What are your most memorable shots of all time? Let’s break it down for each shot – forehand, backhand, volley, serve, overhead.
For me, the most memorable forehand I ever saw, that springs to mind first is the Novak Djokovic forehand winner cross court down match points vs Federer at US Open semis in the fifth set. Of course, Djokovic saved the next match point and came back and won.
Backhand – the Marcelo Rios jump backhand cross court winner in the 2002 Miami Open semi vs Agassi, first set tiebreaker at 8-8 or 9-9, provoking ESPN commentator Patrick McEnroe to gush, “…That is PURE GENIUS RIGHT THERE…” Rios won the set on the next point with a drop volley undercut spin winner. But Rios lost a close second set 64 and then retired with a leg injury before the third set.
Serve? There are a lot of those to choose from too. I’ve probably watched over a million serves in 25 years of tennis watching. But the first one that comes to mind…the Pete Sampras second serve ace down match point to Corretja at the US Open quarterfinals. Or the Pete Sampras serve that smashed through the strings of Patrick Rafter’s Prince racquet in the Cincinnati final.
Overhead? This one is easy. The Pete Sampras invented slam dunk overhead. Nobody hit the overhead with more flare and power than Pistol Pete. He only deployed this specialty stroke on the rare opportunities it presented a chance, but each time Sampras slam dunked his overhead smash, the crowd ooohed and aahed in wonder.
Volley? For some reason an obscure one comes to mind. It was in the third set of a Miami Open quarterfinal night match, tight third set between Hewitt and Marat Safin. Hewitt hit a running forehand pass up the line that Safin just barely measured and then dove horizontally and somehow stabbed it with an angle and spin for the miraculous winner. Safin got up from the ground, bloodied and still focused, showing no pleasure in the unbelievable volley winner on a key point. The stress of having to battle a raging Hewitt prevented Safin from enjoying a brief celebration for one of the best shots he ever hit in his life. Safin ended up losing to Hewitt in the third set tiebreaker but this volley is still alive in my memory for some reason.
These are some of my most memorable shots, what are yours?
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1 2 Next »Dan Markowitz · December 16, 2019 at 9:08 pm
Got to go with Sampras running forehand and serve. Agassi backhand. McEnroe volley and serve. Federer short angle chip backhand. Nadal banana forehand; Connors backhand and Martina and Fed’s chip and charge.
catherine · December 17, 2019 at 1:14 am
BJK’s backhand volley.
Of course Steffi’s forehand.
Scoop Malinowski · December 17, 2019 at 8:58 am
Dan yes but can you specify certain memorable shots of those in specific matches and moments? Specify is what I’m trying to do here.
Andrew Miller · December 17, 2019 at 8:59 am
Rios one handed backhand volley lob. We’ll never see it again.
Scoop Malinowski · December 17, 2019 at 9:48 am
Andrew, you can see the backhand volley lob winner most times I play, love that shot, especially in doubles.
catherine · December 17, 2019 at 9:52 am
I can remember great individual shots but I can’t possibly remember great shots at great moments over years and years. Not unless they were recorded, which didn’t necessarily happen.
Important matches have been won on pretty ordinary shots.
Andrew Miller · December 17, 2019 at 10:17 am
Scoop, how did you learn that shot? It’s unbelievable. Used to believe a top-spin lob was the right shot for a player, but it’s hard to execute and it’s easy to over-do it (whether by cm inches or yards metres!). Now I look at Rios bh volley open face lob shot as “perfect”. I don’t know how you learned how to do that! Your opponents must be shaking their heads.
Andrew Miller · December 17, 2019 at 10:20 am
Shot of all time, the blistering forehand from Djokovic that erased match point for Federer in their 2010 US Open semifinal. It was so shocking – I saw Djokovic hit a similar shot on TV against Nadal in their 2008 Queens Club match on grass (which Djokovic also had his chances in).
