This is what I have always loved about Chris: perfect execution of tennis fundamentals, endless finesse and smart use of racquet momentum and body-turns rather than brute force (although as an amazing athlete she's got more than plenty of muscle!). Watching this video over and over has made my understanding of body-mechanics and my game much better. Thanks, Chris!
I like this video a lot. Not much has changed over the decades for hard court tennis and the old game is so simple that I think it's best for recreational play. Thanks for the upload.
Chris says, "The older style is not how I would teach a pro today. But for the beginner or even club-level player, the old tactics of variety & consistency will more often beat the power player. They're not facing the penetrating power of Nadal. At the pro level, you have to play differently to be competitive. This is about having a foundation to work from."
chrisevertdotnet if you have these fundamentals then you can tweak your game to the style of today because these fundamentals give you feel for the ball, once you have that you can improve from there,
This literally saved my tennis game. I had built up all of these unexplainable hitches over the years after several racquet changes and was beginning to have wrist issues. Went all the way back to the Pro Staff Original to fix, but couldn't figure out what I was (over)doing wrong. Watched this video a few times and hit the court and haven't hit this well in over a year. Using a Wilson Blade 93 now, but can easily switch back and forth without missing a beat...or a shot. Thanks for posting!
Love it. I fell in love with tennis when I saw Billie Jean King play, but I was too small to hit the one-handed slice I kept trying. Then I saw Chris play, and it made total sense. Still does. Is there a better player of the game, stroker of the ball? I don't think we'll ever see such a pure player again. LOVE this video. Thank you for this great reminder about good basics.
Excellent points. I see on your forhand you have your right shoulder lagging behind the left at contact whereas with the modern forhand the right shoulder is in front or parallel and contact further out in front with a circular internal shoulder rotation going across the body. Your stroke style is beautiful and great for club players and I'd say even some pro level players would benefit from this style over the modern style.
Even though her technique is considered "old school", made necessary by having grown up with heavier wooden racquets, her two handed topspin backhand is totally contemperary and could be taught to young players today.
I grew up in Florida around tennis courts, my father was a pro but I was more interested in swimming then tennis , I watched Chris in the 70's getting a lesson from her father at Hoilday park! She was so great , my father said her fundamentals were super sound and she would go a long ways! In the late 70 80 90's until 2001 I worked at Lacosta Hotel and Spa and met Chris , she was very nice! I enjoy the tennis video! I was born in Florida and know Florida well but I've been out west for 48 years and now live in Tijuana Mexico! Take care Chris all the best!
And it is amazing that her technique is so technical sound. Yes it is old style but you watch her contact and angel of racket and etc it's perfect. I mean you don't win that many slam with bad techniques... So simple and effective.... I mean today's tennis is just too complex.. open stance, wiper, wrist, kick up from leg, rotation, Yes it is effective and everything but these stuff can destroy starter tennis players' mind.....and game..
Are you the real Chris Evert? I'm a big fan of you... I have your video... Cannot tell how many time I've watched it... It becomes one of my basic tennis learning on process, or basic progress... On the understanding too... As seing you playing... Amazing demonstration... :)
No one has ever had a 2HBH as "aesthetically pleasing" and as fundamentally perfect as Chrissie. To me, the backhands of today look very cramped with elbows completely bent, even on the follow-through. I could watch her hit that BH against a wall for an entire day and never cease to be impressed
Interesting footwork on her 2HB -- right foot points to the side fence at first (making it parallel to the net), then it pivots as she swings the racquet forward.
She is using a wilson profile, that's an incredibly powerful racquet even compared to today's racquets. A killer on the elbow because it's so stiff because the thickness of the beam. It's a huge power difference to her pro staff racquet she use to use.
Her ground strokes were as pure as the driven snow, best I've ever seen. Check out the footwork, like a ballet. She was essentially unbeatable on clay throughout the 70s, where her baseline game was in a class by itself.
This is fundamental as you can get. The forehand have changed dramatically to open stance in the past 10 years. You can execute the forehand by turning just enough to where your body is facing the ball.
Amadeo Juachon The difference is that if you can do what Chris is showing, you'll have no trouble transitioning quickly to the open-stance forehand. The reverse, not so much. I am a big fan of timeless fundamentals--no matter the sport.
When she does the grips at about 12:03, what she mentions the shake hand grip being eastern, that is wrong. We shake hands with the continental grip not the eastern forehand grip. The shake hand grip is continental. Then she mentions the backhand grip being continental to produce kick, top spin, etc. - that is the eastern backhand but she calls it continental. Am I missing something here?
