Serena Williams’ ex-coach Rick Macci compares Djokovic, Federer and Sampras on their grass court movement as debate for best grass court player rages
Macci's tweet highlights the unique movement styles of tennis greats on grass courts.
Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Pete Sampras (Credits: Times of India, Bleachers Report and Tennis.com)
Rick Macci recently took to Twitter to express his insights on the movement styles of three tennis greats on grass courts: Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, and Novak Djokovic. Macci’s beautiful tweet piqued the interest of the tennis community, sparking debate regarding the special abilities of these players on the grass surface.
In his tweet, he compared Federer’s playing style to ‘poetry in motion, emphasizing the Swiss maestro‘s beautiful movement on the grass. Federer’s easy approach has earned him a place in tennis history, and his ability to glide across the court has long been lauded by fans and experts alike.
For Sampras, he emphasized the American’s lightness on the grass, implying that he floats lightly, as if on ‘eggshells’. Seven-time Wimbledon winner Sampras had a remarkable ability to adjust his game to the fast-paced grass court, displaying his quickness and touch at the net.
Macci’s parallels struck a chord with fans, sparking lively debates and conversations on Twitter.
Macci’s admiration for Djokovic, on the other hand, thrilled the tennis fans. He offered a vivid picture of Djokovic’s court coverage, describing him as ‘nimble and balanced’, implying that he could execute groundstrokes from any angle, even while balancing a glass of goat milk on his head. Djokovic’s extraordinary athleticism and ability to retain composure and control under pressure were highlighted by Macci.
How the three greats have been on the grass court?
Roger Federer: He holds the record for the most Wimbledon Championships won by a male player, with eight championships (2003–2007, 2009, 2012, and 2017). He has an amazing win-loss record at Wimbledon, with 105 victories and only 14 defeats. From 2003 through 2007, He won five straight Wimbledon titles and reached the Wimbledon final a record 12 times. This remarkable success rate contributes to his status as one of the best grasscourt players in history.
Pete Sampras: He has won seven Wimbledon titles, establishing himself as a grass-court great (1993–1995, 1997–2000). Sampras has a 63-7 win-loss record. From 1997 through 2000, Sampras won four consecutive Wimbledon titles and has competed in the Wimbledon final seven times.
Novak Djokovic: He has won Wimbledon seven times (2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022), cementing his place among the tournament’s all-time greats. Djokovic’s Wimbledon win-loss record is 92-10. He has won four consecutive Wimbledon titles between 2018 and 2022 and has reached the Wimbledon final seven times.
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Navya Mishra
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