Scoop Malinowski · December 17, 2019 at 11:06 am
I agree Andrew, that Djokovic forehand winner off a Fed first serve down match point is for me the single most memorable shot in my history of observing tennis. And then the reaction. The crowd went nuts but then Djokovic raises his arms up for more love and the crowd went nuts again, it was a double roar and that second roar I believe spooked Federer and contributed to him losing the next match point and then the match. Fed is not used to being the second banana but in that moment Djokovic stole the crowd and the show. That Djokovic forehand is for me the single most memorable shot in tennis history. Unforgettable shot along with all the details. And don’t forget, Federer still had match point on the next point serving to the ad court but Djokovic escaped.
Scoop Malinowski · December 17, 2019 at 11:11 am
Learned it from Rios. Seeing Rios do it and having decent hands at net, especially on backhand volley side. Rios proved any shots are possible on the court. Even a jumping two handed lefty backhand. His best one ever was in the Miami 2002 semi vs Agassi in the tiebreaker which gave him set point. Must find that on you tube. That set is one of the best sets Rios ever played. Agassi was fierce and driven for revenge – he was 0-2 vs Rios head to head at that time. But Rios won that set but lost a close second and then retired with knee pain.
Andrew Miller · December 17, 2019 at 11:47 am
Young guys save Medvedev haven’t learned the art of working a crowd. They are not aware that it isn’t just “playing their game”. There are the mental tricks (like Djokovic believing people are actually cheering for him, which he used versus Federer at Wimbledon in their epic and that was indeed an epic match). And then there are the crowd tricks (which Kyrgios understands until he abuses it and then all collapses).
Until these players understands that it’s a show in addition to their amazing tennis…
Andrew Miller · December 17, 2019 at 11:49 am
Scoop, you practiced it? During matches just tried it out? It’s a sick as in incredible shot. More angle and extension than anything from what I can tell. You must be toying with opponents if you’re hitting that shot regularly.
Hartt · December 17, 2019 at 12:53 pm
Shapo is good at using the crowd – showing his emotions, his excitement, asking for more applause, etc.
Andrew Miller · December 17, 2019 at 1:54 pm
Shapo yet may surprise us all. I thought he was too nice until his US Open. I appreciate the cutthroat Shapo. I like the merciless on court, gentleman once the match is over.
Harold · December 17, 2019 at 3:02 pm
Dont remember the exact score, but it was 1988 USO final, Wilander/ Lendl 5th set, big point, Wilander in a long, defensive point hits a one-handed BH down the line passing shot. Place went nuts
Hartt · December 17, 2019 at 3:55 pm
Andrew, I am surprised that you thought Shapo was too “nice.” Other than being a typically nice Canadian off the court, he seemed pretty tough on it. 🙂
If you want proof, look at what he did to his best friend, FAA at this year’s USO. Or maybe that was the match that changed your mind about him. But he and Félix have always gone after each other hammer and tongs, despite their friendship. FAA beat Denis in SS in Madrid earlier in the season.
Scoop Malinowski · December 17, 2019 at 6:54 pm
Good memory Harold. Might have to re-watch that final and look for that shot.
Scoop Malinowski · December 17, 2019 at 7:00 pm
Andrew, that “mental trick” of Djokovic pretending the Fed crowd is for him is genius. It also psyches out the crowd to think about who to cheer for. One of the most brilliant schemes a top player ever employed. Telling Fed fans he is using their cheers to his advantage. Might be the all time psyche warfare maneuver.
Scoop Malinowski · December 17, 2019 at 7:02 pm
Andrew, Only use it spontaneously, never practice it. the opportunity presents itself quite often in the doubles sets we play. Definitely agree with the guru who said, “the most important shot in doubles is the lob.”
jackson · December 18, 2019 at 12:18 am
Hartt, I hate when the players, any player, including Shapovalov, asks for more applause. Seems so whiny and needy. Hit a great shot and give yourself a giant vamos and the crowd will go nuts without you having to beg.