The continental grip is what you would use to hammer a nail straight down. It's slightly more on top of the grip than the shake hands grip. The shake hands grip the palm is exactly the same as the face of the racket. You wouldn't hammer a nail with a shake hands grip. The continental is used for serve, volleys, and underspin forehand and slice backhand. In the video her "eastern backhand" grip, yes, is a bit conversative, so it does look more like a continental.
Chris Evert has classic tennis strokes. Notice on the forehand she doesn't follow through over her right shoulder like players today who want to impart topspin, it's always over her right shoulder. No exaggerated wrist snapping either. If I were a young player, she'd be the one I'd copy.
She walked away from him. From his autobiography, one can gather he gave his wife a nightmare-gambling and sex addiction. Loved to watch Connors play and was really disappointed to hear about his personal struggles-lost his tennis fortune and had to start over.
I agree the technique is not modern but it is so much easier to follow than the true modern FH. A lot of players, myself included, can be saved by just going back to basics. They work. Btw, the FH topspin segment is interesting. From behind, it really doesn’t look like topspin. It pretty much looks flat. The side angle it’s clear she’s brushing the ball more. And the net clearance for topspin in the BH segment is 1000 times better. Lol. Hence why her BH id one of the greatest shots in history
I think she lifts the elbow of the hitting arm too high in her preparation, then lets it drop before hitting which is, though not completely wrong, unecessary. The drawback is that she has to place the ball higher than usual. Otherwise it is a fabulous demonstration. Wawrinka also has this style, which generally seems to be practised in France.
Kevin Nguyen she definitely would have been more competitive against Martina in that long win string by Martina. Chis was 1 or 2 years late in making the switch
John Iii in defense of Chris, Wilson was her sponsor and they were last in making graphite prototypes . As early as end of 82 they were sending Chris graphite rackets to try. As you can see from this video her whole game was based on good footwork to get behind the ball as soon as possible to have as many options to where she wanted to hit the ball and whether to hit it flat , topspin or slice. If you get there late the only option is to return the ball straight up the court and often short . Martina did this in 83 and knew where Chris was going to return the ball as Chris didn’t take chances hitting shots out of position. A graphite racket would’ve allowed her a lighter racket to compensate but the rackets Wilson was sending her gave her more power but no control. In summer of 83 Wilson sent her a updated model and she used it in exhibition and lost to Shriver just before los Angelo’s tourney ( the tourney before the open ). This did not give her confidence as she never lost a tournament matchto Shriver and wouldn’t until 87 when she was 17-0 . So Chris stuck to her wood for 83 open. At open she played a great match against mandlikova in QF . Hana couldn’t rush Chris so she had time with her wood to hit any shot. In Sf she played an inspired Durie who rushed her , won 4 and 4 but was up 5-2 in both sets. Chris won because Durie banged her volleys in to bottom of net when score was close. Against Martina , she couldn’t put pace on her shots with wood and Martina rushed her and could only send the ball back in direction off Martina’s shots if she was lucky to get her racket on the ball. If she played only Martina with graphite model she couldn’t have done any worse but the model gave her much less control. Finally by beginning of 84 Wilson found a better pro type of graphite Chris was happier with and still lost to marina but score was closer 6-2, 7-6. Chris started to play one set close with Martina. The. Wood racket was heavy and Chris if she got to the ball could hit for placements . Switching to graphite she had to learn to let the racket do the work instead of big wind up and big follow through. Not until W did Chris have better feel for graphite but still struggled with return of serve with Martina powerful serve . Even at the Open Chris at critical times went back to her wood wind up follow through form required by wood racket which resulted in returning Martina’s powerful serve Long. Countless points were lost in just this way. 5 days after this final Chris beat Martina in an exhibition 6-3, 7-6. She was pissed about losing the open and played freely , going for balls and letting the graphite do more of the work. She practiced hard to developed more feel with graphite oct - Jan and in Jan finnaly broke the 13 match losing streak by winning 6-2, 6-4. The biggest difference ? Chris learned to have a more open stance on return of serve and let the graphite do the work in returning the ball . On top of that Chris’s movement improved. Lifted weights for upper body strength and stronger legs plus wil son tweaked the graphite to give her more power on out of position balls . Chris had to adjust her strokes with graphite and all of 84 was spent getting used the newer graphite. Chris was raised by her dad not to make mistakes and jimmy could no longer be her only coach because he didn’t understand the graphite as well as the