Ille Nastase versus Arthur Ashe...1972 U. S. Open Finals

[don_budge]

Ille Nastase versus Arthur Ashe...1972 U. S. Open Finals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cmEH0y0fA0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf4wrrpzdYc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lou_yI0C5L4 (no longer available)

1972...I was 18 years old and had spent the summer at The Don Budge Tennis Camp in McDonough, Maryland. Ille Nastase was my favorite player...Mr. Budge was very much impressed by him...maybe just a little uncertain what to make of him. Nastase had lost to Stan Smith at Wimbledon in a five set match.

[don_budge]

Nastase vs. Ashe 1972...part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lou_yI0C5L4

Take a look at the action here from the very first point. Nasty pirouetting and doing a 360 degree turn to approach the net on an improvised backhand. Arthur has taken the first set already...6-3.

Nastase is playing the racquet that the artists of the day were wielding...the Dunlop Maxply Fort and Ashe playing the “modern” techno equipment, the Head Comp I. It was a composite racquet made up of aluminum and glass fibers. The rug beater. Bud Collins and Jack Kramer in the booth providing the commentary. Listen to their astute comments compared with the make believe talking head drivel we are subjected to nowadays. Arthur Ashe employing the swinging forehand volley when he can throughout the match and his backhand is a wonder to behold. Although his swinging forehand volley seemed to let him down time and time again, his classic forehand volley is rock solid as well.

Here is the iconic Good Guy versus Bad Guy matchup...Ille Nastase and Arthur Ashe. Grass court serve and volley, all court tennis at its best. Two interpretations of the game. The bludgeoning power game of Ashe versus the assassin tactics of the stiletto wielding Nastase. Nastase with his full repertoire of tactics...incredible quickness and touch with deceptive power and penetration. Turning it on at will it seems.

Everything about this match is about polar opposites...the stoic Ashe and the impish Nastase. Nastase exploits every possible incident for all that it is worth yet he maintains a remarkable sense of control over himself.

Notice how the benches are way past the neighboring courts where the players will take their between game rest. Traditionally they had a chair besides the chair umpire but the decision was made to place them so the paying customers did not have their view obstructed. Ashe makes the trip over to his bench during the changeovers...it isn’t clear whether he is sitting and resting. Nastase however sets up camp right at the umpires station and apparently never sits down during the duration of this five set contest.

The differences in the behavior of these players of yesterday and today’s players are obvious at the onset. Look at the way that they handle the balls...they accept the ball from the ball boy and don’t do the ritualistic selection of the ball. Never once do they towel off between points. Each player when receiving serve respectfully gets into position very quickly in order that the server may maintain his tempo. Both players work very quickly on their service games...never stalling for an instant. One bounce, no bounce...it doesn’t seem to matter...Bud Collins jests and refers to Jimmy Connors taking up to eight or nine bounces. He says Jimmy thinks he is dribbling. They don’t make a federal case about putting the ball in play even though their tactics are much more complicated than those of modern tennis player. The main objective of both players is to get to the net under no uncertain terms. To get there...you have to improvise much of the time. You must traverse no man's land. This is lawn tennis...it is the way that the game was designed to be played. In 1972...three of the four Grand Slam Tournaments were played on grass.

At 4.15 watch as Nastase runs down an impossible volley from Ashe to put up a lob to force Ashe to play just one more shot. Nastase futilely chases down the overhead but quickly returns to his receiving position in order that Ashe can maintain his tempo. No towel breaks...just maintaining a sense of tennis etiquette generally speaking. That is not to say that Nastase did not deviate from this overriding principle. He knew how to capitalize on any given situation to exploit humor or irony. Truly a great showman with uncanny timing...especially at this stage of his career. Look at approximately at 9.00 for an example of this...a bit of humor and exploitation on the part of the Mercurial One. Ashe quickly steps in at 9.48 so as to not allow the situation to expand any further.


At 11.28 Nastase returns an Ashe overhead with a crunching forehand that goes by Ashe before he can even react. Nastase holds his hand over his eyes as if he hit the shot blindfolded. An amazing shot...considering he “flushed” it on the sweet spot of his wooden Dunlop Maxply Fort. On the very next point Nastase chases down an Ashe forehand crosscourt volley and jokingly runs clear past the adjacent court...then he trots back into position to receive Ashe's next serve when Ashe looks a bit impatient. A bit peeved. The receiver was expected to always be in position within a reasonable amount of time. No dilly dallying. No shilly shallying. No stalling.

