The Unorthodox Serve - Braasch

[BuddhaShiva1]

it's an unorthodox serve, but a big one...i've seen him ace opponents on numerous occasions, or give a service winner. Funny motion, but tough serve.

[mandenjonas]

Oh my god... Braasch... That's my lastname too... Could I possibly be in family with this guy? :o

[tennisstar548]

@mandenjonas that would be hilareous

[Rastafavai]

Seen this guy playing against Agassi once. He hacked the whole match. I sw him after his match smoking a cigarette. Just thought it was kinda funny.

[AmeriKor]

So he is uncircumcised?

[CollinsGuitar]

they were 16 and 17, claiming to beat any man outside 200, he was 203

Braasch "I came out with a few hard ones, but not too much because then it's not fun anymore, and it was supposed to be fun."

Serena "I didn't know it would be that hard. I hit shots that would have been winners on the women's tour and he got to them easily."

He could have hit harder if he wanted, taken her out of points sooner, but as her unofficial coach, Nick Bollettieri, noted at courtside, "He's being kind to her."

[DestroyerAlexandros]

Kind of like Ivanisevic's really

[muppet013]

thats the stupidest thing i ever heard was never a race thing.. They claimed they could beat the men outside the top 100 as they wanted equal prise money.. william sisters were not 16 and 17, they were number 1 at that time.. they got smash so they never made those claims again.. they often have male hitting partners at grand slams and the hitting partners can beat them,, usally ex players they hit with..dont compare men a women.. serena has said recently she can beat guys inside 500..

[DIANAROSS4EVER]

@muppet013 no they were not number 1 at the time, it was 1999 and neither of them had won a single Grand Slam.

[jayfey77]

@DIANAROSS4EVER yeah but didnt venus reach the us open final in 99?losing to hingis.

[DIANAROSS4EVER]

@jayfey77 97 and she was thrashed by her. I do think that obviously men are superior tennis players than women but it doesn't mean that watching women's tennis is not entertaining because men basically have more power, but doesn't necessarilly mean that they have more quality than women. For example no tennis player (men or women) did better dropshots than Martina Hingis, and I've seen a lot of tennis. If someone doesn't watch women's tennis because he thinks women are bad he's very dumb

[jayfey77]

@DIANAROSS4EVER obviously you havent seen the videos ive put up.i have more womens tennis matches on youtube than anybody.i like womens tennis.and to be number one in tennis doesnt require the most power.edberg rose to number 1 beating men who had more power than him.todays racquets have ruined the game.tennis is all one dimensional now with all baseliners.tennis isnt as exciting as it was when we had serve and volleyers.

[InterpolFL]

@quiet1234 Man you really are clueless aren't you; I also like how you made it about race saying white people are intimidated by them. That is just hilarious, why would I care what the Williams "sisters" (they are pretty much men) do. You are probably black judging from your comments...see how making it about race is funny!

[InterpolFL]

Haha this guy was the best, smoking on changeovers, drinking on changeovers; beating the Williams sisters back to back after playing 18 holes of golf all the while continuing to smoke and drink.... classic.

[quiet1234]

@InterpolFL lol Yeh because serena and venus were world number 1 and 2 at the time and hitting serves at 120+ mph... Oh wait no they werent.

[dc3fan2003]

@quiet1234 thank you! they were just 17 and 16 so it was far more impressive for them to take those games off him than for him to beat them. plus we all know they were 2-3 yrs away from hittin their prime when they were 1 and 2 and dominating the wta tour. so stop hating ppl.

[johng669]

@InterpolFL That's funny. I loved watching this guy in 1994. I met him at court side in 1994 or 95 at the L.A. Open. Have a photo with him from that also.

[dassmanen44]

effectiv serve

[rapter9800]

What about Mcenroe's serve?

[donkeymon25]

it's actually a foot fault : your front foot can't move after you have started the serve.

[SD78]

His serve was good enough to completely destroy Venus and Serena Williams back to back, not that you'll ever hear about it nowdays.

Women simply can't compete to the same level as men. For another example, look at Lucia Rijker's Muay Thai match against a male opponent. She was undefeated in 42 Muay Thai fights and later 20+ pro boxing matches, but got steamrolled by an average journeyman.