wood, Chris got Dennis ralston and hitting partner jay delewey to hit that ball hard in practice and in drills to increase her speed on practice court. Mary Carillo has said Chris rarely hit the ball as hard in matches as she did in practice partly bec ause Chris used pace of the men ti return hard. By French Open 85&86 Chris no longer played Martina with self doubt as much. In 85 French she won the first set easily as she should have done in 84W but didn’t, by 84 Open she won the first set. Chris had chances to break Martina at 3-3 but didn’t due to la k of confidence and at 5-4 Martina serving. At 15-40 Chris had two chances to break to 5-5 . On first break point Chris got tentative on a second serve and tried to make up for that by hitting a topspin forehand she hit inches long. On second break point Martina served a first serve jammer in to her body and Chris resorted to her wood racket and returned the serve hitting the ball on tape of the net on her side of the court to make it duece . On set point for Martina Chris was pissed and let the graphite return a backhand down the line for one of the best winners Chris ever hit. The next two points Martina volleyed two very deep looking balls , the first was closer in looking than the one she hit she hit on set point. Chris practically didnt play it thinking it was long and basically that was the match. Chris played one weak service game in beginning of the third suffering a let down instead of possibly playing a second set tie break in the second to win the match. Chris quickly got back on track and held her serve rest of the match but played a choker game with Martina serving at 5-4 holding for 6-4 victory. Chris lost this match , Martina wasn’t 100 percent and Chris knew it. At French 85 she exercised her demons , she won the first set, served for it at 5-3 and 6-5 but played it safe and lost in tie break ( it seemed like 84 open all over again. Up 3-1 , then 5-3 then 5-5 0-40 Chris serving it looked once again Chris was capitulating to Martina’s cocky personality. Chris realized she was handing it over and got pissed Chris ripped a short return with no care where the ball landed for a winner.then Martina hit a framer error inches wide on her backhand then came shot of the match- a reflexed volley winner and Chris whipped around with her chin in the air and took this as a sign that the match was hers if she stayed aggressive. Martina serving at 5-6 chris went for broke and hit the backhand of all her yesterday’s up the line to win the match, to put to bed her intimidation by Martina. All her hard work but mostly by believing in herself from here till their last match in 88 Chicago Chris won when she played her best and Martina won when Martina played her best. 7 wins for Chris and 11 for Martina. In slam events Chris won 3 x and Martina won 5 . I don’t think if Chris had grahite racket in 81 or 82 she would’ve won against Martina more because the models they were giving her to try did not have the right combo of power and control Chris required. Even when they got it right in 84 it took Chris a year to get used to it with her improving foot work and tweaks in her strokes and a more open stance.
@@lenwelch2195 A true "Evert historian". Excelent information. Just one small detail. I think that Crissie "exorcised" her demons. To "exercise" them would have only made them stronger. Excelent commentary nevertheless.
Locarnese, the game has changed so much in the past 10 years. I personally mix it up to allow flexibility. you have to have some give. perfect example....Novak.
i cant see some of these advices applied in some 300- 400 rated top women player in 2020, and this is free to see in youtube !!!!how in the world these girls are training
The difference between the club-level player and a pro-level player is that as pro you have to learn your place. "Bill Tilden": Constant attacking game has obvious faults it wins or does not. Many American players in men's game are struggling on ground game, so who is the best player of all time? Answer to that and you probably have learned, or know something in tennis. Basically fitness is very important, because you have to have learned about the game, but it's not the answer!
I think tennis is not so popular than before. Now people play paddle and squash. The truth is tennis is difficult to master and requires usually Years of practice
I agree that beginners should learn these kinds of strokes. Most club players would better off. Some players will want to progress to the modern game, but if you have these strong basics you can add kinks slowly. Like a C swing. Chris could easily move to that.. and get more power and spin. I liked watching her play back then, she was very feminine (unlike certain other players cough, cough) and yet tough at the same time. I must also add that her commenting on matches is not strong. She talks too much (like most American commentators) and usually tells us things we already know. I mean, most people who watch tennis have a basic knowledge of the game. It seems she doesn't have anything special or even witty to say... she's riding on her playing success (and refers to that too much.. she has an over-sized ego, although you probably have to be an egomaniac in order to become a top player, unfortunately. Well, to me, a poor loser is just that: A poor loser) rather than any talent as a broadcaster.
