How Good Was Stefan Edberg Actually?

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Inspired by How Good Was Michael Chang Actually?
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#stefanedberg #edberg #tennis

[@Silk1970]

Edberg's 2 US Open wins encapsulated the type of player he was best for me. In 1991, he was playing sublime, near perfect serve volley tennis, he crushed Chang, Lendl and Courier, making them all look 2nd rate. Courier hadn't dropped a set in the tournament, played well in the final and got slaughtered for his troubles. He matched up well to Edberg generally and beat him at all the other slams. But not that day. This tournament was his ultimate display of skill. A year later, Stefan wasn't playing as well, his serve had lost a bit of its bite and that impacted his whole game. So, he proceeded to battle through 3 consecutive 5 set marathons with Krajicek, Lendl and Chang before dropping the first set to Sampras and coming back to win. 1992 was his ultimate display of persistence, stamina and courage.

[@carlosduarte5052]

That 91 US open win was the finest display of serve and volley tennis.

[@pteronadon]

I was a teenager when Edberg was on top and he was by then my favorite player. I remember my eigth grade school books cover having pictures of him playing. And what a privilege and a WOW moment it was when, in 2009 or 2010 I got to see him play in the Grand Champions World Tour here in Portugal. After the matches I was standing in the VIP lounge next to him and so star struck that I wanted to talk to him and didn't. He was Roger Federer before Roger Federer. The two most elegant tennis players ever.

[@truthreignsforever9286]

Edberg, Becker, Lendl, McEnroe. Those were the days. Edberg was the serve and volley master, the godfather

[@renatoyap]

Watching him glide in after his serve was just a thing of beauty ... and I really mean glide, slide, floated in

[@danielmacdonald9287]

One of the best volleyers to watch. His skill with that particular shot was just amazing.

[@tennismoos6448]

Especially his backhand volley was dangerous.

[@jddII]

Sweetest backhand volley!!

[@dualindivi2772]

He was a master of drop volleys, that would just fell over the net after he picked the ball near his shoelaces. And that one handed backhand was a thing of beauty.

[@lukey1210]

The best. Pete is my favourite of all time. But Stefan was cooler at the net

[@tennismoos6448]

@@lukey1210Pete was a great player too. His second serve was iconic.

[@seveglider8406]

Stefan Edberg excelled on every surface. Dependable ground strokes, great serve and volley game, excellent strategist, superb court coverage and instincts. Winner of 6 majors and almost achieved a career grand slam. Definitely 1 of the all time great players.

[@ce7857]

9:24 shows Edberg showing off his classic SE signature shirt. Best-looking tennis shirt I ever saw. Was very proud to own one for a while.

[@adamhasideas6813]

Edberg was my favorite player growing up. I tried to volley like he did, but who could do that? Losing that '89 Roland Garros final to Chang when he was up 2 sets to 1 and had several break point chances in the 4th set still stings a little.

[@Silk1970]

It does. Chang was there for the taking.

[@truthreignsforever9286]

a monumental upset in tennis

[@TheMightySandow]

Edberg was like a fine tuned sports car. When everything was running in trim he was unstoppable. But you knew that he could break down from time to time.

[@medo_pg7786]

Good comparation. When he was on, his game looked like simething I had never seen. But he also had days when he was all over the place

[@miotubo839]

The most beautiful and elegant player to watch, before or after. Period.

[@bluecolor1600]

My words exactly!👏👏👏

[@skylaxx]

Thank you so much for this. Edberg was my absolute idol when I started with tennis. Because of him I learned S&V and one handed bh. He was one of the best of his era.

[@ce7857]

9:24 shows Edberg showing off his classic SE signature shirt. Best-looking tennis shirt I ever saw. Was very proud to own one for a while.

[@ce7857]

9:24 shows Edberg showing off his classic SE signature shirt. Best-looking tennis shirt I ever saw. Was very proud to own one for a while.

