[Sjengster]

Continuing in the same vein from the thread below, I thought I'd ask people's opinions on what sounds or words spring to mind when you think of a player; either their noises, or their inane catchphrases/mutterings on court.

Roddick - he does it less now, but for most of last year there was a hissed "God damnit!" under his breath, most amusing since it was usually right after a wrong-footing shot from his opponent that made him look stupid.

Blake - apart from his grunting when pounding on the forehand, there is one single shout that sums up Jamesy best: "Noooooo!", usually delivered after he's slammed a shot several times too hard into the stands.

Sampras - there was a time when he maintained a cool detachment, but sadly when I think of him I instantly think of those strangled shrieks of enthusiasm after he won a big point at the US Open last year. The Rusedski encounter was notable for his snapped "Ya!" after taking the third set, but more memorable for me was his semifinal against the Sjengster, when having saved a set point to win the first set tiebreak, he yelled out "THAT's what I'm talking about!" Hideous.

Kuerten - "OooohWAAAAAAAAAYYYY!"

Hewitt - I think not of the "Come ooooonnnnnnn!"s, but rather of those hilarious moments when he's struggling in a rally against hard shots from his opponent and has to let loose some fairly high-pitched yelps to get the ball back. However, he can generate on his own too: witness that shrill squeal of "Eee yep!" that accompanies his stiff-armed, robotic serve.

Moya - those rather pathetic breathless gasps when he serves or gets involved in a tough rally, making him sound as though he's struggling for air.

Gonzalez - he's always been vocal to say the least, but to appreciate him at his best you really have to hear him from the match against Sampras in Miami last year. Sample noise from Fernando: "Ah-HAAAH! Ah-HEEEEH! Ah-HAAAY!!!" and so forth... Sampras looked as though he'd been yelled into submission by the end of the match.

More, more, if you please.

 

[Dina]

Fernando's- whey-haaaaaaaay, whey-haay when hitting his forehand are hilarious

\guga's moaning is somewhat annoying

 

[Nimi]

Well Guga's "hspgjfdogjsjhtrnndfvumndfsogh" grunt is my #1 sound from a tennis player, & Lleyton Hewitt's COME ON became his trademark.

Philippoussis' grunt is so cool, he sounds like a dinosaur!

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

lol @ Mark the dinosaur.

but more memorable for me was his semifinal against the Sjengster, when having saved a set point to win the first set tiebreak, he yelled out "THAT's what I'm talking about!" Hideous.

Good god - I didn't actually see this (had just moved back in to residence, and was lucky to even catch the final). But he actually did that? *gasp*

That IS hideous - does he think he is a basketball player?

 

[Nimi]

Oh I remember that match.... Pete was really excited all through out the match. REALLY excited

 

[Dina]

hehe

 

[babydoll]

guga's moaning is somewhat annoying

I have to agree. Guga is cool and all, But when he grunts he sound like a 14 year old girl and what not.

Besides Guga, I would go with Mark also. Growwwlll!

 

[Sjengster]

I'm afraid that was the phrase, and that was one of many OTT reactions and gestures he made throughout the US Open, most of them presumably meant to help "motivate himself" but instead making him look like a melodramatic moron.

He was full of this throughout most of 2002, in particular during the Masters Series events in Toronto and Cincinnati, when he seemingly thought he'd become Marat Safin - when he was playing Canas in Cincy and saw a ball called in that he thought was long, he slumped on the ground near the umpire's chair, arms aloft, yelling in disbelief.

I still remember vividly his match against Ferreira in Toronto, where he reached 40-0 serving for the match, then had a close call on a Ferreira winner on the line and an ace that was ruled wide causing him to double fault, and after both points he made such a hysterical fuss to the umpire, the line judges, milking the sympathy of the crowd... it couldn't have helped his concentration or game very much.

Except in the end, it did of course. I'll never forget the aftermath of his loss in Cincinnati, when one tennis pundit emphatically declared, "I think Pete Sampras will win one more ATP title, but another Grand Slam - certainly not." Sometimes the experts can get it wrong in big ways.

 

[Chloe le Bopper]

He was full of this throughout most of 2002, in particular during the Masters Series events in Toronto and Cincinnati, when he seemingly thought he'd become Marat Safin - when he was playing Canas in Cincy and saw a ball called in that he thought was long, he slumped on the ground near the umpire's chair, arms aloft, yelling in disbelief.

I still remember vividly his match against Ferreira in Toronto, where he reached 40-0 serving for the match, then had a close call on a Ferreira winner on the line and an ace that was ruled wide causing him to double fault, and after both points he made such a hysterical fuss to the umpire, the line judges, milking the sympathy of the crowd... it couldn't have helped his concentration or game very much.