Ahhh ... Chris Evert ... she made the rest of the female tennis players look like men with long hair. Great tennis player and beautiful woman. Talent and femeneity combined to teach today's tomboys what a lady should be on a court.
Extreme Western forehand does not work well for amateurs on hard courts. Pros make the odd adjustment for low balls. Most amateur players should stay away from it.
John Olenczak have to have the basics first then build to modern game. F you only have modern game on a offday there iOS no way to right yourself to feel the ball that’s why so many women pros make so many mistakes. On an on day they can beat any one. On an off day they can lose to any one.
Well, most of today's pros on tour and even recreational players are hiding behind all that overdone racquet technology. A lot of the job is being done by the equipment. So you cannot say it isn't the modern forehand, but instead it is a fundamental forehand. If the equipment today (since late 90s) weren't crazily overdone, then players would definitely be "forced" to hit like this or naturally hit like this because they wouldn't be able to hide behind excess racquet technology.
Evert had three forehands, and her topspin forehand she used to defeat Navratilova is a great one to copy. Also, her flat forehand in matches is a bit different from what I see here.
Even though it's hard to compare the times. I disagree.. I think she was that good. She would get overpowered by many players but could be competitive with others, including Wozniacki. That could be a pretty good match
Completely different times and approach to what they needed to do on the court. It's actually the other way around: many of today's so-called pros would struggle anytime before the 90s or 80s because of the more minimal equipment and purer game. No altering surfaces too. They would be exposed for what they really are and their true level of talent will show. But again, different times and different approach.
Evert, in her era, was among the best in the world, period. Comparing players of different eras is like asking which fighter plane was better, a P51 Mustang in 1944, or an F22 Raptor in 2021. Different eras, not comparable.
Her serve may not be the most powerful, but her technique is nevertheless perfect Everyone can learn from it And i want to had that you can't be in the top 4 for almost 20 years with a bad serve, so... 😉
@@thierry-yonathanmeyer5976 Her game was amazing, as was Tracy Austin and the two of them had two f the weakest serves in women's' tennis even in that era. The reason they did so well was their excellent forehands and backhands and the fact the equipment was not good enough to take advantage of poor serves but seriously, you think their powder puff serves were good ? They were awful and her serving technique (roll the ball in slowly) was non existent. She said so herself so there is no point arguing.
@@dmbunny8000 I don't care about Tracy, we were talking about Chris lol I'm sticking to my opinion that her technique is perfect and that her serve was underrated Have a nice day 🙂
Always have loved Chris' simple stroke production. Still applicable today for teaching.
The basics, fundamentals are still the key to learn for most of rec players. Very well demonstrated. ❤💯
This is what I have always loved about Chris: perfect execution of tennis fundamentals, endless finesse and smart use of racquet momentum and body-turns rather than brute force (although as an amazing athlete she's got more than plenty of muscle!). Watching this video over and over has made my understanding of body-mechanics and my game much better. Thanks, Chris!
Thanks. Thanks
Thanks. Thanks
Chris Evert was quite the looker in her day.
I like this video a lot. Not much has changed over the decades for hard court tennis and the old game is so simple that I think it's best for recreational play. Thanks for the upload.
2014 - 1990 = 24 years, a lot of points still apply in today's "modern tennis" --footwork, weight transfer, double bend arm, topspin. Wow. Thanks!
Chris says, "The older style is not how I would teach a pro today. But for the beginner or even club-level player, the old tactics of variety & consistency will more often beat the power player. They're not facing the penetrating power of Nadal. At the pro level, you have to play differently to be competitive. This is about having a foundation to work from."
chrisevertdotnet I was taught the same basics like 25 years ago. Nostalgic.
chrisevertdotnet if you have these fundamentals then you can tweak your game to the style of today because these fundamentals give you feel for the ball, once you have that you can improve from there,
can you explain what fundamentals you got right here and which may be missing?
Exactly! Great video.
