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Features
The
essence of tennis is a struggle of personalities. Few people in the
history of the sport are as adept at understanding this battle more than
Pancho Segura. Even now, nearing 80, Segura remains an ardent analyst, traveling each year to at least two Grand Slams, constantly watching on TV and always ready to dispense his wisdom. Last issue, TennisOne writer Joel Drucker spoke with legendary player and strategist Pancho Segura about the Agassi-Sampras rivalry. Segura also offered insights into Martina Hingis and Lindsay Davenport. Martina HingisSix years ago, Segura came back from London and told me about a 13-year-old who’d just won the Wimbledon juniors. “Her name is Hingis and I want to tell you something, buddy,” he said, leaning forward as he does when he’s exceptionally excited. “She’ll cut your head off -- and enjoy it.”
On
this count he was right as rain. But lately, Segura is one of many
who’ve noticed how Hingis’ potential for dominance is ever-so-slightly
slipping through her fingers. Nowhere is this more notable than in her
rivalry with Lindsay Davenport. If Hingis is Ali, floating like a
butterfly and stinging like a bee, Davenport is Joe Frazier, a powerful
hitter able to throw one body punch after another. And having won four
straight matches over Hingis, including the recent Australian Open final,
Davenport appears ready to run the table. Lindsey Davenport“It’s
like David and Goliath when these two play,” says Segura.
“Davenport’s long arms and long legs give her a naturally long follow-through.
She hits the ball deeper and harder than Hingis. Most important is her
depth. The object in tennis is to draw a short ball. And these days,
Davenport does that in many ways, from both sides.” Segura believes Hingis, smitten with her previous successes as an effective baseliner, has let herself get deluded into thinking she can out hit Davenport from the baseline. Using one of his tried-and-true assessment techniques, Segura runs down each player’s strokes. “Is Hingis’ forehand better than Davenport’s? No. Is her backhand? Maybe, but only if she takes it early. Is her volley? Maybe -- if she uses it. Is her serve? No way. Hingis moves well, she anticipates incredibly, but how can she draw a short ball?”
Serving
is the area where Segura thinks Hingis needs the most work. “She tosses
it too far out of range,” he says. “She’s just kind of hitting it
with her arm. Her serve is the worst part of her game, and Lindsay takes
advantage of it constantly.” Perhaps
all the success Hingis had in 1997 -- when she won three Slam titles and
was number one before turning 17 -- has repressed her imagination. “She’s
gone very far, so maybe she just thinks she’s the best, or that she lost
badly,” says Segura. “You can get stubborn. “But she’s not going
to out rally Davenport. About the only person who can do that to Lindsay
is Serena Williams -- and only if Serena’s 100 percent. Serena moves
better and can hit the ball big. “The way to beat Lindsay is to get her on the move. Hingis has got to do that by mixing up paces, using the moonball and playing smart and aggressive. Why not come in some on return of second serve. Throw in some drop shots. Everyone’s expecting the deep shot these days, so go short -- and that in turn makes your deep shots more effective. You’ve got to play Davenport short and low. But Hingis sometimes wants to just out power people. How’s she going to out power someone like Davenport?” Oakland-based Joel Drucker has been involved in tennis for many years as a player and writer. He’s written extensively about the game for such publications as Tennis Magazine, HBO Sports and Biography Magazine. He also served as the technical editor on Patrick McEnroe’s book, Tennis For Dummies. For TennisOne, Joel will be writing regularly for TennisONE about the pro tennis circuit.
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