At 13.32 serving for the second set, Nastase picks up a difficult forehand half-volley and lofts it harmlessly into the middle of the court. Ashe takes dead aim at Nastase who has positioned himself in the middle of the net...he pastes a forehand at Nastase’s midsection but Ille has shifted just out of the way and meets the incoming bullet with a crisp block of the forehand and volleys it away. It happens so quickly it is difficult to imagine...but Ille makes it look so routine. He serves out the set after breaking Ashe in his first service game...6-3. One set all.

A nice illustrative point at 19.00...Nastase follows behind his second serve and races to intercept an angled Ashe return with a deft backhand volley only to have Ashe float a lob over his head. Nastase chases down the lob and flicks it back over his head for Ashe to bounce and hit a routine smash. Nastase anticipates and runs to intercept and returns with another lob while falling down to avoid being hit with Ashe’s smash. Nastase scrambles to his feet to try again...but Ashes smashes cleanly into the open court. The illustrative point? Always try to get the ball back in play and give your opponent another chance to miss.

The very next point is illustrative as well. Nastase serves and volleys and his volley catches the line and Ashe obviously thought that it was going to be out all the way. He never attempts to swing at the ball and he easily could have. This is the closest you will ever see Ashe disputing a line call...he looks briefly, for two seconds, obviously in disbelief but he quickly puts it behind him and takes his place to return the Nastase serve. On the very serve Ashe gets a terrible bounce and the ball shoots under his racquet for a complete whiff. Two unfortunate breaks in a row. Arthur Ashe is apparently nonplussed. Games are one all in the pivotal third set.

Jack Kramer makes this comment...”We are seeing a great demonstration why Arthur Ashe will always be a great big match player, Bud. He got a terrible call and he hasn’t even looked at the linesman and he is all set to go. Nothing is going to disturb him.” Bud Collins comes back...”You don’t think that would have bothered Nastase do you? Such contrast in temperament. Ashe the quiet cool one serving to the volatile Nastase.”

Kramer again on the courts...”It was really a high kicking bad bounce for Nastase...the courts are playing much quicker today, the balls are not hardly picking up any grass stain. So everything is a little faster. Lots of wind dried out the court yesterday.”

[don_budge]

Nastase vs. Ashe 1972...part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lou_yI0C5L4

At 26.50 and 2-3 on Nastase’s serve we have a beautiful classic serve and volley point. Nastase hits a good first serve to the Ashe backhand in the ad court...Ashe returns nicely angled to the Nastase backhand. Nastase plays a bad bounce with his backhand short and manages to cut across the ball subtly just enough to make the ball bounce slightly away from the advancing Ashe forehand. Giving Arthur just a split second of indecision perhaps. Ashe nonetheless rifles a forehand crosscourt where Nastase has neatly anticipated and he rather casually sticks a forehand volley into the open court. No swing...just racquet head in front of the ball with just enough motion on the racquet face to control the ball with a touch of underspin. Fabulous stuff...yet it was fairly routine play in those days.

At 29.20 watch this forehand volley of Nastase. Another first serve to the Ashe backhand in the deuce court this time. Ashe returns low and Nastase half volleys short to the Ashe backhand. Ashe advances and plays to the Nastase forehand but Ille as nimble as a big cat pounces and absolutely knifes a forehand crosscourt with some real pace on it. He pounced on that ball with intent to kill. He calculated and executed...seeing the shot just before it happened. Wonderful anticipation.

At 4-4 in the third set with Arthur serving...Arthur spins a second serve into the deuce court and Nastase hits a backhand drive return low. Ashe makes an excellent low forehand volley deep and near the sideline into Nastase’s backhand where Ille hits a pretty good down the line pass. Arthur appears to be there in time but he has taken a pretty good sized swing at the forehand volley and he really muffs it. Almost a total miss. Bud Collins says to Jack Kramer that Ashe took his eyes off of the ball but Kramer corrects him...saying, “he takes those very long swings on those (forehand) volley’s sometimes. Hard to coordinate it”. Speaking of swinging volleys...keep in mind we are talking about standard sized tennis racquets. Only seventy square inches. On the next point Ashe comes in and makes a lovely text book low forehand volley and he deftly backhands the reply into the open court for a winner. Nastase claps with his racquet...after he lifts himself off of the grass where he had slipped after making his pass attempt. Truly a classically beautiful serve and volley game...Ashe holds serve for a 5-4 lead. No breaks so far in the third set.