@@lenwelch2195 no.it is very difficult to change the game.it costs me like 10 years
This tennis instructional video is great break from "complex" of tennis teaching
This literally saved my tennis game. I had built up all of these unexplainable hitches over the years after several racquet changes and was beginning to have wrist issues. Went all the way back to the Pro Staff Original to fix, but couldn't figure out what I was (over)doing wrong. Watched this video a few times and hit the court and haven't hit this well in over a year. Using a Wilson Blade 93 now, but can easily switch back and forth without missing a beat...or a shot. Thanks for posting!
mesmerizing as always,,
Love it. I fell in love with tennis when I saw Billie Jean King play, but I was too small to hit the one-handed slice I kept trying. Then I saw Chris play, and it made total sense. Still does. Is there a better player of the game, stroker of the ball? I don't think we'll ever see such a pure player again. LOVE this video. Thank you for this great reminder about good basics.
I completely agree. Nobody a complete player as Chris. And Martina about at the same level. They are the greatest of all times.
Excellent points. I see on your forhand you have your right shoulder lagging behind the left at contact whereas with the modern forhand the right shoulder is in front or parallel and contact further out in front with a circular internal shoulder rotation going across the body. Your stroke style is beautiful and great for club players and I'd say even some pro level players would benefit from this style over the modern style.
Even though her technique is considered "old school", made necessary by having grown up with heavier wooden racquets, her two handed topspin backhand is totally contemperary and could be taught to young players today.
Great! Bless for you Chris.
I grew up in Florida around tennis courts, my father was a pro but I was more interested in swimming then tennis , I watched Chris in the 70's getting a lesson from her father at Hoilday park! She was so great , my father said her fundamentals were super sound and she would go a long ways! In the late 70 80 90's until 2001 I worked at Lacosta Hotel and Spa and met Chris , she was very nice! I enjoy the tennis video! I was born in Florida and know Florida well but I've been out west for 48 years and now live in Tijuana Mexico! Take care Chris all the best!
And it is amazing that her technique is so technical sound. Yes it is old style but you watch her contact and angel of racket and etc it's perfect. I mean you don't win that many slam with bad techniques... So simple and effective.... I mean today's tennis is just too complex.. open stance, wiper, wrist, kick up from leg, rotation, Yes it is effective and everything but these stuff can destroy starter tennis players' mind.....and game..
Her recovery footwork after contact is the best part of this video
Are you the real Chris Evert? I'm a big fan of you... I have your video... Cannot tell how many time I've watched it... It becomes one of my basic tennis learning on process, or basic progress... On the understanding too... As seing you playing... Amazing demonstration... :)
This video is a gem! :-)
Yay Chrissie! Thank you so much for this.
No one has ever had a 2HBH as "aesthetically pleasing" and as fundamentally perfect as Chrissie. To me, the backhands of today look very cramped with elbows completely bent, even on the follow-through. I could watch her hit that BH against a wall for an entire day and never cease to be impressed
Djokovic's BH is aesthetically pleasing imo. It's not that different from Evert's :
ruclips.net/video/dia9zLmzNcw/видео.html
Best strokes in the game!
WOAH old school American tennis techniques right here WOW
Interesting footwork on her 2HB -- right foot points to the side fence at first (making it parallel to the net), then it pivots as she swings the racquet forward.
She is using a wilson profile, that's an incredibly powerful racquet even compared to today's racquets. A killer on the elbow because it's so stiff because the thickness of the beam. It's a huge power difference to her pro staff racquet she use to use.
Thanks for sharing and posting this!!!!! :-)
very nice stroke and teaching
Ainda és uma Rainha, excelente aula , forand e backhand.
Her ground strokes were as pure as the driven snow, best I've ever seen. Check out the footwork, like a ballet. She was essentially unbeatable on clay throughout the 70s, where her baseline game was in a class by itself.
Thanks. Do you have the full video?
This is fundamental as you can get. The forehand have changed dramatically to open stance in the past 10 years. You can execute the forehand by turning just enough to where your body is facing the ball.
Amadeo Juachon The difference is that if you can do what Chris is showing, you'll have no trouble transitioning quickly to the open-stance forehand. The reverse, not so much. I am a big fan of timeless fundamentals--no matter the sport.
Best tennis video
When she does the grips at about 12:03, what she mentions the shake hand grip being eastern, that is wrong. We shake hands with the continental grip not the eastern forehand grip. The shake hand grip is continental. Then she mentions the backhand grip being continental to produce kick, top spin, etc. - that is the eastern backhand but she calls it continental. Am I missing something here?
The continental grip is what you would use to hammer a nail straight down. It's slightly more on top of the grip than the shake hands grip. The shake hands grip the palm is exactly the same as the face of the racket. You wouldn't hammer a nail with a shake hands grip. The continental is used for serve, volleys, and underspin forehand and slice backhand. In the video her "eastern backhand" grip, yes, is a bit conversative, so it does look more like a continental.
