why:

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

    and

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

    Enjoy!

  • Thomas Tung · July 3, 2015 at 7:16 pm

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 3, 2015 at 7:37 pm

    I know the famous John Valente! Actually have his # on my phone, we trained in the same gym in Bradenton a few times, this guy is super fit. He only had a few ATP points but he played some name players like Kevin Anderson and Dani Valverdu. He’s also hit with many players from ATP and WTA, he’s a legend. He played a Futures in Tampa a few months ago but lost first round. Still grinding at 38. He’s coached a few guys I know in FL.

  • Harold · July 4, 2015 at 9:06 am

    Troivki probably told Brown at the net after the match, Thanks for taking out Nadal

  • Scoop Malinowski · July 4, 2015 at 11:41 am

    Karlovic is up two sets to one on Tsonga, looking lethal too. Isner had an opening to get break points in the first game today but Cilic managed to hold serve and then broke Isner to win the match, Isner saved four or five MPs, tough tough loss for Isner but Cilic earned it the hard way. Fed Groth was as expected. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the first week was the media attack by Tomic on Tennis Australia and Patrick Rafter. Wow.. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/wimbledon-2015-bernard-tomic-unleashes-extraordinary-attack-on-pat-rafter-and-tennis-australia-20150704-gi50ee

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