At 5-5 Nastase plays a splendid return game replete with a couple of brilliant passes but Ashe clings to his serve and holds for 6-5. They show a shot of Dominique who is Nastase’s fiance at the time as Nastase holds at love. Now it is “sudden-death” or best of nine points....the nine point tiebreaker. Red flags are hoisted to signify this juncture in the match. Ashe serves the first two points and hits wonderful forehand volleys on both points for winners. Nastase loses his second point on his serve and they change sides at 3-1 Ashe. Brilliant backhand volley for 4-1 then a first serve in to the Nastase backhand which he hits into the net. Set to Ashe and he leads two sets to one.

In the fourth set Nasty appears to be stuttering a bit and falls behind at 2-1 for Ashe on a poorly played service game. Ashe appears to have the momentum at a two sets to one lead with a break in hand. At 40 love on his serve...Ashe has won nine straight points. He holds for 3-1. Ashe hits two brilliant forehand returns to quickly go up love 30 on Nastase’s serve. After an existential struggle Nastase holds. Ashe holds as well to retain his 4-2 lead.

At 56.23 Nastase hits a second serve to the deuce court and Ashe hits a backhand return which Ille volleys to Ashes backhand again. Ille moves to the center of the court to cover the down the line but Ashe pounds a cross court pass that Ille at full stretch with deft touch executes a soft drop shot that Ashe cannot begin to reach. Sheer elegance and touch...the likes we shall in all probability never see again. Nastase holds and it appears that he has regained his balance...his mercurial balance. But is time running out?

Arthur serving at 4-3...Nastase jumps to a 0-40 advantage. Ashe steels himself to win the next three to reach deuce. At deuce Nastase plays a beautiful cat and mouse play for break point then he runs around his backhand and laces a forehand return down the line for a clean winner. He evens up the set...then he holds for a 5-4 lead. Just like that. Then on break point...also set point...Ashe badly muffs a swinging forehand volley long. The match is even at two sets apiece.

The players trade breaks in the first two games of the fifth set. You have to admire Nastase’s resolve as he hangs in there and is competing splendidly. No complaining or grousing...he just keeps plugging and hanging on. Ashe does as well...as he is well expected to. Neither player backing off in this tight situation. Nastase gets back on track and holds his serve in the third game of the set. Once again...you can note the resolve of Ille as he exhorts himself on to perform as he is changing sides. Arthur draws even with an ace and a bludgeoned backhand volley.

Here the video is missing a couple of games and when it resumes it is Nastase serving to go up 5-2. An Ashe break of serve has been omitted in the failure of the tape. Ashe holds his serve and is facing Nastase’s serve to stay in the match. He nets a return for 15-0. Nastase flubs a volley for 15-15. Nastase plays an exquisite shot off of a very difficult let return from Ashe and Arthur misses wide for 30-15. Nastase misses a fairly routine forehand volley showing maybe just a touch of nerves approaching the conclusion of the match and it is deuce. It's always a little dicey getting the horse in the barn after a long hard struggle. Fifth sets are a zone all of their own. Nasty misses a high backhand volley after a brief rally and he faces break point. He hits his first serve into the body of Ashe and Ashe hits a fine return to Nastase’s feet. Ille hits a very high weak half volley in the middle of the court and Ashe advances to swat it away. He hits very hard to Nastase’s backhand but once again Nasty has guessed right and he steps right into the ball with his rock solid wrist and volleys the ball whistling by a stunned Ashe. Nasty pumps his hands to exhort himself on.

Nastase is two points now from the match. Ashe hesitates for just a moment getting ready to receive...waiting for the crowd to settle...perhaps a photographer. Nastase serves way wide to Arthur’s forehand and Ashe rips it up the middle of the court. Nastase deftly sidesteps to take the ball on his forehand volley and volleys into the middle of the court and fairly shallow...unable to get much on the ball from his defensive position. Ashe rushes in to take a mighty swing at the backhand...he misses by a couple of inches crosscourt. Match point Nastase. Nastase takes just a couple of extra moments by taking just a couple of extra steps to compose himself. He steps up and misses his first serve. He spins the second into the body of Ashe who flicks a backhand return crosscourt that hits the net cord flush and the ball barely trickles over the net...Nastase is on it like light on darkness, like a cat on a mouse...he merely uses the backhand side of his Maxply like a ping pong paddle and he just wishes the ball barely over the net with a whisper. The ball lands only a foot on the Ashe side of the net. Ashe is stunned...Nastase is the U. S. Open champion of 1972.