[@lukaf2393]

One of the most elegant player ever. Best second serve and backhand volley of all time. Great attitude and fairplay.... and I was a Becker fan ; ) I miss so much that tennis "golden era"...

[@MrTresto]

The best second serve is Sampras by far. Not to take anything off Edberg who was wonderful.

[@Kirneh63]

Poetry in motion. No one played tennis more beautiful than Stefan Edberg. Ever.

[@dualindivi2772]

Roger Federer, who was coached by Edberg for some time.

[@pawshands9706]

​@@dualindivi2772 HERE HERE 😊

[@omniexistus]

I prefer John McEnroe's game with those beautiful drop volleys of his.

[@bluecolor1600]

True! No one compares to Stefan Edberg, not Federer and not Mc Enroe either!

[@fundhund62]

I guess it all comes down to personal taste. Edberg's game was beautiful, but so were those of McEnroe, Mecir and Leconte.

[@joshforde698]

Greatest backhand slice and backhand volley ever.

[@pauldavey422]

He was a member of a club I was head pro of in the 90's. I played against him a couple of times in doubles exhibition events. 1stly he was very generous with his time, had a great sense of humour, and as this film says had the best b-hand volley i have ever seen. It literally cannoned off his racket, it was scary. He became a nationally ranked squash player after he retired from tennis - a real talent

[@ce7857]

9:24 shows Edberg showing off his classic SE signature shirt. Best-looking tennis shirt I ever saw. Was very proud to own one for a while.

[@theaccentedguy1505]

I emulated Edberg's serve and backhand as a kid.

[@TatsTalks]

How many people wreaked their back trying to emulate his second serve. 😂 Loved his game.

[@ce7857]

9:24 shows Edberg showing off his classic SE signature shirt. Best-looking tennis shirt I ever saw. Was very proud to own one for a while.

[@rocknroller81]

When I was a kid I decided I wanted to start playing tennis because of Edberg: I watched his matches on tv and loved his style, his backhand and the outrageous volleys. What a champion and an inspiration!

[@DingKong]

Awesome player with sublime footwork.

[@hkpandey1]

A champion of the game and a gentleman. My personal favourite player whom I idolized in my childhood days ( before Pete entered the scene 😁)

[@frogexpat]

Thank you for your video, Edberg and Graf were my idols growing up, he is not celebrated as much as he should, and as you rightly say, he played in one of the most competitive era of male tennis.

[@tennismoos6448]

After watching him play for the first time, I started to play tennis .

[@jkj1459]

it was very pleasent watch edberg winning

[@ce7857]

9:24 shows Edberg showing off his classic SE signature shirt. Best-looking tennis shirt I ever saw. Was very proud to own one for a while.

[@iya3757]

Yes it was a classic. I had the pullover version for a while.

[@gingerpinoadventures]

I miss watching him play. To me, he was an example of "power is not everything." He once said that he concentrated on moving well more so than producing power.

[@medo_pg7786]

He has to be one of the quickest players that ever played the game

[@robertcazar4853]

He was very very great. One of the best classic attack players. His poise and coordination to execute the serve and volley game were fantastic

[@dualindivi2772]

One of the greatest exponents of serve and volley and an epitome of sportmanslike behavior. Don't remember him question a line call ever.

[@addiatmeikokusuma8058]

The epitome of grace...Watching him in the court is like a gazelle running and moving so beautifully.. There is no one like him ever..not even Djokovic, Federer or Nadal can do the service volley like he does...Still very bumped when he lost the French Open to Michael Chang. the only grand slam title that he never has... Nevertheless he is still a legend

[@volbeatdbv9846]

Answer - really, really good.. Class, gentleman, beautiful backhand & serve & volley

[@mirobjelo3118]

My GOAT...the best...Stefan Edberg 👑

[@sol029]

His movement at net was incredible to watch. Powerful but graceful like a jungle cat. Unsurpassed to this day.