I was actually at this match - he was acting pretty amusing
He would go up to the net to shake his head in disbelief, and furrow his brow, and do anything to express how deeply gutted he was by the preceeding line call.

In that last game, on the would have been ace that was called wide, Pete lingered slowly up to the net once again. He went through his whole routine, before turning around.

Immediately after turning his back to him, Wayne walked up to the service line and pointed his racquet to a spot that was about a meter out

The crowd had a good laugh out of this, but Pete was surely a bit confused but the whole ordeal - or just didn't notice as he was still fuming over that previous call.

Pete was the crowd fave, seeing as most people realized it was likely the last time he would be in Toronto, but a few people took up heckling him towards the end

 

[Sjengster]

Yes, Sampras managed to turn a routine service game into a 5-minute ordeal involving every official on the court. I remember how, after the huge controversy on the first two match points, Ferreira stood there waiting for the third with a sly grin on his face, as if to say "I know this is all a complete waste of time" - and indeed it was, since he instantly got nailed by a winning serve down the line to end the match.

People have always criticised Sampras for being too robotic and uncaring on court, but last year showed what the alternative was and frankly I'd rather have the Android back again. Agassi can do histrionic drama, on-court arguments and flare-ups with umpires quite effectively; Pete can't.

 

[Chrisie]

Sample noise from Fernando: "Ah-HAAAH! Ah-HEEEEH! Ah-HAAAY!!!" and so forth... Sampras looked as though he'd been yelled into submission by the end of the match.

Really? That's so funny, best of all.

I think when Andy played Australia Open this year, if his opponent dropped an unexpected shot, he went "Wow", then ran to the direction like mad.

 

[Goonergal]

He would go up to the net to shake his head in disbelief, and furrow his brow, and do anything to express how deeply gutted he was by the preceeding line call.

I saw that match when Pete said that I cringed

but more memorable for me was his semifinal against the Sjengster, when having saved a set point to win the first set tiebreak, he yelled out "THAT's what I'm talking about!" Hideous.

Yep I had the misfortune of seeing/hearing that too I was like whatever Pete and cringed some more.

Lleyton's C'mons
Guga's Oragsm Grunt So used to it now it doesn't really annoy me.

 

[jrm]

some of the guys make such funny sounds you really wonder is this a tennis court or ... you know what i mean. It would be fun collect all those sounds and make music clip of it

 

[Sjengster]

It would be fun collect those sounds and make a music clip of it

Absolutely - a strange techno mix of players' exclamations and grunts on court, blended to produce a rather erogenous effect. At periodic intervals, a deep voice would interject to ask the ponderous question: "Is it tennis, or is it pornography?"

The frantic yells of Fernando mixed in with the desperate groans of Clement would blend with the tortured gasps of Roddick rushing up the court, while in the background the Kuerten wail would increase in volume, reaching a perfect, orgasmic crescendo - and then a moment of silence, followed by a resounding "THAT's what I'm talking about!"

It would sell like hot cakes.

 

[marra horra]

Goran's Croation exclamations of joy at Wimby 2001; that amazing semi with Henboy.

Winning set one after yet another brilliant backhand return - high pitched "c'mon" (presumably) in Croatian.

Killing Henman's best chance to get some silverware (as in the plate of shame) on his 2nd MP with a wicked slice serve.

"Zasstafaaa... "(roughly) following in the unreturnable to the net and sliding onto his back....

Then much OTT celebration; then a stunning on the spot interview with Garry Richardson (of upset Anna K fame last year) where he said how much he liked Rafter; but still he was SURE he would win.

And i was sure..... i kept imagining another fall to the ground after clinching it the whole day until it actually happened.


Of course Goran's swearing is even more dramatic:

AFter that late call of a fault to give Rafter a chance in the final....
"I win the POINT **c*ing twice,and STILL lose the game, HOW is that POSSIBLE????"

On thinking Cyclops was wrong to not call a let on a Safin service winner in the QF (hands on hips to Steve Ulrich in the chair... finally dismissive - "oH F..k the machine man"... Changeover at 4-2... "Bl**dy machines man, useless".

Then proceeds to win 3 of the next 4 points in amazing fashion to shut down the Russian Giant. Final scream of "YESSSSSS" and the crowd on centre court was just in rapture for about 4 minutes of sustained joy. Henman's victory reception felt kinda ordinary a few hours later.... Amazing time i had there at WImby...

 

[maratski]

Arazi is like the monica seles of the atp. I don't know if you've seen his match against ferrero in bercy 2001. Was funny.