Steffi Graf vs Kim Clijsters 2009 Wimbledon 2/5

[dwaynebuddha]

dam grafs 40 here ...look at her footwork

[skriker04]

It's sad that the slice backhand has been phased out as a shot choice. But it makes you wonder why? If its such an effective defence to a player capable of generating lots of pace, then why aren't we seeing such tactics in use? The majority of players on the tour today favour an aggressive baseline game because they have seen the likes of Davenport, Sharapova and the Williams sisters dominate.

[QuadThreat85]

@skriker04 that's because it really isn't that effective....Graf's slice in her dominance allowed her to do whatever she wanted with it, because she had more than enough time to bringit out. A slice, when rushed, is a WHOLE different ball game....it flies out way more when there's almost no time to create it.

Graf fans will never admit this...as if her slice can defy the laws of motion, velocity, etc...

Case and point: Seles was really only affected by her slice at Wimbledon.

[dililuv89]

Where did the grunt go???Or did I mute the video??? :P

[BOOTUBE123]

I would really love to see Graf return before it really does become to late, I seriously think she could make it back into the top 10 at least.

[vgr112261]

Variety is what I'm referring to. Change of pace. Today's game is no different than it was in the mid 90's, sans the technology.

[vgr112261]

Graf combines the power shots with slice and angles. THAT's the difference between her era and today.

[QuadThreat85]

@vgr112261 ...because she CAN'T hit consistent power off the backhand, maybe??

That slice was more of a plan B that happened to be able to be used as a weapon (especially on grass).

And in today's game, had Steffi been the age to play it, would have put that backhand slice BACK in the tennis bag for this very reason...it wouldn't work today.

[Hoffenheim08]

@QuadThreat85

Steffi's BH slice would work even better today than in the 90s.

[mohawk393939]

@QuadThreat85 Yeah the game's really moved on, Wozniacki is a great no.1

[QuadThreat85]

@mohawk393939 *sigh* the ranking thing AGAIN...she's going to lose it within the next month, and I can't wait simply so you people can shut the hell up about it!

[mohawk393939]

@QuadThreat85 well if you can't back up a statement when confronted with current facts it just shows how weak your arguement is. Kvitova is a great player and by far the best of the current generation so why is it that she often employs a slice backhand during a rally seeing as it wouldn't work today?

[QuadThreat85]

@mohawk393939 Kvitova rarely uses that slice....Steffi used it almost exclusively....so what the fuck are you talking about?

And that great player who is so much better than her peers just proved why I think she's just as weak as the rest of her generation.....she could barely put a ball in the court after a 6-1 first set against Na Li....BARELY PUT A BALL IN THE COURT...she's streakier than any GS champion in history so far, and it shows no signs of improving.

[mohawk393939]

@QuadThreat85 Kvitova is streakier than Iva Majoli, Li Na, Sam Stosur, Svetlana Kuznetsova? REALLY????? God you're an idiot. No way in hell could these players cope with Graf's slice, it was not a weakness at all - Seles even said so, it was so low and really set her up for using the greatest single weapon ever seen in the women's game her FOREHAND. Graf could rally all day long using the backhand and she had a brain too which is something these great new players don't have.

[QuadThreat85]

@mohawk393939 You refuse to admit it, but yes she is streakier than the aforementioned players....especially considering the fact that her high is probably higher than all of the players you named, and her low is lower than theirs....that all equates to being more streaky!...you're just like the rest of her fans...refusing to admit her flaws like she's perfect....and you can keep THINKING all that untrue shit about Graf...because her slice worked then due to the lack of WTA power.

[mohawk393939]

@QuadThreat85 She wins 19 matches in a row and loses one and you immediately jump on her consistancy. Yes in the past it was erratic but she's definitely tempered her game and doesn't go full out power all the time.If you think she's less consistent than Kuznetsova for eg then you have absolutely no clue and are clearly biased. She's all over the place in her form and then she wins a Slam once every 6 years, is that more consistent then Kvitova. As for Graf 22 Slams says it all.

[QuadThreat85]

@mohawk393939 22 GS said alot of things, but ALL is the last word that comes to mind....since you want to keep it short and simple.

As far as Kvitova, you're still missing the point. It's obvious she isn't losing much, but it's about what's happening when she's losing....every ball in to every ball out...and it comes out of nowhere.

[saar144]

@QuadThreat85

power comes from pace. you rarely can reply with a power shot to a slice.

[QuadThreat85]

@saar144 I do it all the time off the two-handed backhand side.....still have to try and figure something out on the forehand, but most of my hitting partners these days are slice kings and queens, and they figured out pretty easily that hitting slice shots to my backhand is a bad idea....maybe have something to do with me only being 5'8" ( I like low shots ALOT), but the fact remains that slicing doesn't bother me...and I've only been playing off and on for 6 years.

[fire1202]

@QuadThreat85

A lot of the power players on the WTA tour don't like to bend. Can you imagine players like Sharapova and Kvitova having to deal with that? That'll be even worse for players that can't generate pace like Azarenka. Graf's knife-like slices are the perfect reply to their rallying. They're fast, very low and don't bounce much. They wouldn't know what to do other than put the ball back into play and Graf's forehand will put them away like it was nothing.

[QuadThreat85]

@fire1202 ok but that's like....10% of the WTA?...most women are still fairly short, and like to be down low to the ball.

And SOME of those tall players have proven that they can and are willing to get pretty low to the ball.....shit even though I don't like her, Kvitova is one of those examples.

And of course no tall player in history can get as consistently low as Venus Williams....she does it better than half of the short girls.

[saar144]

@mohawk393939

don't forget Schiavone and Ivanovic, and of course, the greatest of them all - Safina, loosing to a player ranked 226 while being no. 1 in the world.

women's game of today is a joke...

