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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.
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.