[@smftrsddvjiou6443]

He was my role model back then, I also tried playing serve and volley at club level on clay. Worked sometimes, often not, but was fun. However, Edberg had also phases when he was off the rail.

[@STohme]

Stefan was an outstanding and very elegant and brillant tennis champion.

[@muriloborges9481]

This guy was a beauty to watch, probably one of the most ever, despite being a great rival of my idol Becker…he was probably the best or one of, volleyer ever, his style was unique and really Becker got the better in most part of their matches, but that RG and the 90 Wimbledon final hurts…their match in RG89 is a must watch match on clay of two players going to the net…Admire and great respect for Edberg…and there one player also whom he got the better in GS who is Sampras…this is incredible

[@russellramesh3223]

Edberg’s had 9x consecutive Top 5 finishes (1985-93), inclusive of 2x year-end no. 1 finishes. His reign at the top echelon of the men’s game in the mid-80s through early 90s, amidst stiff competition from several other all-time greats, is an overly underrated feat. During this stint he maintained a superior H-2-H record in Grand Slams against his three preeminent rivals, viz. 3-1 vs. Becker, 2-0 vs. Sampras, and 5-4 vs. Lendl.

[@johnrenehan7406]

At his peak ; he had one of the best all round games ever - could play from the back of the court against the most solid nd or agressive counter punchers ; i.e Lendl , Wilander et al - matched any of them physically also . But his net game was number one - the best power vollier - equal best naturally great net player , along with Mc Enroe & Sampras or Rafter - awesome player able to outgun any current in the mens game without a doubt

[@bertramattles1695]

As a tournament level player myself I modeled my backhand volley after him! Big influence on my game as a serve and volleyer!

[@wilfy7744]

I remember watching a lot when I was a kid. He moved well vollied well. I remember his main rivals seemed to be Boris Becker and Mats Willander and Ivan Lendl. He had a close head to head against most of his competitors. Becker was his nemesis and surprisingly he played good against Lendl and beat Becker in 3 or 4 slams.

[@krt88nc]

My all time favorite

[@FirstLast-cd6vv]

He was great and a *very* popular tennis player as well.

[@Andy_XT]

Thanks for this. He was my favourite player, back then. He is the reason why I bought a Pro Staff more than three decades ago! (Even though I knew perfectly I was not good enough for it 😅)

[@987mikka]

The Real GOAT

[@jliang70]

He has no peer in term of elegance and sportsmanship. I watch all the pros since the open era and he is goat in making the game effortless and beautiful.

[@medo_pg7786]

​@@jliang70well said!

[@ManMachinist]

Well done!! We love Stefan.

[@felixy23]

I'm not surprised RF took him as his coach. beautiful backhand, beautiful volley, beauty motion of serve, elegant, my favorite since childhood

[@my8osprive]

I have big respect for tennis players who excel in both singles and doubles.

[@levangigineishvili1932]

Stephan Edberg was awesome good! He was versatile, with a great backhand and baseline game, but also a net-rusher, with a superb volley. Not as charismatic as Borg, but a worthy continuator of Borg's tradition for the Swedish tennis greatness.

[@pedrogonzales4669]

My favorite player ever

[@johnrenehan7406]

What struck me about him , was how versatile his game was ; he could hold his own from the back of the court - but his net game was equal best out there ; ever !! I do belive - as good from the back court of todays men are - he , Sampras n the like would beat all of them comfortably - equipment being equal

[@allainangcao28]

Edberg is one of the reasons why Roger uses the one-handed backhand. He was his hero and modeled parts of his game after him.

[@2war2bray]

IMHO the best serve and volley player of all. Footwork sublime, grace and finesse plus class as a person and player. Also great self-preservation: I don't think he ever suffered any injury that kept him out of the game.

[@overkongen34]

Except his back that forced him to retire. His back was done in 1993 and he lost speed and serve. After that he was never the same. Also had problems with torn ligaments in the the abdominal region due to the arched back in the service motion.