[dura1mater]

@SD78 No shit! Who even disputes this? Were you beat up by a girl or something?

[SD78]

@dura1mater

Try finding evidence of Braasch beating the Williams sisters on Google, without using his (very distinctive) name.

The whole incident was effectively hushed up within a year and very few people today are even aware that it happened. These same people continue to parrot that the sisters could beat any men's player outside the top 200 and occasionally the top 50!

It was hugely embarrassing episode for women's tennis and they pretend that it didn't happen.

[dura1mater]

@SD78 You're right it's an URBAN LEGEND. You made it up to make yourself feel better for losing an arm wrestling contest with a skinny tomboy girl in 10th grade. WHy don't you post a link to prove it! He had a cigarette in one hand and was getting lap dances from kournikova and sharapova after each changeover, right? What was the score?

[SD78]

@dura1mater

"Venus and Serena Williams proved no match for the man ranked 203 on the ATP Tour when, in an impromptu Battle of the Sexes at the Australian Open yesterday, Karsten Braasch beat Serena 6-1 and Venus 6-2 in one- set challenges."

independent dot co dot uk/sport/tennis-williams-siste­rs-given-braasch-off-as-challe­nge-to-male-superiority-fails-­1141410.html

[dura1mater]

@SD78 How come we can't see the match then? You're making this up!

[SD78]

@dura1mater

I guess all the reputable news sources who covered the match at Melbourne are all 'making it up' too.

[dura1mater]

@SD78 Find video coverage and put it on youtube.

[SD78]

@dura1mater

Contact all the mainstream media sources who covered the match and tell them they're wrong.

[dura1mater]

@SD78 You just proved my point sucker! Who ever disputed this? Now to more important things, which girl beat you up?

[SD78]

@dura1mater

Are you off your meds?

[dura1mater]

@SD78 Read my first comment to you. Who even disputes this? Where's the video link? I want to see the german stuff tennis balls down Serena big mouth and have them flying out her oversized lazy boy ass. Find it and post it my friend.

[gasmaster01]

@dura1mater not every match is recorded and put on online. The news sources are proof enough.

[AwantedNinja]

@dura1mater Look up battle of the sexes for tennis. Men are far superior tennis players and I don't say that to be sexist men are just stronger and faster.

[BuddhaShiva1]

I saw him serve on TV before...the service motion may be unconventional, but it's a tough serve.

[Fishydick]

His serve isn't really that unorthodox. And yes, kreidas, that is a topspin serve.

[dura1mater]

@Fishydick Totally agree. Has all the components of the modern serve. Pronation. body weight transfer, and good lower body tranfer. All the stuff an average can't see.

[brocanova]

katze braasch - immer noch der hammer... jacques tati-aufschlag, wie er in einem anderen video kommentiert wurde.

[kreidas]

That's an interesting serve..that IS a topspin serve, right?

[konvictz0007]

in tennis theres 3 typs of serves. its all to do with timing of both hands. either ball hand goes up first and then racket hits after or ball hand goes up and rackets hits just slightly after (like federer) or both ball hand and racket hand go up at the same time (like andy roddick) or the guy in this video.

roddick technically has the best serve, most powerful obviously...but in terms of productivity, i rate federer the best. federers serves are not as powerful but very accurate.

[HBNplague]

Let's face it, guys. If the Houston Rockets played the best WNBA team, they'd smoke them. If some low-end American male soccer team played the best European female soccer theme, they'd smoke them too. Male athletes on the professional and semi-professional level absolutely destroy female athletes even at the highest level of women's athletics. Why should it be any different in tennis? I wouldn't be surprised at all if a top 20 NCAA D1 player could beat any female player.

[Yoyh99]

if it wins him matches, then thats all that he would worry about.

[odracirseraoseia1999]

The man moves in court like a terrier!

[lordmiroku1]

Is that always how he serves or did he just serve that way to gain momentum and move in on the net?

[ulizinho]

he beat Serena Williams in a training match !

[keijimuto]

@ulizinho

Serena and Venus. 6:2 and 6:3 from what i could remember.

[ulizinho]

yeah, right. He said that it was easy. But that numbers dont revealt it.