Matty · December 18, 2019 at 1:35 am
Federer’s down the line backhand to erase Nadal’s match point in the fourth set at Wimbledon (in the greatest match ever played). Djoker’s cross-court swinging forehand volley to erase a match point at the US Open vs. the Fed. Michael Stich’s final serve to close out Edberg at Wimby, 7-6,7-6,7-6. Jack Sock’s impossible volley to secure the US Open dubs w/Bryan. Nick Kyrgios’s 136 mph second serve ace to beat Tsitsipas in DC’s semifinal tiebreaker
Harold · December 18, 2019 at 6:21 am
Jackson,
Agree with you 1000 percent on players begging the crowd to cheer for them, saw Paul McCartney doing it at a concert after every song, 40 years ago. ..im saying to myself youre a freaking Beatle, you dont need to beg for cheers
Harold · December 18, 2019 at 6:31 am
I consider it the only blemish on Nadals court persona, but he might be doing that to delay the chair umpire from starting the 25 second clock
Hartt · December 18, 2019 at 6:42 am
Jackson, generally I’m not a fan of players asking for more applause either, although many of them do it. I used it as an example of Shapo understanding it was important to have crowd support or enthusiasm.
Andrew Miller · December 18, 2019 at 9:02 am
The vamos serves many purposes. Nadal is a total psychout for his opponents. His use of intimidation is pretty studied. Says so himself, he wants everyone to know they are playing a heavyweight.
Scoop Malinowski · December 18, 2019 at 9:03 am
My only gripe with Nadal is the fake injuries timeouts when he’s losing designed to freeze the opponent so they lose their rhythm and momentum. I still like Nadal a lot despite this habit which does not break any rules. It’s very clever and strategic and it helps him win matches from a losing position. I consider Nadal the greatest competitor and fighter in the history of sports and maybe the greatest champion ever. I wonder if Jackson sees any flaws in Nadal or points to mildly criticize? Or does she consider Nadal to be perfect?
Scoop Malinowski · December 18, 2019 at 9:04 am
Harold how and where did McCartney resort to beggary to get louder cheers? Unbelievable. After every song too. George Michael never needed to do that.
Scoop Malinowski · December 18, 2019 at 9:06 am
Matty you pulled out some forgotten shots there. This is the idea I was looking for, remembering some forgotten epic shots.
Scoop Malinowski · December 18, 2019 at 9:09 am
It’s acceptable for a player to request louder cheering. They work hard out there. Even if they play great tennis they could be getting killed. As Thomas Johansson said about playing Rios. If a player is working hard out there and suffering a bad loss despite playing well, if they request more cheering, I think they deserve it. That is usually the situation, one player is getting killed despite playing well and they get the idea to ask the fans to give them more support. Perfectly acceptable move IMO.
Andrew Miller · December 18, 2019 at 9:11 am
Hartt, the Felix first round at US Open convinced me we were seeing Shapovalov 2.0, a newly inspired warrior. His crumbling against Djokovic in the Paris Masters final, a poor acquittal, made me see he has some distance to travel physically, mentally, and game wise to shift the odds of any future big match final in his favour.
Thrashing Felix wasn’t personal and that’s what I liked about it. I also think Felix learned quite a lot from it, but he has some firsts in the wrong direction for him this autumn, such as losing to Tsitsipas, who he owned previously from juniors through the summer. He has to migrate himself from thorn in the side of very good players to “threat to win every tournament he enters”. He looked like it for part of the summer until becoming unglued when he hit stateside post Toronto. I think? Something like that. He was the favorite heading into the Shapovalov match and then got mowed over.
Felix moved marginally in the wrong direction from just before US Open onwards, but with his big game and good attitude and willingness to learn, or at least refine what he already does, he’s got an interesting year ahead. He still flies under the radar, which also helps.
Andrew Miller · December 18, 2019 at 9:20 am
Asking for cheering is weak? Please. Imagine you’re playing that match and you don’t like that your opponent has the overwhelming crowd support while you are staying even. Or worse, the crowd claps when you double fault (which ahem CAN be heard at the matches of some star players we comment on repeatedly).
Another reason I hope everyone finds some unsung players they like, become a fan for players beyond the big guys (and best female players). Underdogs can use all the help they can get, the odds are stacked against them.
Always surprises me that at regular ATP tournaments, a lot of fans don’t know how a player is doing, only that they’re right in front of them – 2019 could be 2014 for all they care, as of they are frozen in time as fans (one guy I met at a tournament had no idea how a US player was doing, that they’d been in the doldrums. All they knew was they liked the player and cheered them on.
That’s right Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic fans. The reason these guys are doing well is because you guys won’t support up and coming players, underdogs, or anything like it 😉
Andrew Miller · December 18, 2019 at 9:22 am
I’m going to stick with this. I will blame fans.
