From: mliu@garden.csc.calpoly.edu (Mei-Ling L. Liu)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.tennis
Subject: Re: EDBERG: The artiste par excellence
Date: 22 Nov 92 07:03:07 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Department, UCSB

In article <1elm9dINNcqj@matt.ksu.ksu.edu> you write:
>
>Agreed, Edberg has lost a few matches lately to players like Becker,
>Sampras and Forget. I haven't had the chance to watch any of the matches
>but I'm willing to accept the fact, judging by the scores, that he was 
>soundly beaten. So?
Actually, except for this week's loss to Becker and for a couple
of straight-set losses in the hands of Goran Ivanisevic, Edberg hasn't
really been soundly beaten. His loss to Forget in Paris was distressful
because he simply couldn't close out a match that he should have won.
His loss to Sampras in Frankfurt was a pretty even match.
>
>It's interesting how some people, especially the Becker 'backers',
>reeking of crass ignorance, pounce at the slightest opportunity to
>passionately aggrandize the achievements of Becker and often doing so
>by deprecating others. Oddly enough, this type of behavior is something
>one can never associate with Becker---he's one of the most cerebral and
>intellectually elevated people in the sporting world and is also one of 
>the most gracious of losers (a wonderful trait in a sportsman).
>
It sounds like you are forewarning Becker fans not to tout this win over
Edberg.  I applaud you for the thought.  But guess what?  I've
found that lots of true tennis fans like both Edberg and Becker: they
are both great players who have given us so much pleasure.  They 
have respect for each other, and we do both.  I don't think too
many people take delight in seeing Edberg or Becker getting trounced.
Yes, Becker is in top form, but to put things in perspective, it's
only a month ago that he lost to Henrik Holm in Stockholm.
And, yes, Edberg seems to be low on mental toughness again, but it
was only 2 months ago that people were saying what a tough mental
attitude he has, when he won all those long duels at the U.S. Open.
>Anyway, coming back to Edberg and his losses, it is a testament to the
>respect that people have for him that they expect him to win everytime
>he sets foot on a tennis court. Not that he has failed that test either.
>He has never been the most dominant player on the circuit but has, by 
>any yardstick, been wonderfully consistent over the past five or six 
>years.
Well said.  And in spite of winning only four(?) titles this year, 
Edberg is still ranked #2, and was in the finals of two Grand Slam
events, winning the U.S. Open for the second time.
>Above all, very few people can dispute the fact that, like
>McEnroe, when Edberg is on song there isn't a better sight on a tennis
>court. Infact, as much of a McEnroe lover as I am, I find it much more 
>of a pleasure watching Edberg perform. His first volley is perhaps the
>best ever and his net coverage is exemplary.
I did not follow McEnroe in his heydays, but many who did seem to
like Edberg also.  After all, they are both ALL-TIME serve-and-volley greats.
And, guess what?  They like each other; they played doubles in
New Haven before the U.S. Open this year, and they speak well
of each other.  In fact, when asked who he would choose for the
ultimate doubles partner, Edberg chose McEnroe.
From what I have watched, it seems to me that Edberg's
movements are more graceful.
(BTW asked to choose someone from outside of tennis, Edberg answered
Carl Lewis, because he can get to the net quicker than anybody.)
>Further he, alongwith 
>Stich and a few of the Aussies, would be the only players to prosper
>if the racquet-head sizes were to be restricted --- this fact is
>indubitable and Cliff Drysdale, Bud Collins and Fred Stolle will bear
>me out on this.
This is where justice doesn't prevail: winning with finesse is so much
harder than winning with power.  Whether racquet-head size is the
only contributing factor or not, Edberg's effectiveness in indoor 
tournaments seems to have suffered.

Thanks for posting the article: it expressed many of the same thoughts
that I have had this weekend.

M. Liu