Steffi Graf vs Mary Joe Fernandez 1999 Australian Open R3 Highlights
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- Опубліковано 18 бер 2022
- CREDIT and thanks to user (Just Tennis Channel) for the full match. Steffi Graf vs Mary Joe Fernandez 1999 Australian Open 3rd round Highlights
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Always thought MJF was the best player of her era to NEVER win a Slam singles title. She made three Slam finals, a slew of Slam semis and quarters, and came so close to beating both Monica and Steffi in big Slam matches a couple of times. She really had a complete, gritty all-court game, but she peaked during the prime years of Steffi, Monica, Arantxa, andGabriela. Not much wiggle-room, there.
Oh she was definitely the best player not to win a slam in the 1990s. I agree with all you said and then I think she lacked a bit of self belief too. Compare her with Sanchez-Vicario, for example, and you see two players with not a lot between them in raw ability, but a vast gulf in terms of self belief and personality. Mary Jo did have asthma, which can't have helped either, but when you think she had a something like 0-17 record against Graf and something similar against Seles, you have to think that a player of her ability could have sneaked out a few wins against both of them if she'd just had a little more grit. She was actually quite calm under pressure, but maybe sometimes a little too calm.
Tom Graham … Yes, indeed. She was extremely scrappy as a competitor, her technique from the baseline and at net was quite superb, and her forehand-when really firing-could be a fairly explosive and deceptive weapon crosscourt, down the line, or especially inside-out. But MJF lacked that extra little ingredient of fire necessary to wrap-up tight, high-stakes matches.
She had the 1993 French Open final absolutely on her racquet, up a break and 4-3 in the third against Graf. Playing brilliant all-court, aggressive ball. And then, at the moment of truth, she got tighter than a string on a Stradivarius. She should have-and surely could have-won the title. I also believe she *would have* won the 1991(?) Australian Open had she capitalized on the match point she had against Seles in the semifinals. Novotna was already through to the final and was a great match-up for MJF for many reasons, not least of them being that the now late, marvelous Novotna was, at that time, still a wonderfully gifted-but-notorious headcase.
These were Fernandez’s two very real, very imminent chances to claim singles immortality. She evinced little chance against Graf or Seles in her two other major final appearances (both in Australia). I also think her other big liability was footwork. She was a graceful, elegant player, but maybe too stolid and pristine with her footwork. It’s weird: she certainly moved well and prettily … just not quickly or explosively enough. There always seemed to be a little undercurrent of laboriousness to her otherwise classic and quite effective singles game on the footwork side of things.
She definitely got herself into plenty of opportunistic late-round positions at all sorts of singles events and was, for exactly *one* week in the early ‘90s, the No. 1 ranked woman in the USA-she and Navratilova swapped spots ever so briefly on the computer. 😄 Also a bit curiously, Fernandez won “only” seven singles titles in her entire career, which was definitely an underachieving stat, given her significant talent. I know injuries affected her at unfortunate intervals, but she should have been in the double-digits as far as singles titles, talented as she really was.
I think her scheduling curtailed a more formidable singles trophy haul, too. She primarily entered the biggest and best events, never afraid to keep putting herself on the line against the very cream of the crop. MJF did not trundle her wares for easy titles at lesser tournaments.
All the same, I’m certain she is quite happy to have Olympic immortality (twice a doubles gold medalist-magnificent) and a slew of great trophies as a doubles tour champion: the scope of her exceptionally savvy all-court instincts was able to really shine in doubles, where her slight deficiencies in terms of mobility were neutralized and she was able to really let loose and conquer while covering baseline and net. It was exciting to watch her doubles expertise.
I’d like to think that her major doubles success and Olympic prestige would be enough for Hall of Fame inclusion, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards. She was still one of my favorite players, though. Such style, and I do think she possessed the best natural and *fully applicable* all-court instincts of her particular generation of players, and that includes Seles and Graf. But that slight lack of mobility (and possibly the asthma you mentioned) would not allow her to implement those instincts to optimum effect on a singles court.