This is nicely produced.
Brilliant!
6:11 Backhand Explain 8:14 Flat Backhand 9:29 Topspin Backhand 10:27 Footwork
Does anyone know what racket Chris is using here? Also, what's the string tension? It sounds like the racket is strung pretty loosely.
Nice! Looking tight!
A lot of talent to be able to hit flat like that so often. Most of us would send it flying into the net or out of bounds.
Chris Evert has classic tennis strokes. Notice on the forehand she doesn't follow through over her right shoulder like players today who want to impart topspin, it's always over her right shoulder. No exaggerated wrist snapping either. If I were a young player, she'd be the one I'd copy.
Del Potro´s forehand is very similar to Chris Evert´s. I´m not kidding.
Hard to believe that Connors walked away from that. What was he thinking?
She walked away from him. From his autobiography, one can gather he gave his wife a nightmare-gambling and sex addiction. Loved to watch Connors play and was really disappointed to hear about his personal struggles-lost his tennis fortune and had to start over.
best backhand ever!
I agree the technique is not modern but it is so much easier to follow than the true modern FH. A lot of players, myself included, can be saved by just going back to basics. They work. Btw, the FH topspin segment is interesting. From behind, it really doesn’t look like topspin. It pretty much looks flat. The side angle it’s clear she’s brushing the ball more. And the net clearance for topspin in the BH segment is 1000 times better. Lol. Hence why her BH id one of the greatest shots in history
modern technigue is more easier
still some fundamentals are the same!! :)
I think she is using Wilson Profile.........string tension 55 to 57
I think she lifts the elbow of the hitting arm too high in her preparation, then lets it drop before hitting which is, though not completely wrong, unecessary. The drawback is that she has to place the ball higher than usual. Otherwise it is a fabulous demonstration. Wawrinka also has this style, which generally seems to be practised in France.
this is old technigue for wooden rackets.dont look at it.
Tips for the amateur...you must be going pro, dude.
If Chrissie switched to this racket from the wooden earlier, she would probably have won a few more slams.
Kevin Nguyen she definitely would have been more competitive against Martina in that long win string by Martina. Chis was 1 or 2 years late in making the switch
John Iii in defense of Chris, Wilson was her sponsor and they were last in making graphite prototypes . As early as end of 82 they were sending Chris graphite rackets to try. As you can see from this video her whole game was based on good footwork to get behind the ball as soon as possible to have as many options to where she wanted to hit the ball and whether to hit it flat , topspin or slice. If you get there late the only option is to return the ball straight up the court and often short . Martina did this in 83 and knew where Chris was going to return the ball as Chris didn’t take chances hitting shots out of position. A graphite racket would’ve allowed her a lighter racket to compensate but the rackets Wilson was sending her gave her more power but no control. In summer of 83 Wilson sent her a updated model and she used it in exhibition and lost to Shriver just before los Angelo’s tourney ( the tourney before the open ). This did not give her confidence as she never lost a tournament matchto Shriver and wouldn’t until 87 when she was 17-0 . So Chris stuck to her wood for 83 open. At open she played a great match against mandlikova in QF . Hana couldn’t rush Chris so she had time with her wood to hit any shot. In Sf she played an inspired Durie who rushed her , won 4 and 4 but was up 5-2 in both sets. Chris won because Durie banged her volleys in to bottom of net when score was close. Against Martina , she couldn’t put pace on her shots with wood and Martina rushed her and could only send the ball back in direction off Martina’s shots if she was lucky to get her racket on the ball. If she played only Martina with graphite model she couldn’t have done any worse but the model gave her much less control. Finally by beginning of 84 Wilson found a better pro type of graphite Chris was happier with and still lost to marina but score was closer 6-2, 7-6. Chris started to play one set close with Martina. The. Wood racket was heavy and Chris if she got to the ball could hit for placements . Switching to graphite she had to learn to let the racket do the work instead of big wind up and big follow through. Not until W did Chris have better feel for graphite but still struggled with return of serve with Martina powerful serve . Even at the Open Chris at critical times went back to her wood wind up follow through form required by wood racket which resulted in returning Martina’s powerful serve Long. Countless points were lost in just this way. 5 days after this final Chris beat Martina in an exhibition 6-3, 7-6. She was pissed about losing the open and played freely , going for balls and letting the graphite do more of the work. She practiced hard to developed more feel with graphite oct - Jan and in Jan finnaly broke the 13 match losing