That’s right Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic fans. The reason these guys are doing well is because you guys won’t support up and coming players, underdogs, or anything like it 😉
Andrew Miller · December 18, 2019 at 9:25 am
Another of great moves in recent tennis history: 2003 AO QF, Younes El A. vs Roddick, exhausted players hand ball kids their racquets, who then play a point. Roddick uses the extra time to figure out what he has to do to beat Younes and Younes admits that the interlude was probably used to distract him.
Roddick wins the epic match that Younes could have won if he stayed focused.
Brilliant. Even if Roddick had lost, worth trying as Younes wasn’t folding.
Hartt · December 18, 2019 at 9:26 am
Shapo has given thrashings to other players. When he is “on” he is pretty much unplayable. Shortly after their terrific USO match, which Monfils won, Denis beat him, 6-2, 6-2, I think it was. Just found the info, Denis did beat Gael 6-2, 6-2, in 59 minutes, at the Paris Masters QF. Gael did not play badly in that match, Denis simply never let him in. In Paris Shapo beat Simon, Fognini, Zverev and Monfils before getting a W/O from Rafa.
Shapo’s problem is finding a way to win when he isn’t on, he has been very inconsistent in the past, but he is improving. He is more patient, not going for the big shot so soon, although he can still improve in that area.
FAA had a great start to the season, and did have a slump after Wimby. His ankle injury in the fall, which kept him off for several weeks, did not help. He is a big deal in Canada, does not fly under the radar here.
catherine · December 18, 2019 at 10:07 am
Scoop – is Jackson a woman ? Or are we doing a reverse Hartt here ? Or does the internet prove that gender is irrelevant ? I’d love to know.
I think all players like the crowds to cheer for them. I’ve never come across one who’s ever complained about it. And a few who’ve actually credited the crowds with the win. Murrey eg. And ******.
Andrew Miller · December 18, 2019 at 10:20 am
Hartt, I’d love to see Shapo, Felix win big titles. Then again I hope others do too. I’m trying to break hard from a belief in the big guys, who I now see as monopolists, while also recognising they simply work harder and are total masters of tennis.
I hope other players learned a lesson from Medvedev’s US Open run.
Andrew Miller · December 18, 2019 at 10:29 am
Hartt, Shapovalov was undone in his Paris final. Wonderful he made the semifinal plus walkover. Finals, semifinals, better than early exit, and a Masters final is an excellent result.
He’s got to get his groundstrokes to where he can hit them consistently and as if blindfolded, the new standard for the backhand is basically be able to hit it offensively and about five hundred times in a row 😉 Or a hundred times in a row so that you can survive a fifty shot rally off that wing.
The game under pressure is the game, so next time around assuming Shapo dices the field again and gets that match again, a Nadal or Djokovic like player won’t be able to go after any part of his game without thinking twice.
This upcoming year we should see Medvedev hopefully pick up where he left off and rip a slam from the hands of the big four, five. But just because that’s what this year suggests of course means nothing. The big guys prepare better and are better players and anyone really has to beat them, which is as tall a task as it’s ever been. I don’t put much stock in the Shanghai and ATP Finals results, other than young guys have solved best of three set tournaments and will do well at Masters this year.
The slams are still under lock and key. I hope not for tennis sake, as dominance is not good for the sport and it’s time to dethrone the big four, five players.
Scoop Malinowski · December 18, 2019 at 10:32 am
Catherine, Yes Jackson declared herself to be female several weeks ago if I remember correctly. Unless she decided to change her gender in the meantime I still believe Jackson is female.
Scoop Malinowski · December 18, 2019 at 10:35 am
Let’s hope Medevedev gets back to being a bad boy, because ever since he became a diplomat with normal perfect behavior in public his results have dropped. Medvedev needs to be himself, a rebel firebrand not a cliche cornball. If he acts “normal” as Kyrgios agent noted, his results went down.
catherine · December 18, 2019 at 10:48 am
Andrew – this dominance thing is something you find in many sports, and while there are plenty of complaints while the Big 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 are winning everything you find as years go by a great nostalgic wave building for the way things used to be and this adds quite a bit to the literature of the sport and the persistance of discussion in articles and books and sites like this. And the tiddlers of today will turn into the giants of yesterday.