[dlozanow]

It def. Serena 6-1 and Venus 6-2. Nick Bolleteri said he was gentle with them. Braasch smoke a cigarrette btw sets, and said soeting like "I smoked a ton of cigarrettes and drunk a beer, play as a 500 and with no concentration and I won"

[ulizinho]

I could imagine that the Williams of Henin win a set against a top 200 player, they serve harder then some men and have a very good technique.

[denzelnolet]

Haha, go Behrami!!!

[FightwithDream]

He also has an unorthodox training regimen consisting of cigarettes and alcohol

[bosnovic]

Yes smoking and drinking still winning, like I do...you need to be talented. No doubt.

[lionhunter43]

sounds like rafal nadal on other end

[willobillo0714]

Unco much?

[Jealkeja]

reminds me of table tennis serves

[Schwungerich]

no? :D

[srwboy]

ahh 2 lefties!

[gliderpilot99]

Boris Beakers serve is pretty unorthidox

[rmrooster01]

I always thought McEnroes serve was the epitomy of "unorthidox". And there was a player during the 80's named Jay Berger... He would start his serve in the backscratch position, really weird.

[awesomekidddo]

LMAO

[cyclone258]

reminds me of a jumping serve in volleyball for some reason, haha

[evilgart]

LOL

[DarkSaiyanVegeta]

not really unorthodox but just rather exaggerated from the sway lol

[squishee]

Not that unorthodox.

Refer to Tommy Haas, Fyrstenberg(Polish doubles), Mikhail Youzhny.

[tojohndillonesq]

Braasch was the greatest ever to watch. He won a set off Sampras at Wimbledon when Pete was at his very best. Hit drop shot winners off Pete's serve at 125mph to break, then had a smoke on the changeover. He also beat Micheal Chang in the finals of a big tournament in the US when Change was at his peak. SO much fun to watch. I really miss him. Thanks for the great video.

[liampimp12341234]

its the kinda serve tht lets u get up to the net faster

[yahwhous]

I saw Braatsch play at the US Open some years ago. What made his serve unusual, but you can only see a bit of in this clip, was the way he jumped off both feet at the same time before hitting the ball--kind of jumping in the air, then swinging.

He was also known to smoke during changeovers. Quite a character, and he played a fine match when I say him, though he lost to American Jan Michael Gambil.

[nelsonguise]

Hell yes. Smokers in sports are the REAL champs. Ever sprint for five seconds after a cig?

[rockerman1080]

what happens when you sprint after a cig?

[behuy]

you die :(

[DIANAROSS4EVER]

What's up? It's a quicker serve than normal but there's anything wrong about it

[scrotos101]

I guess thats a good serve and volley move.

[zelyoko2800]

hooray for quick serves

[mad0liver]

There have been some other players who hit the ball on the rise: Kevin Curren, Roscoe Tanner, Goran Ivanesevic, Henri Leconte.

[circuitdesign]

The only thing unorthodox about this serve is the rhythm. It seems weird because he hits the ball on the rise. Most players throw the ball up and then wait for it to come back down. He throws the ball and hits it almost immediately as it peaks. But his weight is moving forward, so it still works from a physics perspective.

[ercshur]

it's a good doubles serve cuz like melvingoh pointed out it helps him get to the net quick which is ideal for doubles .. or if he is gonna serve and volley. It looks funny but technique wise he bends his knees, springs up to get it which is good

[diteraka]

i think that guy called braasch is the one who beat serena and venus 6-0 and 6-1 in a kind of billie jean king- bobby riggs match in 1998, isn't he?

[bdz67]

yeah... that was him..even drank beer during change-over...watta guy

[shufflezai]

with that serve he gets to the net faster so it isnt unorthodox to me :)

[fuckyoufucktubesac]

looks like a more pro serve style to me.

[WhatThePhuc]

doesn't look unorthodox to me

[GrandPatzer]

That's not a bad serve. But he's pretty strong at the net.

[Silko3000]

it works dont it?

[ChristianPaul75]

It´s unorthodox but the serve is considered as one of Karsten "Katze" Braasch strengths. Anyone remember Jay Berger of the USA, active in the 80´s and early 90´s? He had arguably the most unorthodox serve motion I´ve ever seen - resting the racket on his shoulder while tossing the ball.