Always rooted for her back in the day. She did end-up having a truly superb career in the sport, all things told. Those Olympic Gold medals are certainly nothing to sniff-at 👍
La prima delle seconde
Su 17 confronti con Steffi se ha conquistato solo tre set un motivo ci sarà,anche se va detto che nella finale del Roland Garros 93 sul 4-3 per lei nel terzo ha avuto l'occasione per salire 5-3!e questo match di 3° a Melbourne ha ugualmente perso 64 al terzo.L'altra partita conclusa a favore di Steffi in tre set e' stata la SF a Berlino 93(46 64 63)
Però MaryJoe ha perso 14 incontri x 2 set a 0,con diversi set persi nettamente
14:04 the speed!
Mary Joe is yet another player who I didn’t fully appreciate at the time. She was very talented and hit a very clean ball.
I think sometimes that actually held her back. Nothing that some players like better than a regular pace and bounce coming at them. In Steffi's case, she didn't like heavy topspin coming at her, which is not what MJ did at all. I seem to remember someone saying that MJ played "polite tennis". Some truth in that I think.
I remember this match....Monica was in the crowd watching....she was asked if she was there to scout how Steffi was playing to which she replied "no, I was just there to support Mary Jo " 😂
Very good match 👍
Love Mary joes game
Mary Joe was a very solid player. She never looks like she is trying hard with her shotmaking which is a compliment and criticism. She seems to always be in 3rd or 4th gear, and never really reaches 5th gear. Does everything well but nothing has that wow factor.
I wonder when the last time it was that two players who contested the final of a grand slam (1990 in Steffi and MJ's case) went on to later meet in a third round.
Mary joe always got a warm embrace and hug at the net from steffi. I guess steffi thought very highly of MJ. The others were sanchez vicario and conchita martinez. Those 2 spaniards always were good to steffi I guess. Steffi didnt have that many close friends on tour. She was such a introvert and a very shy girl who hated attention.
Graf was very close with Ines Gorrochategui, Patricia Tarabini, and Rennae Stubbs, she’s still good friends with Gaby Sabatini, she also had a nice relationship with Mary Joe and Arantxa.
@@franciscolaprida2133 Yes very true. In fact Ines was watching this match, sitting next to Steffi's mom as can be seen at ard 9:24
She’s also still friends with Arantxa and still communicates with her.
Monica (who was friends with MJF) was also in the stands watching this match - to support Mary Joe of course.
@@Calicokit101 probably doing some scouting too, as the winner of this match would be in line to play Monica
monica was in the stands watching this one and spanked graf in the Quarterfinals... agree with some of the posts on here MJ should have put away that French open final in 93... graf had that extra "champion"
chip that got her through some many tough matches
Lovely Mary Joe Fernandez! Always fair and a pretty good opponent of Steffi! I highly appreciate her game! And I like seeing after a match how they showed their respect by having a kiss 😘
Mary joe Fernandez ini sebenernya pemain yang GAK punya Power. Tapi Mary jarang sekali bikin kesalahan sendri n Mary juga sulit sekali untuk dimatikan....
MJF was one of Steffi's fiercest competitors post-stabbing. Here we can see she didn't even need to be in shape to beat her. pathetic.
Way too harsh on MJ here. I think she played a great match, possibly only disappointing she didn't win after winning the first set. But to say Graf wasn't in shape. Graf had beaten both Seles and Novotna to make the semis at the '98 year end Championships and took Davenport (ranked #1) to 6-3 in the third. Remember, Graf was seeded at this point, MJ was not.
MJF peaked 1990-93, she was far from one of Steffi's fiercest competitors post-stabbing. Give your head a wobble if you think this. Love MJF, but let's be realistic.
The great Steffi Graf showing her fierce side with a “point and snap” @ 9:40. No need to scream or yell like like a lunatic, just👇🫰🫰🫰… love the classy competitor in Steffi!
If I’m honest, I actually prefer more competitive matches like this one with Mary Joe Fernandez, than matches where Steffi just steam rolls her opponents. More fun for us fans!
Why are tennis fans so fucking boring…no screams shut up.