[@danielchen8027]

I think he forgot to mention, his tennis serve silhouette was used for the logo for the Australian Open. Edberg defined classic serve and volley. Sampras just took it up a notch with his insane serve and half-volleys.

[@vernonhurley1300]

Truly believe he played in the best Era in tennis. You could name ten great multiple grand slam winners. This last Era has pretty much 3. 4 if you throw in Murray.

[@stoolpigeon4285]

Edberg v Becker, 88-90 was my fave time in tennis. And Stich. Great players, and attitudes, and one handed backhands

[@eduardohuerta5460]

I missed that style of play.

[@johnrenehan7406]

...here here - me too ; the current style of back court hard ground strokes and little else - like watch a video game - so uninspiring

[@h-dawg1876]

The 80s probably the hardest time to play tennis. We talk about Federer, Nadal and Novak who all kept one another from winning titles. But the 80 even early 90s its was two Federers, two nadals and two novaks and then probably two Maury’s. A great time to be a tennis fan

[@infiniteuniverse9528]

A giant one-handed backhand to completely avoid at all cost. Played a relentless serve and volley game, with a kick serve on 1st and 2nd serve. Once he found his complete game and rose to #1 in the world, it became impossible to pass him at the net.

[@jkj1459]

BEST GRACEFUL VOLLYER WAS STEFAN EDBERG .

[@glenngastonjonsson7954]

The backhand of Edberg sets him apart. And the notion that if you serve high rather than fast, you'll get to the net in time.

[@maxwoolstencroft8110]

Short answer- very good

[@seveglider8406]

You mean GREAT!

[@KingCast65]

Stefan and Mac my faves!

[@claudiozanella256]

I saw him live, he was literally "flying" from the baseline to the net, it was difficult to understand how he got there to make the volley.

[@medo_pg7786]

Yes, I think he was one of the quickest players who ever played tennis

[@keaneoRX7]

The best Serve and volley player, with Patrick Rafter

[@medo_pg7786]

Agree. Both of them played beautiful, efortless tennis

[@warriorson7979]

Edberg and McEnroe probably the best volleyers of all time...🤔

[@redd605]

Surprised he didn't win the french, I can't remember when the last serve and voller won the french open

[@zesatiheri]

Before the GOAT Roger Federer came, Stefan was my idol. The one I tried to play like. Beautiful game!

[@MicManister]

The best volleyer of all time.

[@Marc443]

The best volleyplayer ever!

[@EternalLife42]

Which Ed is the burg?

[@PaDutchRunner]

I wish Australian Open would return to grass.

[@Cz-De-Lifestyle]

He had an awkward forehand. His backhand was alrite. Didnt have a booming serve . Wasnt that good at the baseline. But made it all up with agility, tennis iq, anticipation, and magicians touch at the net with his volleys. Just pure raw tennis skills he wins his games with.

[@medo_pg7786]

I agree that that he wasn't the best player from the back of the court in terms of agression and ofensive baseline game. But he was able to hit deep groundstrokes and stay in the longer baseline rallies with such players as Agassi and Courier. I would actually like to see his stats on baseline rallies won, I am sure that many of us would be suprised by the positive ratio. He didn't hit a lot of outright winners from the back of the court, but watching his matches, I noticed that he wasn't making that mutch errors as more powerfull players

[@seoulman2743]

No mention of his coaching?

[@atarumoroboshi75]

Al Roland Garros andava a rete anche sulla seconda di servizio...irraggiungibile per i somari di oggi

[@amitarora7530]

He was my all time favourite until Roger came along…… pure elegance on court.

[@archangelmusic13]

if the australian open had stayed on grass edberg would have won many more grand slams, he was unbeatable on the grass at australia, he played better there than even wimbledon

[@chevy4x466]

Ignorant question: Why r serve an and volley players seems to be limited by slow surfaces. Seems to me that they would have more time to get to the net? I realize this is not the case, I just don’t understand why serve and volley is limited…

[@thbgruen]

Top 12 ever😊

[@EternalLife42]

Did Austin know that Stefan edberg was Matt Damon?:: did you know that Michael orona was Andre Agassi. A gas si.