[melvingoh30]

I think his service motion is reasonably effective for a doubles situation. His body leans forward so he can propel to the net. He has a short toss so that the opponent can't anticipate the placement of his serve.

[minastronasse]

A truely unorthodox serve, but not ugly gesture. The guy simply rushes to the net like a mad bull, it's a bit like Leander Paes serve, twisted body and violent spin.

[jraybay]

are you talking about his motion or his placement? and spin. I know he generates lots of topspin with the forehand. but his s erve doesn't seem so unorthodox to me. He looks like a weak child twisting to hit it really hard. but nadal is powerful just saying lol.and his mobility is great that isn't unorthodox thats pure athleticism :P .

[jasonxseo]

like riessy said

"Hey, if it works for him that's all that matters."

thats awsome

[kiwi115]

this is a unorthodex serve you are so silly :D

[KarracM]

why you say unorthodox serve,are you so much stupid man???

[jackkjack]

unorthodox = if u serve the ball to the right it bounces the other side.. moron

[BlindJustice0315]

LOl at bird w/e...seen other tennis vids and hes just being a flamer, hey, why dont you try to return a ball thats coming 120 mph+ at then talk about tennis being a queer sport. (and yea, the jocks at my high school who play FOOTBALL AND HOCKEY do have respect for tennis cause they actually know it takes skill to play)

[seigaku001]

u must be a queer too since u watched the video and spent some time to comment on it. go die u cocksucking dumbfuck

[spitfire2010]

fag

[notknown]

If you're going to insult people, at least try to look smart, grammar-wise, so you can have SOME chance of putting yourself higher than the people you're talking down upon.

[LeahKat]

His serve isn't really that unorthodox. Main difference to most players is that he hits the ball on the way up instead of waiting for it to reach its apex (some even let it drop - Graf and Lendl) . Roscoe Tanner used to do the same thing and he had a monster serve. Everything else is good - lots of weight transfer, knee bend, finishes well inside the court. Bit more arm than most but he's obviously strong enough to cope. Guess it looks weird if you don't know what you're talking about.

[riessypiecy]

Hey, if it works for him that's all that matters.

[jetsmashmoney]

hahahaha omg i just died laughing. don't get me wrong this guy is a beast. you can see his determination and drive when playing and that's what wins games. but there's something i can't quite put my finger on about this video that just drives me crazy with laughter

[xfootdoctor]

hey, whatever works :]

[aggimontana]

its an one hell of a serve. im gonna try it :D

[physcobuny]

that's pretty cool

[Corbon440]

He hits the ball as it still rises. Nothing really new but still unusual.

[djrugrat]

Orthodox Schmorthodox!!!At the end of the day, it is the win that counts. No one remembers the most orthodox tennis player ever but the winningnest players are remebered. Mcenroe, Laver, Brugera, Nadal - all guys wiht unorthodox styles yet great champions. Mario Ancic - beutiful orthodox technique, average player with no slams or atp titles.

[Goliath15347]

he's just trying to get to the net really fast. I wouldn't say it's a bad serve, though.

[TomDaBomb1331]

uuuuh no... those guys that play with the two handled rackets in doubles have stranger serves. they throw the ball then put the racket in their throwing hand and jump as high as they can in the air and smash the crap out of the ball.

[PavelBure96]

lol no he isnt.

[sharapovabiggestfan]

not that bad..

[bfdlt33]

lot of pros teach that pinpoint technique....

there is no STANDARD technique,only basic serve structure that you should adhere to and surround it with your own preference /style.

roddick has probably the most unusual serve in the game,but i would not tell him a thing !

[forecastle2]

well, it's still ok. nadal is unorthodox but he still gets through.

[jraybay]

how is nadal unorthodox?

[Synonymtoast]

i think that it keeps his momentum going forward so he can get to the net faster... but some of it is a big unorthodox...

[splendid1000]

poaching!

[porsche944]

although i will admit it IS really rushed

[porsche944]

that's pinpoint. it's one of the two main methods of service.

[Drago110482]

sieht aus wie ne mischung aus holzhacken und hammerwerfen.