[saar144]

@QuadThreat85

you're totally wrong. her backhand slice would have been more effective in today's game. The women's players of today only know how to hit hard and trade groundstrokes. They wouldn't be able to do anything with a slice shot against them, just to place it back on court.

[beavertown2006]

Seles will always lose to Steffi.

[hhgtipower]

simply amazing is Steffi, aged 38, even now she would be ranked top10 in womens tennis, for sure

[thorium222]

If you think about Clijsters winning the US open that year it really makes you whonder what Steffi could have done if she really started with training...

[IngetjeIngetje]

Fraulein Forehand. She's so human.

[1welshdevil]

She looks rediculously good!!! Imagine the damage she'd do in the game now, the standard has really slumped.

[lacheyrulez]

OMG LOOK HOW FIT SHE IS

LOOK AT DATE-KRUMM

If Kimiko can comeback and win titles then so can Steffi pleasssssssssssssse comeback

Personally i dont think she would be a grand slam cotender but at least quater finalist

[darrin1701]

waow!! back from the death, Graf seems so preserved almost imaterial here, seems like she never left professional tennis, amazing really....

[Dschland92]

Steffi Graf is awesome so successful

[Thormander113]

I have never seen Steffi smile as much and enjoyed the game as much as now than when she was a pro. She seems so relaxed and happy to be there because she wants to instead of being dictated by her harsh father. I certainly hoped she will return and see how far she will go. There are also some footage of two handed backhand that was taught by Andre. What a nice touch.

[saar144]

@Thormander113

what are you talking about? "be there because she wants to instead of being dictated by her harsh father"???

maybe you're confusing her with agassi? steffi always talked about that what kept her in the game for years, playing through all of her injuries, was her love of the game. her father certainly couldn't been dectating her during 1995-1999 when he was in prison...

silly comment

[yaoryu]

i love steffi's sliced backhand, and how she just could return her opponent's powerful strokes with that backhand. love steffi forever!

[IRunLA69]

Kim needs to NOT win Wimbledon, ever. Horrible serve, subpar volleys, baseline retrieving... Roland Garros she can have. Not Wimbledon.

[saar144]

i hope kim wins wimbledon this year.

[laistar]

man her backhand is an instant trademark.

[allemagne92]

In this shape Graf can play today in top20 ^^

[allemagne92]

Graf the best ever

[errolmiranda]

Clijsters is cool .. I love her... much better than the williams sisters.. but graf is just graf!

[olaraay]

you can see how big kim is here

[dorker1992]

AMAZING STEFFI!

[MrNeilsy]

Steffi is in great shape for a 40 year old former champion who has remained fit. However, you can see how tough the longer rallies are on her. Come back? I don't think so. The nagging injuries you sustain even from training and playing a few tournaments are far less forgiving to a 40 year old body. Let's be realistic, folks. Just enjoy the exhibition matches she plays and be satisfied. She seems to be quite happy where she is in her life at the moment. Great to see her having fun!!!

[MisterMusic74]

steffi could reach the top 20 easy if she would start a comeback. she looks great and fit. she is such a nice modest person.

[olaraay]

@MisterMusic74 but why would she wanna be just top 20 ?

[mcgoran100]

Steffi looks great 10 years after retirement. best of all time..

[olaraay]

@mcgoran100 navratilova looked better at 40 !!!!!

[Hoffenheim08]

@olaraay

Navratilova never looked better than a 40-year-old Steffi.

At least to hetereosexual men.

[artisking]

@Hoffenheim08

Graf looks great, except for that NOSE.......

....jesus, you could park a car in the shadow of that schnoz........

[Hoffenheim08]

@artisking

Why, are you a nose fetishist?

There are far more important body parts on a woman than a nose.

But how would you know ... ?

[artisking]

@Hoffenheim08

Are you kidding, Sissy....?

Hoffie, we all know you are gay. You have another screen name "GrafGirl", and the entire page is dedicated to....WOMEN'S ICE SKATING.....

LOL.....Why not just walk around carrying lipstick and talking into a dildo?

And that NOSE IS BIG......LOL.....

[Hoffenheim08]

@artisking

What's wrong with women's ice skating?

"GrafGirl" is a nice girl, BTW.

It is beyond me why you think that "GrafGirl", "McClernand" and I are the same person. There is really not indication at all. The writing style is complete different.

McClernand is fluent in French, English and Italian. I'm fluent in German.

You want to say that I'm so intelligent that I'm fluent in four (!) languages?

What does this say about you? White trailer-trash ... ?

[artisking]

@Hoffenheim08

yeah, nice try Lady, BUT...

You are Still "GrafGirl" and "McClernard 1 & 2", and you are still humorless, and you are STILL GAY......

Sorry, Fraulein......that is just the way it is.

[Hoffenheim08]

@artisking

I'm a gay girl?

LOL, that from someone called "artisking"!

Do you know what that means in German?

Something like "queer king" ...

[artisking]

@Hoffenheim08

Please Hoffie, remove the dildo from your ear and LISTEN......

~You are GAY, and you have other screen names, including "GRAFGIRL", whose entire profile page is dedicated to.....WOMEN"S ICE SKATING.....

Now, this would be fine, but you have stupidly called other posters gay, and used the word "fag", which was in very poor taste, considering you are OBVIOUSLY GAY yourself......stop projecting......its unseemly.

Sorry Fraulein, thats just the way it is.....

[Hoffenheim08]

@artisking

You have to decide - I'm a a girl or gay?

Or do you think both, my "queer king"??

[artisking]

@Hoffenheim08

You're gay, you're a guy (and i use that term very loosely), and you're an idiot.....

...don' forget idiot, very important......

LOL...LOL...LOL......