I hate Nastase. You know that.

Bjorn Borg

I can barely name any tennis players. Billie Jean King? Venus Williams? I'm sure they're lovely people. It's a game, they come and go.

Miko, as far as I know, you've just named two of the BEST tennis players that I know of, and please note--I haven't used the word WOMEN'S tennis players, because as far as I can recall: I think Jean had played against that guy who had challenged her because of her sex--and she won, hah.

And Williams, my god, have you seen her hit her strokes. Wh-tsh!

My uncle Drew.

Connors and Evert forever. I always thought Nastase was really fun to watch. I kinda lost interest after the Borg era was over.

Oh, okay--Nastase, now I know who you're talking about--the Jester of the Courts, thanks DF... mullacc, really, you hate the guy--how come--I don't think I've ever seen anyone as entertaining as he was, on any court... loved his quadruple, palm-holding, tennis-ball serves!

Wait, the guy I was talking about, who I thought was the guy who DarkForest meant, was this guy at 1:35 (who yells--fuck!).

Ah, that guy was a delight to watch... at least I think it was him... does anyone know his name. I think he was Turkish, maybe?

Bjorn Borg was my idol back when I was a 12-year-old who played tennis. Borg was a baseline machine. Relentless, implacable, never showy, never hurried, as consistent as a ticking clock. He'd grind his opponents into the court. The Borg/McEnroe Wimbledon matches were things of beauty -- fire vs ice. I spent MONTHS trying to ape Borg's "one-and-a half-handed" backhand. I even played with a Donnay racket (oil-filled strings strung juuuuust below recommended tension to maximize topspin).

I wanted Borg's backhand, Roscoe Tanner's serve, Ashe's court presence and ground strokes, and Vitas Gerulaitis' quick hands at the net. Got none of it. I was never a power player or much of a threat in singles, but I was a competent doubles partner who could keep the ball in play. Then I lost interest in the game. Oh well.

As far as the women's game goes, Martina Navratilova is the greatest of all time. Period. End of discussion. But my favorite player is Serena Williams, because not only is she an amazing athlete she's also sooooooooo dreeeeeeeeeeeeeamy...............

Agassi's my all-time favorite men's player, too -- best returner in the game ever... so quick and focused, especially after the come-back. And he never got down on himself and never gave up -- played every point like match point. Nadal has that kind of intensity and quickness, too, and he's a helluva nice guy, on top of it, but his ticks/OCD drive me crazy (the wiping the nose, tugging on the shorts routine, which, unfortunately, seems to be getting worse). Still playing great, though -- just beat Djokovich in the Italian.

My current favorites in the women's are Serena, Venus, and Clijsters, when they're healthy. And on the men's, I love Monfils and Tsonga, who always put on a good show, and Soderling, when he's on, has the wickedest forehand I've ever seen and can (and has) beat anyone. The American men's game seems a bit weak the last couple years, with the exception of Fish last year, but I miss the days of Roddick, who'll hopefully be back strong, and, of course, Agassi.

(Can you tell I like tennis?)

When he was actually playing tennis, John McEnroe. Poetry in motion.

And forever and ever, Billy Jean King in the Battle of the Sexes match.

John Newcombe. He was so handsome. My favourite women's player is Evonne Goolagong.

I haven't watched tennis since the days of Nastase, Ashe, Smith at Wimbledon. I wouldn't recognise any of today's players.

does anyone know his name. I think he was Turkish, maybe

I think that was Ion Tiriac. I believe he was Nastase's coach and sometimes doubles partner.

I think Jean had played against that guy who had challenged her because of her sex--and she won, hah.

That was Bobby Riggs. I could be wrong, but I thought the real idea of that match was to promote women's tennis.

My god, the guy's changed so much... I couldn't even recognize him... okay, wait, that's not him dude. But thanks for trying! Although, I'm not sure if you're correct about the (((yeah, that was the guy's name, Bobby))) Riggs match with Jean: it doesn't seem like they were Trying to Promote Women's tennis, just maybe Tennis, at best... and I hardly think it would've been much of a promotion for women's tennis if she'd lost... but then I could never read to well between the fine print, so maybe you're right and I'm just not seeing something that's there.