Re crowd support – I’ve seen both players begging for more vocalisation from the crowd but this occurred at one of those tournaments in China where there were no spectators anyway and it was quite funny.
Andrew Miller · December 18, 2019 at 10:49 am
Medvedev’s villain act was “amazing”. As much as I think he’s a jerk (and I do), he earns his points and his crowd work was a “masterclass” that ensured that he’d have the crowd support in New York deep in his fifth set versus Nadal.
Never seen anything like it, ever. Absorbing everyone’s boos that later became a love fest. Next to Djokovic’s wacko interpretation of cheers for Federer as cheers for himself (which we can’t see, because it’s Djokovic playing a trick on himself).
I hope he picks up where he left off, shows it wasn’t a fluke. I thought as much when he grabbed the Shanghai title, but it’s indoors and end of season aka garbage time for tennis players (unless you happen to be the best player from Belarus, in which case it’s your entire season – Sabalenka, we’re looking at you, kid). We will see how Medvedev Act II holds up in early 2020.
The Kyrgios act didn’t work because Kyrgios coasts on his talent and prefers team sports. It will always be this way.
Andrew Miller · December 18, 2019 at 10:55 am
Catherine, it got so bad, this thrist for nostalgia, that Andy Roddick was arguing for changing the rules of the game and structure of tournaments so that the careers of Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer would be prolonged.
I heard that and thought Roddick lost his mind. That’s EXACTLY what superfans of these players want, and the opposite of what they should have. Same rules at least regarding tournament structure. I personally believe they shouldn’t play as many stadium court matches so that fans can see them up close, but that creates other issues.
But I’m definitely not in favor of restructuring tournaments so Nadal etc get a first round bye etc. I don’t think any of them should have different rules than what others of their rankings etc had for last twenty thirty forty years eg same game.
Harold · December 18, 2019 at 11:13 am
I thought we were talking about hitting a great shot and getting the crowd to show their appreciation. Not reverse psychology moves
McCartney did it the times I saw him, late 70’s MSG, and mid 80’s at the Cap Center in Maryland. Every song worked the stage, pushing the audience to cheer
Scoop Malinowski · December 18, 2019 at 11:34 am
Djokovic has psyched out Federer fans. Now all Federer fans will think when they cheer, Djokovic is twisting those cheers for himself. The louder fans cheer for Roger, the more energy and inspiration and motivation this will generate for Djokovic. Djokovic is brilliant to psyche out Federer fans with this reverse psychology. Might be one of the all time best psyche jobs in tennis or sports history!
Scoop Malinowski · December 18, 2019 at 11:38 am
Kyrgios pulled a villain to hero transformation at Citi Open. A woman told me two years ago she would never buy a ticket to see Kyrgios again after he pulled out of the tournament and was playing basketball the next day. This year Kyrgios won the title and had the adults at his matches going crazy in euphoria. Kyrgios can work over a crowd as well as Medvedev. These are two of the best crowd conductors in tennis. They know how to make fans boo them and hate them and then they can transform crowd minds into cheering them. Amazing hypnosis talents by both Medvedev and Kyrgios. Something to behold.
Scoop Malinowski · December 18, 2019 at 11:40 am
Harold, you have to look deeper, all these psyche warfare moves by players and their shots and crowd control tactics do not have just one meaning or intent, these moves are genius with double and triple and maybe even quadruple meanings and intents!
catherine · December 18, 2019 at 11:42 am
One reason to distrust crowds – they can be so easily turned.
Andrew Miller · December 18, 2019 at 11:55 am
Harold, Nalbandian’s “swinging volleys” off both wings. I think he employed them indoors in two 2007 Masters title runs. His cross-court returns for those matches were also accurate, he was on fire.
Andrew Miller · December 18, 2019 at 11:56 am
Novotna’s backhand volleys I think were beautiful in her first and only Wimbledon title in 1998. I think her backhand volley was among best.
Andrew Miller · December 18, 2019 at 11:57 am
Nadal’s overhead in any match. So subtle how good it is, hardly ever misses it.