[don_budge]

The Draws for the 1972 U. S. Open...

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Event-Draws.aspx?Year=1972&EventId=560&Draw=ms

This is an extraordinary draw by the way. If you look at the 128 names and know the players you realize that there are many, many excellent and stylish players in this contest. A bunch of Hall of Famers for sure.

Anyone that thinks that the depth of today's game can even hold a candle to this golden age of tennis is ignorant at best...delusional worse yet.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/Share/Event-Draws.aspx?Year=1972&EventId=560&Draw=md

Now take a look at the doubles draw. Amazing isn't it? You see that virtually every single singles player also played in the doubles. See Richard Gonzales and Torben Ulrich were a team. Man...wish I could have been there to see that. Nastase lost in the semis with partner Ion Tiriac to the eventual winners...Cliff Drysdale and Roger Taylor. In all he played an additional fifteen sets of tennis playing in the doubles.

There was some real high quality grass court tennis played in those two weeks.

[stotty]

Thanks for posting this stuff. Of all the older matches available on Youtube these days, this is my favourite. It's one of the few clips that doesn't lie. It gives a decent impression of pace and the way the game was back then. So many clips don't. I know because I was there. I know the difference. There's no fooling Stotty.

Was there ever a player more gifted than Nastase? I don't think so. He was out on his own with his madness and wizardry...uncanny.

I love Kramer's knowledge of grass; how it subtly changes with the changing elements. I'd even forgotten such subtleties myself...so long it's been since the old grass was ditched. I wonder if anyone today truly understands grass as Kramer did then...the finer points.

I always found Ashe's forehand volley a little flimsy (relative to the standards of the era). His backhand volley was one of the best, really sound, really good. Tactically Ashe was truly great. Aged 35 he played McEnroe and lost 7-5 in the third. He discovered a way to play McEnroe and past it on to the rest of the tour that day...showed them a chink.

If Federer had some Ashe in him...hmmm...the possibilities would be endless. Alas...

Such fine posts from don_budge.

[gzhpcu]

Great find. Love the footage, angles and the commentary.

I find they really filmed much better in those days too. I like the court level perspective now and then.

Even though the rule was changed about keeping at least one foot on the ground while serving, neither player jumps like they do today, yet serve just as well I find.

Funny to see portly Frank Hammond, dressed to the death, almost falling off his chair as he checks for foot faults.

What an entertaining match! Those were the days...

Arthur is playing with the Head Arthur Ashe Competition racket, which I used to play with around that time as well...

[don_budge]

Serve and Volley...ala "Nasty" and Arthur

Was there ever a player more gifted than Nastase? I don't think so. He was out on his own with his madness and wizardry...uncanny.

Arthur Ashe and Ille Nastase. Two sides of the same coin. The coin? A vintage 1972 edition. The classic edition. The classy edition. Take a look at the draw sheet and you will find 128 different and unique interpretations of the game of tennis all based on fundamentally sound principles. They were emulating the champions of the past. The game at this juncture in history had the influence's of Tilden, Gonzales, Budge and Hopman. Federer was not even an idea in his father's eye. He would have been just another player in the draw. He may have been seeded but every match was a mine laden field. The game had style. It had class. Recognize the paradigm?

Of the 128 players in the draw at the 1972 U. S. Open, most were accomplished serve and volleyers. A number of them were clay court specialists yet they were there to improvise on the lawn of the West Side Tennis Club. Every single one of these players could slug it out from the baseline as well. Such was the nature of the game back in 1972...there must be a Plan B and Plan C to fall back on. Just in case the Plan A wasn't getting the job done.

But with all due respect to Kyle Lacroix's articles on serve and volley perhaps the best way to learn is to watch a match such as this. I remember watching matches like this with my racquet in my hand and the mirror on the wall. I would jump up off of the couch and take a swing looking at my reflection.

Both of these guys are trying the same tactics and the objective of their tactics is to control the play at the net. As in chess...the player that dominates the play in the middle of the court...or board...is the one most likely to win.