streak by winning 6-2, 6-4. The biggest difference ? Chris learned to have a more open stance on return of serve and let the graphite do the work in returning the ball . On top of that Chris’s movement improved. Lifted weights for upper body strength and stronger legs plus wil son tweaked the graphite to give her more power on out of position balls . Chris had to adjust her strokes with graphite and all of 84 was spent getting used the newer graphite. Chris was raised by her dad not to make mistakes and jimmy could no longer be her only coach because he didn’t understand the graphite as well as the wood, Chris got Dennis ralston and hitting partner jay delewey to hit that ball hard in practice and in drills to increase her speed on practice court. Mary Carillo has said Chris rarely hit the ball as hard in matches as she did in practice partly bec ause Chris used pace of the men ti return hard. By French Open 85&86 Chris no longer played Martina with self doubt as much. In 85 French she won the first set easily as she should have done in 84W but didn’t, by 84 Open she won the first set. Chris had chances to break Martina at 3-3 but didn’t due to la k of confidence and at 5-4 Martina serving. At 15-40 Chris had two chances to break to 5-5 . On first break point Chris got tentative on a second serve and tried to make up for that by hitting a topspin forehand she hit inches long. On second break point Martina served a first serve jammer in to her body and Chris resorted to her wood racket and returned the serve hitting the ball on tape of the net on her side of the court to make it duece . On set point for Martina Chris was pissed and let the graphite return a backhand down the line for one of the best winners Chris ever hit. The next two points Martina volleyed two very deep looking balls , the first was closer in looking than the one she hit she hit on set point. Chris practically didnt play it thinking it was long and basically that was the match. Chris played one weak service game in beginning of the third suffering a let down instead of possibly playing a second set tie break in the second to win the match. Chris quickly got back on track and held her serve rest of the match but played a choker game with Martina serving at 5-4 holding for 6-4 victory. Chris lost this match , Martina wasn’t 100 percent and Chris knew it. At French 85 she exercised her demons , she won the first set, served for it at 5-3 and 6-5 but played it safe and lost in tie break ( it seemed like 84 open all over again. Up 3-1 , then 5-3 then 5-5 0-40 Chris serving it looked once again Chris was capitulating to Martina’s cocky personality. Chris realized she was handing it over and got pissed Chris ripped a short return with no care where the ball landed for a winner.then Martina hit a framer error inches wide on her backhand then came shot of the match- a reflexed volley winner and Chris whipped around with her chin in the air and took this as a sign that the match was hers if she stayed aggressive. Martina serving at 5-6 chris went for broke and hit the backhand of all her yesterday’s up the line to win the match, to put to bed her intimidation by Martina. All her hard work but mostly by believing in herself from here till their last match in 88 Chicago Chris won when she played her best and Martina won when Martina played her best. 7 wins for Chris and 11 for Martina. In slam events Chris won 3 x and Martina won 5 . I don’t think if Chris had grahite racket in 81 or 82 she would’ve won against Martina more because the models they were giving her to try did not have the right combo of power and control Chris required. Even when they got it right in 84 it took Chris a year to get used to it with her improving foot work and tweaks in her strokes and a more open stance.
@@lenwelch2195 A true "Evert historian". Excelent information. Just one small detail. I think that Crissie "exorcised" her demons. To "exercise" them would have only made them stronger.
Excelent commentary nevertheless.
@@lenwelch2195 My gawd how do you know all this?
Why doesn't she play with her Pro Staff racquet here ?
I know her two hander is famous. But curious if she teaches a one handed backhand?
beautiful strokes by a classy lady
Her forehand is similar to Del Potro´s.
Simple but effective
that racquet is huge.
Still use my Wilson Profiles
Lifelong Crush.
should use a semi-western grip instead
She was a great tennis player but today the modern forehand is different and that tip is old fashion.
Locarnese, the game has changed so much in the past 10 years. I personally mix it up to allow flexibility. you have to have some give. perfect example....Novak.
...revolutionära...????
👍👍☺
Her tennis is a lost art. Virtually no one, for instance, hits a flat forehand anymore. It's all the same shots fueled by brute force in today's game.
That backhand is dynamite.
i cant see some of these advices applied in some 300- 400 rated top women player in 2020, and this is free to see in youtube !!!!how in the world these girls are training
OK, she's not the real Chris, but one maybe entitled to his genuine dreams :)
The difference between the club-level player and a pro-level player is that as pro you have to learn your place.