[@aleksandarfrick2656]

Great , but as Becker fan didn't love him .🙂( as was 5 years ago ...time is big w...e)

[@kevinmartin2038]

Nijinski of tennis.

[@captjosemanuel5680]

Becker????

[@morton26]

He had amazing finesse. Saw him live twice. Graceful player, but if he played in this era he wouldnt have won any slams. Maybe couple of slam finals or Masters 1000 wins . Unlike Becker who would be right up there with the big three if not better. Edberg trails Becker 25-10 but he won 3/4 of slam matches, 2 of them Wimbledon finals.

[@goggleboy2464]

About twice as good as nick krygios!

[@Jaz_13-fg1bx]

Edberg wasn't as talented as Becker. Becker had everything.. Power, excellent technique but lacked the work ethic of Edberg. Edberg overachieved and Becker underachieved.

[@evgenidimitrov7790]

It is a really impressive career, and still ... when I am used to the BIG 3's numbers, this sounds like he was not that good!

[@johnoneill7947]

Edberg was one of he finest but NOT the finest. That honor goes to Laver who even beat Edberg in an exhibition in 1978 6-3, 6-3. Onlookers say that Rod even went easy on his younger foe.

[@joakimokand6789]

In 1978?!? Edberg was about 12 years old then. You can’t really expect him to match Rod Laver while being so young, can you?

[@nosysuarez]

1978 ? Do you have more information about that ?

[@venugopalvenkatesan4958]

He was very average and lucky to win the few times he did.

[@marilou20091]

I agree, especially against Becker, Who almost donated these two Wimbledon Finals.

[@uffel66]

Lucky 😂😂

[@03cobra4]

troll much?.......or the alternative

[@kikaa1884]

Boris Becker and Stephan Edberg are 2 of the greatest tennis player in open era

[@bluecolor1600]

Go watch iceskating and hide under a rock, since you don't know a thing about tennis!!😂👎🙈💩🤑

[@CaffeineInjected]

His volley's overall were the best I feel. They were so consistent and like Paul said that backhand volley was awesome.

[@pavelclaudiopatino419]

Simply. One of the greatest the game has seen. A gentleman, super class, elegance, artistry, finesse, professional, humble, likeable. Top 3 of all time, serve and volley. One of the greatest volliers the game has seen. Just cream of the cream man. This guy is up there with all the greatest. He sits at that table. The master, #Stefan #Edberg

[@luigitempini7789]

After Connors and before Federer my favourite player....the best backhand volley ever and the most beautiful backhand! Not as powerful and tough like Stan's but a joy for the eyes!

[@sturost3769]

He would be crushed by any of todays players. Worst forehand ever.

[@jimclawley9117]

His backhand was nowhere near Fed’s

[@bluecolor1600]

Nah, it's actually the other way around!!

[@rogifedi1]

Thank you for creating a video about Stefan Edberg, he truely is one of the greatest players ever!

[@ce7857]

9:24 shows Edberg showing off his classic SE signature shirt. Best-looking tennis shirt I ever saw. Was very proud to own one for a while.

[@annewalden3795]

I agree Edberg was a great tennis player.

[@truthreignsforever9286]

Edberg, Becker, Lendl, McEnroe. Those were the days. Edberg was the serve and volley master, the godfather

[@neygercey7899]

I have inspired on his style of play, serve and volley, when I started playing in the 90's. Great Edberg!

[@stefbarone]

He's been my all times favourite until Federer, and now I have two all times favourites 🙂

[@AbrahamOgden-u8d]

Hall Anna Hernandez Larry Wilson Jeffrey

[@lukey1210]

How good was Edberg? It’s not a question if you were watching tennis 🎾 then.