Arthur Ashe's service motion is geared to give him a slightly running start to the net whereas the motion of Nastase merely sets him in motion in a mercurial stream of consciousness where he dreams himself into position. Arthur is workmanlike and Ille is like a wizard...a conjuring magician. Arthur starts his service motion about six inches behind the baseline...he moves his front foot forward and then he brings his back foot forwards into a somewhat wide pinpoint stance. Or is it pinpoint...perhaps it is a moving platform. At any rate Arthur throws himself into the court and collects his balance just behind the service line. Basically it is serve, two quick big steps and a collecting motion of balance before the improvisation business of serve and volley begins.

Ille Nastase's service motion is so beautifully fluid and rhythmic it is isn't difficult to understand how he can maintain his tempo throughout the entire match. Notice how his back foot comes swinging through on his way to the net. Nastase takes a couple of quick steps too in his approach but when he calculates the effect of his serve upon his opponents repertoire his movement as the receiver makes contact or even before is ever so much quicker. He is relying on his instincts just a bit more than your average bear...your average big cat. Once he has that ball in his vision he is on it like a cat on a mouse...pouncing for the kill. If he doesn't have the kill he improvises to put the ball in a position or with a subtle spin to throw his opponent off balance then he is creeping, sneaking or leaping into position for the follow up shot.

Serve and volley is largely an improvisational skill that is learned from thousands of hours of practice and thousands of mistakes and thousands of successful forays into the net. Through this trial and error process one learns what works and what doesn't work. You learn to rely on your instincts and to move into position just before or just as your opponent makes his move on the ball. A huge part of the trick is delaying your move until your opponent is already committed and there is no turning back for him.

These tactics are often similar in a way to boxing tactics. Combinations are what win. A combination of offense, defense and neutral shots. Whatever the situation calls for. Setting your opponent up for the next shot. On lawn it was largely a two or three shot combination if you consider the serve and return. Even though serve and volley is an aggressive tactic it largely relies upon defense and improvisational skills as well. These half volley plays from the middle of the court are so artistic in the sense that the touch and feel that is required to pull them off it requires the sensitivity of the moment...with the steely nerves to pull it off. It takes a lot of courage to come in...it takes a lot of confidence and moxy.

A huge part of this metaphysical equation is serving tactics. In this match you see both players subtly and not so subtly placing and spinning the ball with varieties of speed that depend upon an infinite array of factors. Serve tactics are equal parts spin, placement and speed...but everything changes with the given situation. As you can see from of the speed of their play they are not standing around computing the permutation and combinations...they are living them. The tactics are so ingrained in their beings that they merely bounce the ball once or not even at all and they are in motion. Even though Arthur may not appear to be a fluid as Nastase he makes up for this with his will power, his control over his emotions and his belief in his system.

Play is continuous. It was supposed to be. The game was liquid and so was the style of play. Nastase never appears to sit down once during this five set match that was so evenly contested. Many times the more fluid player seemed to have the advantage but guess what...that isn't always the case. There was room for the "mechanic" as well. Just look at the draw sheet of the 1972 U. S. Open. You can see that the vast array of characters were all individual in their interpretations compared to the tepid politically correct and engineered game of today.

By the way...my fraternity brothers used to call me "Nasty".

[gzhpcu]

Amusing to hear Ashe say at the awards ceremony that "Nastase is a colorful player and when he brushes up on his court manners he will be even better".

Also, the two tiny balls presented the players as opposed to the huge trophies of today... (guess it matches the size of the prize money....)

[don_budge]

Phil...

I have about six or seven more posts to go on this subject. Could you kindly refrain from posting your humble opinions until I am done. I would sincerely appreciate it.

Why don't you develop the Nastase/Smith thread that you started? Cast some light on it and clue us in what is going on...behind the scenes. Between the ears. That would be great fun for you. For us as well. It will give me some time to develop my thoughts on what I started here.

Thanks in advance...Saint Phil...Mister Manners!

[gzhpcu]

I apologize. Did not realize that your threads were monlogues...

P.S. Would you please post when you are done and others are allowed to post humble comments...

[don_budge]

Phil...