"Bill Tilden": Constant attacking game has obvious faults it wins or does not.
Many American players in men's game are struggling on ground game, so who is the best player of all time?
Answer to that and you probably have learned, or know something in tennis.
Basically fitness is very important, because you have to have learned about the game, but it's not the answer!
I think tennis is not so popular than before. Now people play paddle and squash. The truth is tennis is difficult to master and requires usually
Years of practice
I agree that beginners should learn these kinds of strokes. Most club players would better off. Some players will want to progress to the modern game, but if you have these strong basics you can add kinks slowly. Like a C swing. Chris could easily move to that.. and get more power and spin.
I liked watching her play back then, she was very feminine (unlike certain other players cough, cough) and yet tough at the same time.
I must also add that her commenting on matches is not strong. She talks too much (like most American commentators) and usually tells us things we already know. I mean, most people who watch tennis have a basic knowledge of the game. It seems she doesn't have anything special or even witty to say... she's riding on her playing success (and refers to that too much.. she has an over-sized ego, although you probably have to be an egomaniac in order to become a top player, unfortunately. Well, to me, a poor loser is just that: A poor loser) rather than any talent as a broadcaster.
Tony07UK
I was thinking of older club players. The juniors at my club all have the modern strokes. Evert here doesn't even loop the take-back haha.
Ahhh ... Chris Evert ... she made the rest of the female tennis players look like men with long hair. Great tennis player and beautiful woman. Talent and femeneity combined to teach today's tomboys what a lady should be on a court.
Dumb right wing comment. Players can be what they want to be. Any where. Any time.
Definitely not the modern forehand
Extreme Western forehand does not work well for amateurs on hard courts. Pros make the odd adjustment for low balls. Most amateur players should stay away from it.
John Olenczak have to have the basics first then build to modern game. F you only have modern game on a offday there iOS no way to right yourself to feel the ball that’s why so many women pros make so many mistakes. On an on day they can beat any one. On an off day they can lose to any one.
Well, most of today's pros on tour and even recreational players are hiding behind all that overdone racquet technology. A lot of the job is being done by the equipment. So you cannot say it isn't the modern forehand, but instead it is a fundamental forehand. If the equipment today (since late 90s) weren't crazily overdone, then players would definitely be "forced" to hit like this or naturally hit like this because they wouldn't be able to hide behind excess racquet technology.
Imho Evert had it all wrong on the forehand
yeah, if only she used your forehand instead...
Evert had three forehands, and her topspin forehand she used to defeat Navratilova is a great one to copy. Also, her flat forehand in matches is a bit different from what I see here.
Evert is like the vintage version of wozniacki game style, only weaker, she wouldnt last in qualifying round of ITF had she play in the 21st century!
ROFLMAO
Ricc Lee comparing apples to oranges
Even though it's hard to compare the times. I disagree.. I think she was that good. She would get overpowered by many players but could be competitive with others, including Wozniacki. That could be a pretty good match
Completely different times and approach to what they needed to do on the court. It's actually the other way around: many of today's so-called pros would struggle anytime before the 90s or 80s because of the more minimal equipment and purer game. No altering surfaces too. They would be exposed for what they really are and their true level of talent will show. But again, different times and different approach.
Evert, in her era, was among the best in the world, period.
Comparing players of different eras is like asking which fighter plane was better, a P51 Mustang in 1944, or an F22 Raptor in 2021. Different eras, not comparable.
Chris Evert teaching us how to serve ? Ermm no thanks !
Her serve may not be the most powerful, but her technique is nevertheless perfect
Everyone can learn from it
And i want to had that you can't be in the top 4 for almost 20 years with a bad serve, so... 😉
@@thierry-yonathanmeyer5976 Her game was amazing, as was Tracy Austin and the two of them had two f the weakest serves in women's' tennis even in that era. The reason they did so well was their excellent forehands and backhands and the fact the equipment was not good enough to take advantage of poor serves but seriously, you think their powder puff serves were good ? They were awful and her serving technique (roll the ball in slowly) was non existent. She said so herself so there is no point arguing.
@@dmbunny8000 I don't care about Tracy, we were talking about Chris lol
I'm sticking to my opinion that her technique is perfect and that her serve was underrated
Have a nice day 🙂
Looks pretty textbook here.