Mana Games

[Brecht]

Hi Manu, I just played Steffi Graf back in 1994, and I'm a little bit surprised that she didn't use the slice backhand (or maybe not as systematically as in reality). As far as I remember, Steffi's slice backhand used to hardly bounce on the ground (even on clay), and it was nearly as efficient a weapon as her big forehand. And in my match, she didn't use the FH on the BH side, while it was also a trademark of her. Well, maybe she needn't it against me .

[Santiago92]

Normally in World Tour, CPU doesn't use slice, either on rallies or service

[Brecht]

Normally in World Tour, CPU doesn't use slice, either on rallies or service

Well, in fact it does. Here are some screenshots of another match against the same Graf (AO 1994) (Graf in the background, all in white).
I made the screenshots after the shot; I reduced the quality to make the pics "lighter", you don't see the ball very well but at least you can recognize the end of the BH gesture.

TE2009_009 slice.jpg

TE2009_010 lift.jpg

TE2009_014 slice.jpg

Those slices are definitely defensive shots.

[Brecht]

Hi Manu, I just played Steffi Graf back in 1994, and I'm a little bit surprised that she didn't use the slice backhand (or maybe not as systematically as in reality). As far as I remember, Steffi's slice backhand used to hardly bounce on the ground (even on clay), and it was nearly as efficient a weapon as her big forehand.

Correction here . I don't know if it was meant to be a defensive shot or an attack, but I was surprised enough to let it be an attack - and a winner. Here are the screen shots of this slice backhand down the line that didn't bounce:

TE2009_017 slice gagnant 1.jpg

TE2009_018 slice gagnant 2 le rebond.jpg

TE2009_019 slice gagnant 3 2°rebond.jpg

[Carlaleede]

Safina
Hits hard flat backhands.
Makes more errors off forehands.
She berates herself after an error or cheers when she hits a winner.
Plays at 50% in finals.
Best surface is clay.
Serves very hard first serves but a lot of faults.

Wozniacki
Hits her very shots loopy and softly with a lot of top spin.
Makes more errors off forehands, but hits very few overall.
Hits average strength backhands.
Best surface is fast hardcourt.
Serves a lot of first serves.

Sharapova
Hits hard flat groundstrokes off both sides.
Makes a lot of errors off both sides.
Stays mentally strong in tight moments.
Best surface is slow hard court (Australian).
Serves very hard but a lot of faults.

Zvonareva
Hits consistent precise strokes
Makes few errors.
Screams and cries in tight moments.
Best surface is slow hardcourt.
Serves softly.