Those Zany Characters who aren't so much.

[britbox]

I always find it fascinating how the "character" attribute gets attached to certain players. We need characters like "x" in the game....

I wondered what others thought about certain mystique's and whether players were really deserving of them.

Let's start with Bjorn Borg. Great tennis player... and my first favourite as a fan (along with Chris Evert)... the ice king, the viking etc... But if I'm being honest, Borg is as dull as a brush. He's one of the worst interviews and barely says anything outside of a tiny dull overton window. This doesn't take away from his tennis aptitude that way - he was a great player. But Viking... no!

Secondly, Andre Agassi - Back in the day, Denim Shorts and a hair piece seemed enough for "character status". Agassi barely said anything interesting during his career and just seemed to be a brooding introvert with a chip on his shoulder. I actually find him more interesting now (and his roast of Zverev post-Laver cup did make me laugh)... but back in the day... nah.

Any other crazy campers undeserving of their titles? or is this harsh?

 

[mrzz]

I try really hard not to pay attention to tennis player's personalities, because if I do, I end up disliking the absolute majority of them. I mostly agree with your characterization above, even if I actually think Agassi is such a big poser -- one of my original big dislikes on the tour.

Roddick is a character that seems genuine and I mildly like. Honest, outspoken, and with a fair share of intelligent remarks. His press conferences were quite different from the average, bland dishonest bull crap that most players give.

McEnroe comes across as a big attention seeker fake to my eyes.

One character that is both genuine and likeable, IMO, is Kuerten. Having grown up in the same city as he, I know a few people in common. My current trainer have worked in his team in the past. I have seen him a few times (although I never talked to him), and I confirm that the guy is exactly what he looks like. Laid back, humble, and hard working. Once we were in the same flight, he stopped to talk to absolutely everyone that approached him. He was giving smiling attention to fans from way before the boarding. I was on the last row of the plane, when I disembarked he was still talking to people, seating in the front seats.

By the way, I hope I am interpreting correctly the term "character", though.

 

[britbox]

I try really hard not to pay attention to tennis player's personalities, because if I do, I end up disliking the absolute majority of them. I mostly agree with your characterization above, even if I actually think Agassi is such a big poser -- one of my original big dislikes on the tour.

Roddick is a character that seems genuine and I mildly like. Honest, outspoken, and with a fair share of intelligent remarks. His press conferences were quite different from the average, bland dishonest bull crap that most players give.

McEnroe comes across as a big attention seeker fake to my eyes.

One character that is both genuine and likeable, IMO, is Kuerten. Having grown up in the same city as he, I know a few people in common. My current trainer have worked in his team in the past. I have seen him a few times (although I never talked to him), and I confirm that the guy is exactly what he looks like. Laid back, humble, and hard working. Once we were in the same flight, he stopped to talk to absolutely everyone that approached him. He was giving smiling attention to fans from way before the boarding. I was on the last row of the plane, when I disembarked he was still talking to people, seating in the front seats.

By the way, I hope I am interpreting correctly the term "character", though.

Do you think Kuerten was doing his best to avoid you?

 

[Federberg]

Well in terms of character it's hard to beat Marcelo Rios. Uber talented and a colossally arrogant a-hole

Safin. A baller and a player. Great interview if you can get him to the mike even now. Some of the interviews back in the day were special. I recall one match he played against Roger and he talked about what a great strategist Roger was. I think he talked through the thinking and the mental battle in one game that Roger served. Explaining what a demon Roger was on serve.

Then there are other guys like Connors and Nastase. I'll never forgive Connors for stealing my taxi at Wimbledon Village. Total a-hole and I don't care what anyone says