For me Hana was the most graceful female player ever. When she was in form her tennis was a thing of beauty. She would glide effortlessly around the court and could hit winners from both wings and had a beautiful single handed backhand. She was an all court player and had all the shots. Only the most talented can make tennis look effortless. In this match you can often hear Martina grunt from effort (not the fake grunts they have these days) but Hana was always quiet and composed. Sure Martina's career was more successful but if you ask me whose talent and game I would prefer, it would be Hana's.
I agree completely. The narrow range of shots in tennis now, and the lack of touch or finesse, is very depressing. There's another player that fits your spot-on description of grace, and complete command of the art of tennis: Evonne Goolagong.
That first set really was Hana's career in a nutshell. Playing untouchable tennis and then suddenly falling back to Earth. Such a streaky player. The key difference here was that in previous years she would have disappeared after losing that massive lead, but she pulled herself together when it mattered most. Signs of how she had matured as a match player.
Hana said years later that as she was coming out of the locker room to the court, the locker room attendant had the radio on and Tina Turner's song 'We don't need another hero' was playing. Hana said it relaxed her, and she has the song on her mind throughout that first set.
Just comparing this match and Martina in 1984, it's striking how much Martina had bulked up physically here. She seemed to stay like that until around the end of 1986, after which she seemed to really lose a lot of that muscle.
@@sonsoftheedelweiss72 Women's tennis at that time was all-court game. Mandlikova and Navratilova had all the shots, and this was beautiful to watch. Nowadays, womens cannot make a volley or slice a backhand or hit a dropshot. All they do is hit the ball as hard as possible, excepted Swiatek who has variety.
Martina looks so much more muscular here than she did 82-84. Something she kept through 1986. In 1987 she seemed to lose a lot physically and mentally. She said years later that with hindsight, she was burned out from the end of 1986 to mid 1989.
Hana is the most talented woman, and most likely the most talented person , to ever play the game. The only thing that she lacked was the iron will of a champion.
Martina was so arrogant from 84-86. I think she expected the wins and didn’t appreciate them , Graf humbled her and Martina became a better person much in the way Martina humbled Chris. Chris became a better person through her rivalry with Martina, a better person and a better player.
Martina was known for physically acknowledging her opponents' winners by applauding with her racket more than anyone else and when she banged her hand really fast repeatedly after hitting a winner she's not applauding herself, she's trying to psych herself up and this usually happened when she was behind or playing against a tough opponent. I really think you're taking this out of context and completely turned it 180 in your analysis. However I do agree with you with her being a whiner but being a whiner is not poor sportsmanship, that's just a personality trait some players have but this behavior is never directed towards opponents. Bad handshakes, dirty stares, stalling or badmouthing others are things that I would say disrespectful to your opponent.
For me Hana was the most graceful female player ever. When she was in form her tennis was a thing of beauty. She would glide effortlessly around the court and could hit winners from both wings and had a beautiful single handed backhand. She was an all court player and had all the shots. Only the most talented can make tennis look effortless. In this match you can often hear Martina grunt from effort (not the fake grunts they have these days) but Hana was always quiet and composed. Sure Martina's career was more successful but if you ask me whose talent and game I would prefer, it would be Hana's.
I agree completely. The narrow range of shots in tennis now, and the lack of touch or finesse, is very depressing. There's another player that fits your spot-on description of grace, and complete command of the art of tennis: Evonne Goolagong.
Much preferred the look of tennis in those days. Back when there were serve and volley players as well, and Grace trumped power.
And no grunts lol
Mandlikova was a beautiful player to watch
She had the grace of Borg - but not the consistency. Loved watching her play.
That first set really was Hana's career in a nutshell. Playing untouchable tennis and then suddenly falling back to Earth. Such a streaky player. The key difference here was that in previous years she would have disappeared after losing that massive lead, but she pulled herself together when it mattered most. Signs of how she had matured as a match player.
I love Hana's reaction when she won, so genuine and just so shocked she won! So well-deserved and so satisfying
Hana said years later that as she was coming out of the locker room to the court, the locker room attendant had the radio on and Tina Turner's song 'We don't need another hero' was playing. Hana said it relaxed her, and she has the song on her mind throughout that first set.
Their skill, variety, athleticism, grace... the players of today should learn from these two, both WTA and ATP.
Just comparing this match and Martina in 1984, it's striking how much Martina had bulked up physically here. She seemed to stay like that until around the end of 1986, after which she seemed to really lose a lot of that muscle.
Her legs looked so.muscular here.
Martina’s confidence is so high, she was a menace 💪💪💪
what a game tennis was!
I miss those days
@@sonsoftheedelweiss72
Women's tennis at that time was all-court game. Mandlikova and Navratilova had all the shots, and this was beautiful to watch.
Nowadays, womens cannot make a volley or slice a backhand or hit a dropshot.
All they do is hit the ball as hard as possible, excepted Swiatek who has variety.
And Muchova, who has more variety than anyone.
Martina looks so much more muscular here than she did 82-84. Something she kept through 1986. In 1987 she seemed to lose a lot physically and mentally. She said years later that with hindsight, she was burned out from the end of 1986 to mid 1989.
Hana is the most talented woman, and most likely the most talented person , to ever play the game. The only thing that she lacked was the iron will of a champion.
Awesome battle challenging each other at the net.
No shame here. Close knit. Well played 1st. Set.! What more can money paying fans ask for.? Likewise. Us TH-cam viewers.!!🎾
close knit?
Martina was so arrogant from 84-86. I think she expected the wins and didn’t appreciate them , Graf humbled her and Martina became a better person much in the way Martina humbled Chris. Chris became a better person through her rivalry with Martina, a better person and a better player.
Martina always a whiner and poor sport when opponent outplayed her. Also hate when she applauded with her racquet mostly her own shots! Happy Hana won
Martina was known for physically acknowledging her opponents' winners by applauding with her racket more than anyone else and when she banged her hand really fast repeatedly after hitting a winner she's not applauding herself, she's trying to psych herself up and this usually happened when she was behind or playing against a tough opponent. I really think you're taking this out of context and completely turned it 180 in your analysis. However I do agree with you with her being a whiner but being a whiner is not poor sportsmanship, that's just a personality trait some players have but this behavior is never directed towards opponents. Bad handshakes, dirty stares, stalling or badmouthing others are things that I would say disrespectful to your opponent.