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Vines forehand: velocity and ferocity.
Big Bill Tilden was a colossus who achieved legendary status in tennis history.
(Click Here to read his profile.) But the next great player to dominate the amateur and professional world may have been a
better player, although he never approached Big Bill’s fame. He also gave up his tennis for good
when he was still at his peak.
Considered by some to be the greatest player in history, he was a tall skinny
lad from Pasadena, California, who hit tennis balls with ferocity and velocity. His name
was Ellsworth Vines.
According to Jack Kramer, "You could make a very strong case for Elly Vines
as the best player of all time. He hit the ball like Babe Ruth and dressed
like Fred Astaire."
Ellsworth Vines was a great swimmer in his youth and a freshman basketball
player at USC. He played the Grand Slam events for only 4 years, winning the U.S.
Championships twice in 1931 and 1932, and Wimbledon once in 1933.
A motion that produced 2.5 aces a game.
He then signed a professional contract to go on tour with Bill Tilden. He lost the opening match, 8-6, 6-3, 6-2, before 16,200…
