@Opalance you are exactly right, but this is why I think Kreanga is so much better, Samsonov keeps the ball on the table with his extremely good consistency even though his shots are generally lackluster but the raw talent that Kreanga displays in his shots are amazing!
GeneralSpecific3 Sammy plays with his brain and tactics, that's why he is more successful. Kreanga could never went past top 9 ranking, because of his weak serve and serve return and a general lack of thinking in terms of tactics and strategies. He only aims to hit the ball hard and harder, no matter who the opponent is!
I think Kreanga is and always has been more talented than samsonov but for some reason samsonov pretty much always beats him, honestly I think a lot of players are better than samsonov but still, he somehow beats them too
Samsonov is soo much more talented then Kreanga; his total package is so much more then Kreanga's. There are more types of talent then just hit very hard. Samsonov's guines reflexes, ball feeling, consisteny and placement proves that. Btw Kreanga has too many weaknesses to be better then Samsonov, like his forehand and terrible footwork.
Samsonov's forehand was only good for countering-blocking lacked power despite his tremendous height.That's because he used a really fast blade and mostly used his arm with minimal hip rotation.That's why Waldner owned his ass in the big matches.His footwork was nothing special even in his prime. Kreanga is a much better athlete and never suffered with any major injury despite hitting the crap out of the ball.Watch their 2003 WTTC match and tell me who had the most talent.Kreanga's big swings are far more taxing in terms of coordination,footwork and feeling than Samsonov's half baked shots.
@@dickn.ormous1064 Kreanga is the better athlete but the lesser player. Zero European Championships and zero Word Cups vs. those of Samsonov says it all.
@@NexxtGen Kreanga is 4 years older than Samsonov,he simply faced more competition from European players than Samsonov who emerged when the Swedes and Primorac-Gatien-Rosskopf-Saive generation where past their prime. Still some of his most significant defeats were against European players:Waldner in 1996 W.Cup/1997WTTC/2000 Olympics ,Kreanga at 2003 WTTC and Persson at the 2008 Olympics,so I don't think he would fare any better in the early 90's. Kreanga didn't have good coaches cause Greece had zero tradition in TT whatsoever and his development was set back after deserting but he was no joke.He gave some real trouble to Ma Lin but chocked whereas Samsonov for all his smarts(still no Waldner-Persson level) was pretty useless against him. Kreanga won in his most important encounter with Samsonov quite convincingly (even took a set 11-1)so it's not as if Samsonov was so much better than him. Even Waldner said Kreanga never won a Slam because he suffered from nerves.Kreanga wasn't a ball basher his push and blocking skills are underrated.
![2011 Europe Top12 (Final) SAMSONOV Vladimir - KREANGA Kalinikos [Full Match|Short Form]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E9Ak8vOa0So/mqdefault.jpg)
Kreanga was playing well here & the backhand is really good. Thanks for the upload:)
Man I just simply LOVE kreanga's backhand.
Great vid
Thanks a lot for your comments and for rate guys!
No problem David,thanks too;)
Have a good weekend friend;)
@GeneralSpecific3 Consistency, Kreanga hits more winners, but Samsonov returns more normal shots.
@Opalance you are exactly right, but this is why I think Kreanga is so much better, Samsonov keeps the ball on the table with his extremely good consistency even though his shots are generally lackluster but the raw talent that Kreanga displays in his shots are amazing!
GeneralSpecific3 Sammy plays with his brain and tactics, that's why he is more successful. Kreanga could never went past top 9 ranking, because of his weak serve and serve return and a general lack of thinking in terms of tactics and strategies. He only aims to hit the ball hard and harder, no matter who the opponent is!
great match! like it :)
speriam tornino presto in italia
Hehe,yeah bro;)
@TheReplique No, Kreanga plays more spectacularly than Samsonov, but Vladi's still the best.
He he,yes man!;)
@NexxtGen terrible footwork,kreanga is fast like lightning there.samsonovs footwork is not so good as kreangas,samsonov has just a wide range
srajban Do you even understand the game of TT and its nuances?.You are just a stupid fanboy.
I think Kreanga is and always has been more talented than samsonov but for some reason samsonov pretty much always beats him, honestly I think a lot of players are better than samsonov but still, he somehow beats them too
GeneralSpecific3 Shows how much you have yet to learn about the game and it's nuances than just smacking the ball hard.
the woman is buffon's wife!
Samsonov is soo much more talented then Kreanga; his total package is so much more then Kreanga's. There are more types of talent then just hit very hard. Samsonov's guines reflexes, ball feeling, consisteny and placement proves that. Btw Kreanga has too many weaknesses to be better then Samsonov, like his forehand and terrible footwork.
Samsonov's forehand was only good for countering-blocking lacked power despite his tremendous height.That's because he used a really fast blade and mostly used his arm with minimal hip rotation.That's why Waldner owned his ass in the big matches.His footwork was nothing special even in his prime.
Kreanga is a much better athlete and never suffered with any major injury despite hitting the crap out of the ball.Watch their 2003 WTTC match and tell me who had the most talent.Kreanga's big swings are far more taxing in terms of coordination,footwork and feeling than Samsonov's half baked shots.
@@dickn.ormous1064 Kreanga is the better athlete but the lesser player. Zero European Championships and zero Word Cups vs. those of Samsonov says it all.
@@NexxtGen Kreanga is 4 years older than Samsonov,he simply faced more competition from European players than Samsonov who emerged when the Swedes and Primorac-Gatien-Rosskopf-Saive generation where past their prime.
Still some of his most significant defeats were against European players:Waldner in 1996 W.Cup/1997WTTC/2000 Olympics ,Kreanga at 2003 WTTC and Persson at the 2008 Olympics,so I don't think he would fare any better in the early 90's.
Kreanga didn't have good coaches cause Greece had zero tradition in TT whatsoever and his development was set back after deserting but he was no joke.He gave some real trouble to Ma Lin but chocked whereas Samsonov for all his smarts(still no Waldner-Persson level) was pretty useless against him.
Kreanga won in his most important encounter with Samsonov quite convincingly (even took a set 11-1)so it's not as if Samsonov was so much better than him.
Even Waldner said Kreanga never won a Slam because he suffered from nerves.Kreanga wasn't a ball basher his push and blocking skills are underrated.