Please observe I didn't say anything to Stotty. In fact I used part of his quote to feed off of. You have really annoyed me with your attitude about John McEnroe. You are so judgmental, so holier than thou...but you are not alone for that matter. I am certain that the rest of your crew will start chiming in pretty quickly. Afterall...there is safety in numbers. There really isn't anything so convincing as a whole group of people snorting and chortling and acting indignant...so offended. Such mass sensitivity. It's touching.

I am afraid that you are going to start in about the "evil" Nastase...and destroy the context of the thread.

Thanks for understanding. I guess they are sort of monologues...aren't they? But somehow Stotty found a discerning style to blend with the context. I am looking forwards to your development of the thread that you started about the 1972 Wimbledon final. I remember that one quite vividly too.

[gzhpcu]

Actually I found Nastase quite funny and amusing, even if he engaged in sportsmanship, it was mostly funny...

[10splayer]

I have about six or seven more posts to go on this subject. Could you kindly refrain from posting your humble opinions until I am done. I would sincerely appreciate it.

Why don't you develop the Nastase/Smith thread that you started? Cast some light on it and clue us in what is going on...behind the scenes. Between the ears. That would be great fun for you. For us as well. It will give me some time to develop my thoughts on what I started here.

Thanks in advance...Saint Phil...Mister Manners!

Seriously, who the hell do you think you are? This is a forum. Got it? I have to say, you are an incredible hypocrite. You come across as some sort of champion of free speech, but if anyone disagrees u become venemous or whine like a little bitch. I actually find your opinions highly unimpressive, and would like to hear others point of view. Quit trying to run the show.

[don_budge]

Time between points...towels, balls and ball boys

At 11.40 there is a point of interest that provokes an interesting comment from Jack Kramer. Ashe serves to the deuce court and Nastase returns with a block underspin forehand that gets up a bit and Ashe aggressively hits a really nice punch forehand volley to the Nastase backhand. Ille runs down the volley but his attempted lob turns into a wounded duck so Ashe steps in and hits a routine swinging high forehand volley into the open court.

Ille, ever the jokester, makes like the road-runner and takes off across the adjacent court all of the way to the first row of the stands where he exchanges a brief word with the ticket holder. But he really doesn’t waste any time and he heads back towards his court to get into position to receive Arthur’s next serve. He isn’t moving quickly enough for Ashe’s taste so Ille being a decent sort starts to jog back to position...so as to not waste any more of Arthur’s time.

Jack Kramer comments, “Well, you see here...Nastase ran about...yeah he’s going to get back in play (Nasty jogging back into position at this point in the remark)...Arthur is showing a little unhappiness. You could take 15 or 20 seconds and get a lot of rest with that kind of play.” Jack would probably be totally disgusted with the fiasco that the modern game interprets "play is to be continuous". It is disgusting. It really is.

On just about every single point in this five set match both players are only bouncing the ball one single time. One single solitary bounce. Then serve. Boom. No retarded rituals. Imagine Nadal going through his antics back then. People would have thought he was really queer. There is virtually no time in between points and play is absolutely continuous. It is expected to be that way. In this one instance where Nastase took a bit of a stroll off of the court...Ashe is acting a touch peeved and Nastase sees this and then he jogs back to get into position so as not to offend his opponent.

During this entire match you never once see the players bouncing the ball incessantly or taking extended towel off sessions. There aren't any towels visible. The towel (singular) is at the player's station where they go between the odd game changeover. Even the change on odd games goes rather quickly and play is always what is referred to as “continuous”. The match is highly entertaining and even at the most crucial points neither player feigns weird ticks or time consuming rituals. Compare these guys with those "wannabe warriors" that they are made up to be these days. Nadal trotting out with two beach towels...one is not enough for his ass holiness.

The handling of the balls is another interesting aspect of the match. The players will often accept the same ball that was played in the point before from the ball boy and use it in the very next point. There is no taking three or four balls and picking one or two from the bunch. The ball boys were just there to fetch the balls but they were actually treated is if they were part of the goings on. Which of course they were. They are human beings and were treated like such...whereas today the players treat them as their own private lackey.

For you younger players and coaches this stuff probably comes as a bit of a surprise to see how much has changed in the game of tennis. It hasn’t all been for the better...trust me.

[stroke]

I apologize. Did not realize that your threads were monlogues...

P.S. Would you please post when you are done and others are allowed to post humble comments...

Well, I guess a monologue thread would not be unprecedented here at tennis player.net. I personally have no problem clearing the stadium so to speak for these.