Spirlea had ferocious forehands, serves, and powerful topspin backhands. She achieved her peak form in 1997, beating the likes as Sanchez and Seles. It’s a pity she didn’t played at that level again and faded quickly in 1999.
Irina Spirlea felt she achieved everything she possible could. Plus she started developing more outside interests after 97, such as marriage and a family.
This was always a very nice match-up. A great contrast of styles put together on the court, as well as great characters and contrast of mindsets in the match. Irina Spirlea was very talented, her game patterned after Graf's, but she didn't possess the same level of mental fortitude and speed/footwork and fluidity/ease as Graf's- that's the difference. 97 was Spirlea's big year, and at the same time it was known to be Sanchez' off year. Sanchez was spent from all the many years playing and maintaining the very high level. But for both players, things would start to change by '98.
Redoutable joueuse que cette Irina Spirlea. Elle a souvent été une adversaire problématique pour Arantxa lui imposant 5 défaites (outre celle ci, il y a eu 6-1, 7-5 en 1/2 à Amelia Island 96 et 1/4 à Rome 96 6-4,6-3; 7-5, 6-4 en 1/4 à Filderstadt 97 et 7-6(8/6), 6-1 au Masters 98). elle compte aussi plusieurs victoires sur Seles, Pierce,Sabatini, Davenport et 1997 fut sa meilleure année (1/2 à l'US open où elle a eu plusieurs balles de match contre Venus Williams) . Sanchez en 99 l'a par contre nettement dominée: 6-1, 6-0 en finale au Caire et 6-4, 6-1 au 3e tour de Roland Garros; Bilan des face à face: 5-5
C'est toujours intéressant les head to heads, merci pour ce commentaire. En double ça fait 5-0 pour Arantxa. On oublie à quel point elle était plus une joueuse de double en fait.
Spirlea was an unbearable player.... Arrogant at the edges and hyper racist.... Everything you pay in this planet... That's was she didn't last too much in the WTA Tour.
I have always loved spirlea beautiful form in every shot.
This channel is a dream come true for every Arantxa fan like me. You keep delivering the goods man
Spirlea had ferocious forehands, serves, and powerful topspin backhands. She achieved her peak form in 1997, beating the likes as Sanchez and Seles. It’s a pity she didn’t played at that level again and faded quickly in 1999.
Irina Spirlea felt she achieved everything she possible could. Plus she started developing more outside interests after 97, such as marriage and a family.
gracias por subir tantos partidos de Arantxa!!!!
This was always a very nice match-up. A great contrast of styles put together on the court, as well as great characters and contrast of mindsets in the match. Irina Spirlea was very talented, her game patterned after Graf's, but she didn't possess the same level of mental fortitude and speed/footwork and fluidity/ease as Graf's- that's the difference. 97 was Spirlea's big year, and at the same time it was known to be Sanchez' off year. Sanchez was spent from all the many years playing and maintaining the very high level. But for both players, things would start to change by '98.
Escuche de Spirlea, por primera vez en us open en donde derroto a seles, veo q tuvo buenos resultados creo que dos o tres años. Me agrado su juego!
Vaya drive que tenía irina
great tennis from spirlea . I didn´t know she could play like that
en el 1997, Spirlea jugo un gran indian wells y us open!
Spirlea certainly had all the shots. Probably should have had a better career.
15:55 que es eso? 🤣🤣🤣
El 97 no fue para nada el mejor año de Arantxa pero en esta derrota hay que darle también todo el mérito a Spirlea.
Quien tuvo un buen año
Arantxa " Smatchada"
I find that her playing looks a lot like Graf's but her backhand is more complete and she walks on all sides Sanchez as much as Graf if not more !!
Spires was a touch Bi#$!
All the players during that era should have studied this match. Mix of floaters and drives, moon ball here and there let ASV create the pace.
Redoutable joueuse que cette Irina Spirlea. Elle a souvent été une adversaire problématique pour Arantxa lui imposant 5 défaites (outre celle ci, il y a eu 6-1, 7-5 en 1/2 à Amelia Island 96 et 1/4 à Rome 96 6-4,6-3; 7-5, 6-4 en 1/4 à Filderstadt 97 et 7-6(8/6), 6-1 au Masters 98). elle compte aussi plusieurs victoires sur Seles, Pierce,Sabatini, Davenport et 1997 fut sa meilleure année (1/2 à l'US open où elle a eu plusieurs balles de match contre Venus Williams) . Sanchez en 99 l'a par contre nettement dominée: 6-1, 6-0 en finale au Caire et 6-4, 6-1 au 3e tour de Roland Garros; Bilan des face à face: 5-5
C'est toujours intéressant les head to heads, merci pour ce commentaire.
En double ça fait 5-0 pour Arantxa. On oublie à quel point elle était plus une joueuse de double en fait.
Spirlea
Seems like nobody liked Irina....
According only to American media and American tennis fans. When that's the case, just take it with a grain of salt, as the saying goes.
Spirlea was an unbearable player.... Arrogant at the edges and hyper racist.... Everything you pay in this planet... That's was she didn't last too much in the WTA Tour.