[ClutchOn&Win]

With each of us it's different ofcourse.

For some of us it's one particular player. For many on here it's either Federer, Nadal or Djokovic, or even Murray and for many others it's a family loving of the sport, or one thing or the other.

What drew/brought you into following or even playing this game?

 

[emotion]

I like the emotion and the strategy of it. Such a mental game, though I love watching great points too obviously. I honestly prefer watching to playing it, but the first 2 points apply to playing it too. I try not to fanboy anyone too much, enjoy most players to some degree.

 

[Cloren]

I started watching tennis because my bro and my dad use to watch it a lot, I followed them, and I found it quite interesting, my dad use to explain to me about the sport, and who are the legends and the current best, etc. but I didn't watch it so often at that time. I didn't support any player at first, until I watched the final of Wimbledon 2006 and that's when I started to follow it more often.

 

[duarte_a]

I started watching tennis for no particular reason. No one in my family or friends followed tennis at the time really.

I played tennis with my friends so that must have been the reason I started following the sport.

Funny enough I started watching the WTA before the ATP. Davenport, Henin, Clijsters, Venus, Serena, Dementieva, Capritati, Mauresmo,... there were some great matches and great quality at the time.

I also started following the ATP in late 2003. If I recall correctly I was studying for a test it was 1 or 2 am, in November, and turned on the sports channel and the 2003 Masters Cup match between Roger and Agassi was on live. I think it was the group stage one. For some reason Roger's style of play, his shots, his point construction, variety (volleys, slices, just outright baseline winners, ...) just got to me. I started rooting for him and have always been since then.

I didn't stop following the WTA at the time though, that happened later when the WTA went to shit.

 

[Crustaceok]

Two words

Fernando Gonzalez

 

[leng jai]

Fossil's slice was the first thing to cause movement in my nether regions.

 

[buddyholly]

Althea Gibson at Wimbledon.

 

[cinnabar]

Nadal

 

[Coolio_Jack]

Basically since the age of 3 or 4 i had the desire to hit tennis balls at the wall in front of my building, with the baby racquet i had. Later on when i was annoying the neighbors, my parents took me to tennis classes, i was around 7 maybe. Was still playing against the wall a lot though, but it became more advanced, i would play out all kinds of scenarios in my head, imagining i was the faces i saw at the TV then. For example, i would play one stroke as a Sampras and the next one as Ivanisevic, had a drawn line as a net, and would keep scores, even played out whole tournaments, good times

 

[ProdigyEng]

Tiger Tim.

 

[RIboy]

Ivanisevic, 1996 I think

 

[Roger the Dodger]

From the beginning, I knew my whole life was a slow build-up towards the ultimate climax of learning ClutchOnAndWin's pearls of wisdom, first hand. Loving tennis, fanboying Federer and signing up for MTF were just smaller triumphs in the bigger scheme, like little pearls on a grand tiara.

 

[ClutchOn&Win]

Basically since the age of 3 or 4 i had the desire to hit tennis balls at the wall in front of my building, with the baby racquet i had. Later on when i was annoying the neighbors, my parents took me to tennis classes, i was around 7 maybe. Was still playing against the wall a lot though, but it became more advanced, i would play out all kinds of scenarios in my head, imagining i was the faces i saw at the TV then. For example, i would play one stroke as a Sampras and the next one as Ivanisevic, had a drawn line as a net, and would keep scores, even played out whole tournaments, good times

Remarkably similar actually.

Only the club came first and the wall introduced itself during the days my parents were not available to take me to the club. :lol:

I went to most evening session drills and began one to one coaching by the age of 9. Never missed a match at Wimbledon and began playing LTA tournaments by age 12.

I got Sky Sports and never missed a major. Just went tennis mad from there. Smashed and been through quite a few racquets in my time. :lol:

 

[Johnny Groove]

Ivanisevic 2001 Wimbledon

Althea Gibson at Wimbledon.

She always wanted to be somebody. Legend, her

 

[ClutchOn&Win]

Ivanisevic 2001 Wimbledon



She always wanted to be somebody. Legend, her

1992 Ivanovic losing to Agassi in his first Wimby final was my earliest remembrance of watching tennis.

Were you routing for Goran in that final? and was it the only the final you tuned in for, or did you catch the semi against the tinman?

 

[ClutchOn&Win]

 

[Johnny Groove]

1992 Ivanovic losing to Agassi in his first Wimby final was my earliest remembrance of watching tennis.

Were you routing for Goran in that final? and was it the only the final you tuned in for, or did you catch the semi against the tinman?

I caught bits and pieces of the SF also the other one with Rafter/Agassi.

Henman/Goran ended up taking 3 days of rain delays and then the final was on the people's Monday. I was rooting for Ivanisevic because I liked pronouncing his name and how the commentators said it. And that serve

Epic stuff, epic final, and I was hooked on tennis after that

 

[RocketMan70]

Back in the Mac days, didn't mind his erratic outbursts either, and his sheer dominance.
Was a Lendl fan back then and was hoping he would break through, which he did eventually.
Got tennis lessons back then and started playing incessantly, weekend comps, and with brother, cousins etc.

 

[Time Violation]

Watched when I was a kid occasionally, though I barely remember anything from back then, JMac freaking out while Zivojinovic was munching on his sandwich, sensation that Agassi was with his fashion style he just appeared, Graf-Seles of course and so on. Didn't watch it again for a long time, when Djokovic won AO started following it more closely, just to see what's the big deal about it, and kept following. Can't play s**t, but I can talk s***t, so well suited for the forum. That about covers it.

 

[Cloren]

Back in the Mac days, didn't mind his erratic outbursts either, and his sheer dominance.
Was a Lendl fan back then and was hoping he would break through, which he did eventually.
Got tennis lessons back then and started playing incessantly, weekend comps, and with brother, cousins etc.

Out of curiosity, when did you started supporting Djokovic?