Final feeling - Page 4© Michael Cecilio
Page 4
Jan 28, 2000
SERVE
Martina: 3 ½
Martina is incredbly accurate on her serve, often choosing to strike aces with placement over power. She still lacks a lot of power on her serve, although she has noticeably been "beefing" it up, and has even reached the 170 km/h mark once - unprecedented for her. Her second serve, although improved, is still the biggest weakness in the Hingis game.
Lindsay: 5
It was never the case four or five years ago but currently, Lindsay has one of the best serves in the game. She is incredibly powerful off the first serve and to the behest of her opponents, she is also incredibly accurate. Lindsay has forayed into the high 170 km/h area on many occasions this fortnight. What makes her serve so tough to handle is the variety that she mixes with the power. Lindsay can hit the slider out wide, she can slice it away from the opponent down the T, she can produce kick on her serve, and of course, she can play the powerful and flat serve to just about any place in the service box. Her second serve is considered the best in the game as it possesses a lot of penetration. What is even more disturbing is the fact that Lindsay's serve can probably still improve!
BACKHAND
Martina: 5
She may not have the power of Lindsay Davenport but she has the most accurate and versatile backhand in the game. Martina's backhand down-the-line is considered the best shot in the game, not to say that she doesn't have a mean punch crosscourt! Her versatility allows her to be able to release the left hand and play one-handed with topspin or slice.
Lindsay: 5
The first weapon that Lindsay developed in her game as a pro was her powerful backhand. She strikes her two-handed backhand so powerfully and so deep into the backcourt. Lindsay has a great ability to play her backhand flat and hard or with topspin to create the angled rolls. FOREHAND
Martina: 3
Martina strikes a number of forehand winners throughout a match, but she is not nearly as aggressive nor accurate on the forehand as she is on the backhand.
Lindsay: 4
Lindsay has a powerful forehand as she does backhand, but one will find in her matches that most of her unforced errors will come on the forehand side. Because Lindsay takes a big backswing to set up the powerful forehand, she often catches it late, and on a fast, high-bouncing court such as that in Rod Laver arena, that may prove costly.
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